SCHOOL LAW WGU D017 CORE EXAMS SET 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Vernonia School District v. Acton - ✔✔A 1995 case that said random drug testing of
athletes does not violate the search and seizure clause of the fourth amendment.
✔✔5th Amendment - ✔✔right to federal due process
✔✔Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education - ✔✔A 1961 case that established
education as a substantive property interest, so denying due process can invalidate
disciplinary action.
✔✔FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) - ✔✔A 1974 law that
guarantees parents access to their kids' school records and safeguards the
confidentiality of those records for all recipients of federal funding.
✔✔Gonzaga University v. Doe - ✔✔A 2002 case that ruled that individuals cannot bring
damages suits for FERPA violations because the law doesn't create privately
enforceable rights. FERPA has an aggregate focus, and the remedy for violations is just
the denial of federal funds.
✔✔HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) - ✔✔A 1996 law that
was developed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system. It
requires covered entities to protect individuals' health records.
✔✔People v Dukes - ✔✔A 1992 case in which a student, 17, was searched via metal
detector and a knife was found, which became admissible in court--minimally intrusive.
✔✔in loco parentis - ✔✔Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to
take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.
✔✔Child Abuse and Treatment Act - ✔✔Legislation that provides funding in support of
prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of activities
✔✔zero-tolerance policy - ✔✔No violation is forgiven; the offender is disciplined
accordingly. The discipline goes up to and includes termination.
✔✔sexual discrimination - ✔✔When someone is treated differently because of gender,
sexual orientation, or pregnancy.
✔✔sexual harassment - ✔✔Comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual
nature that are deliberate, repeated, and unwelcome
, ✔✔Liberty Interest - ✔✔An interest guaranteeing a number of individual freedoms,
including the right to personal autonomy, bodily integrity, self- dignity and self-
determination.
✔✔Pickering v. Board of Education - ✔✔A 1968 case that said dismissal of a teacher
for public statements regarding issues of public importance is unconstitutional unless
the teacher's speech jeopardized their teaching effectiveness, relationships with
immediate supervisors or coworkers, or school operations.
✔✔Connick v. Myers - ✔✔A 1983 case that said that if teacher's speech is not
protected if it is about a private concern.
✔✔Garcetti v. Ceballos - ✔✔A 2006 case where the Supreme Court held that speech
by a public official is not protected if it is made pursuant to official job duties.
✔✔Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - ✔✔Legislation that forbids discrimination
based on race, color, sex, religion, or pregnancy in any workplace (public or private)
with more than 15 employees.
✔✔Affirmative Action - ✔✔A policy designed to redress past discrimination against
women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and
educational opportunities
✔✔FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) - ✔✔Federal law requiring organizations with
50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave after childbirth or
adoption; to care for a seriously ill family member or for an employee's own serious
illness; or to take care of urgent needs that arise when a spouse, child, or parent in the
National Guard or Reserve is called to active duty
✔✔collective bargaining - ✔✔Process by which a union representing a group of workers
negotiates with management for a contract
✔✔Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act - ✔✔The 1st disabilities civil rights law; prohibits
discrimination against individuals with disabilities by federally assisted programs or
activities. Requires accommodations to allow students to be successful in the gen ed
classroom. Eligibility not restricted to school age children, birth to death covered.
✔✔Paul D. Coverdell Teacher Protection Act - ✔✔Legislation that provides protection
for teachers who are 1. acting within the scope of their employment/responsibilities and
2. attempting to control, discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order of
control in the classroom or school
✔✔Establishment Clause - ✔✔Clause in the First Amendment that says the government
may not establish an official religion; challenged policies that promote religion created to
maintain a separate between church and state
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Vernonia School District v. Acton - ✔✔A 1995 case that said random drug testing of
athletes does not violate the search and seizure clause of the fourth amendment.
✔✔5th Amendment - ✔✔right to federal due process
✔✔Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education - ✔✔A 1961 case that established
education as a substantive property interest, so denying due process can invalidate
disciplinary action.
✔✔FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) - ✔✔A 1974 law that
guarantees parents access to their kids' school records and safeguards the
confidentiality of those records for all recipients of federal funding.
✔✔Gonzaga University v. Doe - ✔✔A 2002 case that ruled that individuals cannot bring
damages suits for FERPA violations because the law doesn't create privately
enforceable rights. FERPA has an aggregate focus, and the remedy for violations is just
the denial of federal funds.
✔✔HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) - ✔✔A 1996 law that
was developed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system. It
requires covered entities to protect individuals' health records.
✔✔People v Dukes - ✔✔A 1992 case in which a student, 17, was searched via metal
detector and a knife was found, which became admissible in court--minimally intrusive.
✔✔in loco parentis - ✔✔Refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to
take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.
✔✔Child Abuse and Treatment Act - ✔✔Legislation that provides funding in support of
prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment of activities
✔✔zero-tolerance policy - ✔✔No violation is forgiven; the offender is disciplined
accordingly. The discipline goes up to and includes termination.
✔✔sexual discrimination - ✔✔When someone is treated differently because of gender,
sexual orientation, or pregnancy.
✔✔sexual harassment - ✔✔Comments, gestures, or physical contacts of a sexual
nature that are deliberate, repeated, and unwelcome
, ✔✔Liberty Interest - ✔✔An interest guaranteeing a number of individual freedoms,
including the right to personal autonomy, bodily integrity, self- dignity and self-
determination.
✔✔Pickering v. Board of Education - ✔✔A 1968 case that said dismissal of a teacher
for public statements regarding issues of public importance is unconstitutional unless
the teacher's speech jeopardized their teaching effectiveness, relationships with
immediate supervisors or coworkers, or school operations.
✔✔Connick v. Myers - ✔✔A 1983 case that said that if teacher's speech is not
protected if it is about a private concern.
✔✔Garcetti v. Ceballos - ✔✔A 2006 case where the Supreme Court held that speech
by a public official is not protected if it is made pursuant to official job duties.
✔✔Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - ✔✔Legislation that forbids discrimination
based on race, color, sex, religion, or pregnancy in any workplace (public or private)
with more than 15 employees.
✔✔Affirmative Action - ✔✔A policy designed to redress past discrimination against
women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and
educational opportunities
✔✔FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) - ✔✔Federal law requiring organizations with
50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave after childbirth or
adoption; to care for a seriously ill family member or for an employee's own serious
illness; or to take care of urgent needs that arise when a spouse, child, or parent in the
National Guard or Reserve is called to active duty
✔✔collective bargaining - ✔✔Process by which a union representing a group of workers
negotiates with management for a contract
✔✔Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act - ✔✔The 1st disabilities civil rights law; prohibits
discrimination against individuals with disabilities by federally assisted programs or
activities. Requires accommodations to allow students to be successful in the gen ed
classroom. Eligibility not restricted to school age children, birth to death covered.
✔✔Paul D. Coverdell Teacher Protection Act - ✔✔Legislation that provides protection
for teachers who are 1. acting within the scope of their employment/responsibilities and
2. attempting to control, discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order of
control in the classroom or school
✔✔Establishment Clause - ✔✔Clause in the First Amendment that says the government
may not establish an official religion; challenged policies that promote religion created to
maintain a separate between church and state
