Introduction

This book examines complex law issues in education and its implications for leaders, policy makers, and policy implementers. As professors of educational law, the four of us discussed the need for a book that focuses on laws and policies in education. It began at the 2014 annual Educational Law Association (ELA) conference in San Diego, CA, where professors, administrators, and attorneys gathered to discuss current policy making and policy implementation issues in the discipline. As a result of various presentations and a discussion with the presenters at ELA, a potential book was born. A follow-up dialogue resulted two weeks later at the 2014 annual Convention of University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) in Chicago, IL. It was at UCEA where the four of us met as co-editors and agreed to spearhead the project. Several presenters at the ELA conference were willing to contribute to the book. A common theme that resonated with us focused on the various dynamics and complexities of law making process; how laws are negotiated into policy; how these same laws are implemented; and, the impact of these laws on education and educational leaders.