Federal Education Law Certificate Program

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Is your leadership team prepared to navigate today’s complex legal landscape in education?

The Federal Education Law Certificate program, in partnership with the National School Attorney’s Association (NSAA), offers superintendents, district leaders and their leadership teams the opportunity to learn from experienced school attorneys who are well-respected in their fields and well-versed in the everyday issues that arise in schools. Our faculty, attorneys from firms including Thompson & Horton in Texas, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost in California, and Franczek in Illinois will provide an overview of the federal statutes, constitutional principles, agency rules, and key court decisions that affect public schools.

Participants will be prepared to lead informed conversations as their districts face today's legal challenges.

Registration Options

Full Program Individual Modules

Registration includes (1) district leader for the full certificate program. The district leader can invite up to (2) teammates to attend select modules of the program.

AASA Members: $3,500
Nonmembers: $4,000

Program Dates & Details

Module I: Public Education - A Heavily Regulated Industry Module II: Employee Rights Module III: Students with Disabilities Module IV: Student Rights Module V: Rights and Responsibilities of School Officials

Module I: Public Education - A Heavily Regulated Industry

If public education is primarily a state function, why does so much federal law affect it?

In this introductory module, participants will learn how federal funding programs, civil rights requirements, and constitutional principles undergird school operations. Veteran school attorneys explain the nuts and bolts of the federal regulatory framework, including how it's likely to change in the coming years after the Supreme Court's recent rulings. The module wraps up with insights on how to remain focused on child-focused policy making in the midst of heavy regulation.

Schedule:

Thursday, January 16 | Tuesday, January 28 | Thursday, February 13 | Tuesday, February 25

Please Note: Each session is held from 2-4 PM EST. Sessions are also recorded and made available to participants.

Speakers: John Borkowski, Aleks Rushing, David Rubin, Doug Thorne, Shelley Chatfield

REGISTER FOR THIS SINGLE MODULE

See full program registration options above.

Module II: Employee Rights

Collectively, public school districts are the nation's largest employer. 

Federal law affects nearly every employment decision districts make; from wage and hour requirements to anti-discrimination laws to First Amendment rights.  In this module, a team of veteran school employment attorneys will explain how federal law influences and affects hiring, terminating, evaluating, training, assigning, promoting, and transferring staff.

Schedule:

Thursday, March 13 | Tuesday, March 25 | Thursday, April 10 | Tuesday, April 29

Please Note: Each session is held from 2-4 PM EST. Sessions are also recorded and made available to participants.

Speaker: Namita Brown

REGISTER FOR THIS SINGLE MODULE

See full program registration options above.

Module III: Students with Disabilities

Since the early 1970s, when federal courts and Congress first required public schools to welcome and serve students with disabilities, the web of law and regulation governing how they do so has grown and evolved.

Today, school leaders must serve students with disabilities in a complex regulatory environment. In this module, school attorneys who regularly advise schools in matters involving students with disabilities lay out the federal requirements. Participants leave with a working understanding of the rules for identifying, evaluating, and serving eligible students with disabilities, and addressing disputes through due process and litigation.

Schedule:

Thursday, May 15 | Thursday, May 29 | Tuesday, July 22 | Thursday, August 7

Please Note: Each session is held from 2-4 PM EST. Sessions are also recorded and made available to participants.

Speakers: Kaitlin Atlas and Jennifer Smith

REGISTER FOR THIS SINGLE MODULE

See full program registration options above.

Module IV: Student Rights

In 1969, the United States Supreme Court held that a public school could not restrict students from wearing black armbands in a passive, silent, non-disruptive political protest at school. Students, the Court explained, do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” Courts, Congress, and the Executive agencies have recognized additional protections for students in a variety of contexts.

Experienced school attorneys who frequently advise on student rights issues will provide an overview of current federal law on sex and race discrimination, procedural due process in discipline, equal protection, privacy rights, and rights of specific populations such as English language learners.

Schedule:

Tuesday, August 19 | Thursday, September 4 | Tuesday, September 16 | Tuesday, September 30

Please Note: Each session is held from 2-4 PM EST. Sessions are also recorded and made available to participants.

Speakers: Lisa A. Brown, Adam Rothey, Chris Gilbert, Oleg Nudelman, Katie Long, Ashley White, Holly McIntush, Kendra Yoch, Amber King and Rebecca Bailey

REGISTER FOR THIS SINGLE MODULE

See full program registration options above.

Module V: Rights and Responsibilities of School Officials

Federal law not only dictates many requirements affecting school operations, staffing decisions, and student policies; it also protects school officials in some instances.

In this final module, school attorneys well-versed in the roles and responsibilities of school leaders explain constitutional protections afforded to public officials acting in their official capacity, their recognized authority in areas including policy making and curriculum matters, and how they may face liability in limited circumstances.

The module will conclude with a look ahead so that participants will have a heads up about where the law is going in the coming years.

Schedule:

Tuesday, October 21 | Thursday, October 30 | Tuesday, November 4 | Thursday, November 20 | Thursday, December 4 (Program Wrap-Up)

Please Note: Each session is held from 2-4 PM EST. Sessions are also recorded and made available to participants.

Speakers: Ben Torres, Joy Baskin, Jim Walsh

REGISTER FOR THIS SINGLE MODULE

See full program registration options above.

Who should participate?

Speakers

In partnership with

Details

January 14 to November 20, 2025

Please see 'Program Dates and Details' section for additional information.

Registration for the individual modules of this program is still open!

Contact

Sasha Pudelski

Director, Advocacy

AASA, The School Superintendents Association

spudelski@aasa.org

703-875-0733

ADDITIONAL READING

Explore these selected articles from the Legal Brief column of the School Administrator to deepen your understanding of critical legal issues in education: