LibGuides: Education Law: &nbsp;

Search Education & Special Education Laws and Cases

Federal Laws

U.S. Department of Education: Laws & Guidance Website
Information on key federal education laws, regulations, and guidance documents from the U.S. Department of Education.
IDEA Website: U.S. Dept. of Education
This website is dedicated to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); the federal regulations that implement it; policy letters and support documents; state performance reports/plans; and resources by topic for parents and teachers. It also provides links to its blog for feedback and two videos for an overview of the website and of the statutes and regulations page.
United States Code
Search, browse or retrieve by citation federal education laws using the United States Code website maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives. You may also access the official authenticated version of U.S. Code sections using the Government Publishing Office's (GPO's) website at https://www.govinfo.gov/.
Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
Very current and easy to use website to browse or search for federal regulations that implement and enforce federal education laws. You may also access the official authenticated version of federal regulations using the Government Publishing Office's (GPO's) website at https://www.govinfo.gov/.

State Laws

South Carolina Legislature Website
Search or browse current state education statutes and regulations on the website for the SC General Assembly.
Title 59: South Carolina Code of Laws
South Carolina education statutes are published in Title 59 of the South Carolina Code.
Chapter 33 of Title 59
Special Education statutes are published in Chapter 33 of Title 59 of the South Carolina Code.
SC Code of Regulations: Chapter 43
SC State Board of Educations regulations are published in Chapter 43 of the SC Code of Regulations.
SC regulation 43-243 contains the state’s requirements of educational programs for
students with disabilities, as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Federal & State Case Law

Google Scholar
Select "Case Law", then click on "Select courts." You can search for South Carolina, other state, and federal education cases, individually or together. This search engine is easy to search and includes cases going back many years.
SC Cases: South Carolina Judicial Department Website
Search SC Supreme Court opinions through 1997 and SC Court of Appeals opinions through 1999.

Self-Help Resources

Agency Websites: Education Law

U.S. Department of Education
Select the "Laws" tab at the top of the page for links to laws, regulations and guidance for students of all ages.
State Contacts
Information to contact the department of education, the higher education agency, special education agency, and adult education agency in your state.
S.C. Department of Education
Choose the "Policy" tab at the top of the page for links to Education Laws & Legislation (state & federal) and Federal Education Programs.
S.C. Commission on Higher Education
S.C. Office of Adult Education

Agency Websites: Special Education Law

U.S. Department of Education
Select the "Laws" tab at the top of the page for links to laws, regulations and guidance for students with disabilities.
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
Click on the "Policy" tab in the middle of the page to find descriptions and links to "laws and statutes authorizing OSERS programs and activities."
State Contacts
Information to contact the department of education, the higher education agency, special education agency, and adult education agency in your state.
S.C. Department of Education
Choose the "Policy" tab at the top of the page for links to Education Laws & Legislation (state & federal) and Federal Education Programs.
S.C. Office of Special Education Services
Click on the box for "State Regulations, Policies, and Guidance" for SC State Regulations Resources and US Department of Education Resources.

Legal Services/Find a Lawyer

Legal Services

S.C. Legal Services: Apply for Services
Free civil legal services for low income residents of South Carolina. Eligibility for assistance depends on income and type of legal problem.
LawHelp.org/SC: Find Legal Help
Directory for legal help in South Carolina by service area and by legal issue.
SC Bar: Pro Bono Resources
SC lawyers offer their services for free (pro bono) to clients who cannot afford to pay for assistance with legal issues.
SC Bar: Ask-a-Lawyer
SC volunteer lawyers answer legal questions through televised phone banks and Web chats.
SC's Free Legal Answers
ABA sponsored program that allows qualified clients to post legal questions to their private messaging system where volunteer lawyers answer legal questions for free.
Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. (P&A)
P&A accepts clients for individual representation based on its annual priorities and case selection criteria.

Find a Lawyer (Fees are charged)

S.C. Bar Lawyer Referral Service: Find a Lawyer
The S.C. Bar's Lawyer Referral Service refers individuals to qualified, prescreened lawyers in over 100 areas of law.
FindLaw: Find a Lawyer
Search or browse for lawyers by legal issue or location.
Martindale.com: Search for Lawyers, Law Firms & Organizations
Find lawyers, law firms, and organizations by location and by practice area.

Books on Education Law

Encyclopedia of Education Law by Charles J. Russo (Editor)
Call Number: KF4117 .E53 2008
ISBN: 9781412940795
Publication Date: 2008
The Law of Schools, Students and Teachers in a Nutshell by Kern Alexander; M. Alexander
Call Number: KF 4119.3 .A44 2018
ISBN: 9781640204249
Publication Date: Sixth Edition 2018
School Law and the Public Schools by Nathan L. Essex
Call Number: KF 4119 .E84 2012
ISBN: 9780137072750
Publication Date: 2012
A Teacher's Pocket Guide to School Law by Nathan L. Essex
Call Number: KF 4119.85 .E85 2015
ISBN: 9780133351910
Publication Date: 2014

Books on Special Education Law

The Law and Special Education by Mitchell L. Yell
Call Number: KF 4210 .Y45 2016
ISBN: 9780133827019
Publication Date: 2016
Special Education Law by Laura F. Rothstein; Scott F. Johnson
Call Number: KF4210 .R68 2010
ISBN: 9781412967716
Publication Date: 2010
Special Education Law in a Nutshell by Ruth Colker
Call Number: KF4209.3 .C65 2018
ISBN: 9781683285892
Publication Date: 2018
Preventing Special Education Litigation by Regina Umpstead
Call Number: KF 4209.3.U47 2015
ISBN: 9780807757079
Publication Date: 2015

Your Local Library

Your local public, college, or university library may have the South Carolina Code Annotated in print. They may also have books on legal topics.

Some public libraries in South Carolina provide its patrons with access to Westlaw. Check with your college or university for access to NexisUni. Both of these electronic databases allow you to search state and federal laws and cases. You can also read about specific topics in legal encyclopedias and journals.