Customer Reviews

California School Law: Second Edition (Stanford Law Books)

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book for those interested in learning the fundamentals of education law and policy. I especially liked the chapters on school finance and unions, as these issues repeatedly appear in the news. For those interested only in specific topics or cases, versus reading from cover to cover, there is a glossary and an index of terms and cited authorities. For example, topics covered that are especially relevant to parents include charter schools, student discipline, special education and student search and seizure. The book is well-organized and easy to read. Anyone who wants to learn about California's school system should start here.

This is a law book aimed at the professional as one might guess based on the fact that it is part of a series of law books from the Stanford University Press.

It is not casual reading for pleasure, however it may be of use to educators and others dealing with education issues as long as they understand the use and limitations of what is essentially a lawbook or can supplement their reading with advice from practising attorneys.

This book is essentially what attorneys call a "horn-book," a survey of the statutory law, and court cases which have interpreted those laws. Professional law books like this give only a brief survey of issues and the reader is expected to fill in the blanks by reading the laws and cases and applying these to the facts of their own cases. Such books are not designed to give legal advice for particular situations, but to point the reader to the issues which are likely to come up in these particular situations.

How the law will be applied in any particular situation is hard to predict, attorneys in this state are in fact forbidden by the rules of professional conduct from guaranteeing outcomes. I tell clients that it doesn't matter what they or I think about the law, ultimately it is what the judge thinks that matters. So do not expect a book to be more predictive.

Since there is nothing else out there to compare to this book, it fills the niche of California School Law completely for the practicing attorney. Considering how expensive a legal library can be, this book is also a bargain.

The authors did not practice due diligence in their facts. For example: On page 26, the suggestion that homeschooling by non-credentialed parents was illegal until the 2008 court case simply isn't true. California law has always provided the option for anyone to open a private school, including one in their home for their own children. The court that heard the 2008 case originally read the law sections regarding tutoring and operating charter school independent study programs and concluded those must be the only two options to homeschool. It later acknowledged it had made a mistake and California law did, and always has, allowed private schools to be operated by anyone, including a parent for their own children. To state that the law somehow changed because of the 2008 court case and homeschooling through a private school has only been legal since then is incorrect.

On page 40, it is implied that setting up a private school in a private home would be nearly impossible because of a list of regulations required of private schools including earthquake safety and fire and health inspections. In fact, Health and Safety Code 35296 states that only schools with a occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom are required to establish emergency procedures for earthquakes. Code 13143 makes a similar statement regarding fire inspections saying that any assembly such as a school where 50 or more persons may gather together must be inspected. Regulations on safety goggles during certain classes, regulating toxic arts supplies and keeping track of nearby sex offenders are all very easy for a small private school to implement. None of these private school regulations would be a substantial stumbling block to establishing a home based private school as is being suggested.

What ELSE is wrong? I would NOT buy this book.

This book is unbelivably dry. I finish about three books a week and could only get through about 7 pages in this book before I needed a cup of coffee. Ultimately though, it is a excellent resource and well organized.

I was very impress in how fast I was able to receive the order. Thanks