Kristine Bowman, a Michigan State University expert in education law and policy, is the editor of a comprehensive new handbook for K-12 educators, policymakers and scholars. The first-edition of the “Oxford Handbook on U.S. Education Law” includes foundational overviews, deep-rooted insights on various topics and a look toward the future.

“We wanted this volume to add to the vast literature: incorporating existing work, but extending it, too,” said Bowman, who was named the College of Education’s associate dean for academic and student affairs in 2019. She is also jointly-appointed as a professor of law in the MSU College of Law and professor of education policy in the College of Education. “It is a symphony of scholarship from experts in our field and can serve many purposes for many audiences.”

The education law field—which emerged in the 1970s as a distinct form of practice and scholarship—has expanded in recent decades and has an impact throughout many other areas. In fact, according to the book’s introduction by Bowman, “most law schools and many colleges of education offer a course about education law; school administrator certificates in many states require completion of the same; and a handful of law firms in each state tout an education law practice.”

The 37-chapter volume covers a wide range of topics, including “virtual schooling to civil rights” and “school choice to special education,” according to the book’s description. It can be useful for individuals who would like introductory information to learn about the field, as well as chapters delving into those topics.

Read full story at the College of Education.