Case Studies for Special Education Law

Dr. Michael Shaffer is the Director of the Educational Specialist and Educational Doctorate Programs in Administration and Supervision at Ball State University. Shaffer teaches School Law, Special Ed Law, Facilities, Central Office Administration, and Advanced Policy and Politics. Shaffer's interest in Special Education Law started with a doctoral course and continued through many years of administrative practice in public education as a principal and assistant superintendent. Along with extensive practice in administration, he has long been a student of special education law and has taught the course in two different universities. While many school law courses (special ed or general school law) are taught through the practice of having students memorize hundreds of court cases, Shaffer practices the habit of telling the stories from being a long-term administrator which inform how the law plays out in real school life and experience. Dr. Linda Dowell has been a dedicated special educator for over twenty years, serving as a teacher, coordinator, school supervisor, and director. She is passionate about universal accessibility and thrives on the opportunity to collaborate with team members and families to support the diverse needs of learners by ensuring high quality, equitable opportunities are available for all. She is currently serving as the Director of Special Services at the MSD of Wayne Township, a large urban district on the west side of Indianapolis, where she oversees all special education and Section 504 programming for 20 schools and programs across the district. Dr. Dowell is an active member of the Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education (ICASE) and serves as the co-chair of the governmental affairs committee. She has years of experience navigating through challenging cases in the schools she serves and advocating for legislative change impacting the field. Dr. Dowell earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Butler University, her M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Indianapolis, her Director of Exceptional Needs License from Indiana University, and her Doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision from Ball State University. When not at work, Dr. Dowell takes pride in being a wife to Matt and a mom of two incredible boys. She has a deep love for fitness, strong coffee, and Butler basketball.

Foreword by Mathew McKinney, Paul McKinney, and Kristin McKinney Preface by Dr. Michael Shaffer Introduction by Dr. Linda Dowell Chapter 1. The Intersection of Eligibility and Least Restrictive Environment by Jeslyn Lewton Chapter 2. Child Find and Nonpublic Schools by Stephen Marositz Chapter 3. Child Find and Placement Determination by LaShaya Williams Chapter 4. Placement Determination in a Special Education Cooperative by Jenny Smithson Chapter 5. Navigating Out-of-District Placement Requests by Jeanne R. Baldwin Chapter 6. Seeing the Big Picture with Reduced Instruction Days and Behavior Plans by Mary Flynn Chapter 7. Discipline and Challenging Behaviors by Erin Novak Chapter 8. Discipline and Due Process by Heather Droz Chapter 9. Discipline, Child Find, and Section 504 by Justin Tobey Chapter 10. Supporting Challenging Behaviors by Suzanne R. Evans Chapter 11. Denying FAPE Due to Behavior by Jon Clark Chapter 12. Least Restrictive Environment with Challenging Behaviors by Hannah Harrison Chapter 13. Transitions from Residential Facilities by Elizabeth Sipe Chapter 14. Placement Determination with Challenging Behaviors by Kelly Blakely Chapter 15. Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health by Emily Behnke Chapter 16. Collaboration with Parents Amidst Mental Health Needs by Beth Anderson Chapter 17. Collaboration with Parents to Determine Placement Needs by Carleigh Zielinski Chapter 18. Navigating Placement Determination in the Midst of Challenging Behaviors by Adam Bontreger Chapter 19. Restraint and Seclusion by Andrew J. Smith Chapter 20. FAPE in the Midst of a Pandemic by Saige Bourdon About the Authors Index