Law & Policy in Schools Magazine
Law & Policy in Schools is a quarterly magazine that provides you with current news and insights from the premier source for national education law and policy issues - the Education Law Association. Our mission is to make these issues accessible, relevant, and actionable for people concerned about K-12 schools.
LAPIS is published quarterly in February, May, September, and December
Vol 1, Issue 1 (Fall 2025)
View the first issue for free!
LAPIS is published quarterly in February, May, September, and December
Vol 1, Issue 1 (Fall 2025)
View the first issue for free!
Topics and Issues Covered in Law & Policy in Schools
- Student Speech
- Teacher Speech
- Employment
- Title IX
- Race/Sex Discrimination
- Tort Liability
- Privacy
- Religion
- And MORE!
Subscribe to Law & Policy in Schools
Law & Policy in Schools is a print publication mailed directly to you! $9.95 per issue.
One Year Print Subscription with auto-renew (Four Issues): $38.80/year
Learn a little more about Law & Policy in Schools by checking out the PowerPoint presentation from our Zoom Coffee Talk with the Editorial Board!
Law & Policy in Schools is a print publication mailed directly to you! $9.95 per issue.
One Year Print Subscription with auto-renew (Four Issues): $38.80/year
Learn a little more about Law & Policy in Schools by checking out the PowerPoint presentation from our Zoom Coffee Talk with the Editorial Board!
Write for Law & Policy in Schools
We welcome content from teachers, administrators, education law scholars, attorneys, or policymakers. Content should follow the specific guidelines presented below, but all writing should be concise, easily understandable/conversational, and action-oriented, offering readers engaging, informative, and practical insights into law or policy issues concerning k-12 schools. If you have an idea for content that does not fall into one of the categories below, we would love to hear from you! Just send an email with your inquiry to [email protected].
Article submissions must be submitted using THIS FORM, and include the information below:
Article submissions must be submitted using THIS FORM, and include the information below:
- Proposed article title
- Your full name as you would like it to appear in the magazine (e.g., Johnny M. Law, J.D., Ph.D.)
- Your email address
- A short ~50-70-word biography (longer bios will not be considered)
- A high-resolution headshot (300dpi; low-quality images will not print properly and will not be included in the final copy)
- Information for co-authors (if any)
- Article topic(s) (list of topics included in form)
- Your article
- File must be a *.doc, *.docx, *.rtf, or *.txt file. File should be minimally formatted (indents, italics, bolded, and underlined text are ok). DO NOT EMBED IMAGES. If you have graphics you'd like to include, simply include placeholders (e.g. "place graphic 1 about here").
- Additional graphics
- Graphics should be kept to a minimum and only included if critical to the article. Depending on space, we may not be able to include graphics or may require the article to be shortened in order to do so. Graphics should be 300 dpi in order to print.
After submitting, a member of our editorial board will review your article. We consider many factors in determining whether the article may be an appropriate fit for LAPIS, and for which upcoming issue it may be best suited. This process may take up to a month. Once the initial review is complete, a member of our editorial team will be in touch with the primary author.
Submissions are reviewed by the editorial team at Law & Policy in Schools. LAPIS reserves the right to make editorial changes before publication. LAPIS will communicate with authors before changes are finalized. Authors should focus on creating practical, concise, and informative content, and should only include citations where necessary (in APA format). Word counts below are inclusive of references.
Submissions are reviewed by the editorial team at Law & Policy in Schools. LAPIS reserves the right to make editorial changes before publication. LAPIS will communicate with authors before changes are finalized. Authors should focus on creating practical, concise, and informative content, and should only include citations where necessary (in APA format). Word counts below are inclusive of references.
We ask that authors not submit their articles to other outlets while under consideration at LAPIS. Use of any generative AI must be disclosed.
Article Submission Form
Article Submission Form
LAPIS Regular Columns and Categories
Remember that LAPIS is a practitioner-focused magazine, and articles should provide those concerned with K-12 education with practical advice, actionable takeaways, and concise, engaging, and understandable insights and information. Articles exceeding 1500 words are less likely to be published.
Feature Articles:
Word count: 750-1,500
Feature articles can cover a variety of topics: free speech issues, special education, due process, privacy, religion, discrimination, torts/liability issues, and anything else with a law or policy angle. Authors should present an issue relevant to teachers or administrators in K-12 schools, incorporate the legal contexts or precedents that inform or govern the issue, and offer implications and considerations for schools and educators.
Commentaries:
Word count: 300-600
Commentaries offer a concise, thoughtful take on a current or timeless issue in education law or policy. They’re meant to spark reflection and dialogue, drawing on professional insight, current events, or recent legal developments. Authors are encouraged to share perspective and experience in a way that invites readers to think differently or see familiar challenges from a new angle. The best pieces are grounded, balanced, reflective, and engaging.
Legal Brief:
Word count: 500-850
Authors are encouraged to present one recent case (within the previous 12-24 months) from a state or federal court. The case should appeal to or have implications for educators nationwide. Authors should briefly state the facts of the case, the legal issue or question at hand, the court’s ruling and reasoning, and most importantly, implications for educators. Writing should be concise, using bullet points where appropriate, and should be organized into sections based on the aforementioned bolded components.
Law & Policy Spotlight
Word count: 500-1,000
Authors may submit a “deeper dive” into a particular law or policy with current relevance (e.g. AI, Title IX regulations, vouchers, book bans, parental rights, etc.). Laws or policies can be national or state, but if a state law or policy is selected, authors must ensure that the content has relevance for a national audience. Authors should present a summary of the law or policy and critically discuss its purpose and impacts.
Voices from the Field:
Word count: 500-1,000
LAPIS welcomes articles written by teachers and administrators sharing their experiences, perspectives, expertise, or advice regarding law or policy issues in schools.
Feature Articles:
Word count: 750-1,500
Feature articles can cover a variety of topics: free speech issues, special education, due process, privacy, religion, discrimination, torts/liability issues, and anything else with a law or policy angle. Authors should present an issue relevant to teachers or administrators in K-12 schools, incorporate the legal contexts or precedents that inform or govern the issue, and offer implications and considerations for schools and educators.
Commentaries:
Word count: 300-600
Commentaries offer a concise, thoughtful take on a current or timeless issue in education law or policy. They’re meant to spark reflection and dialogue, drawing on professional insight, current events, or recent legal developments. Authors are encouraged to share perspective and experience in a way that invites readers to think differently or see familiar challenges from a new angle. The best pieces are grounded, balanced, reflective, and engaging.
Legal Brief:
Word count: 500-850
Authors are encouraged to present one recent case (within the previous 12-24 months) from a state or federal court. The case should appeal to or have implications for educators nationwide. Authors should briefly state the facts of the case, the legal issue or question at hand, the court’s ruling and reasoning, and most importantly, implications for educators. Writing should be concise, using bullet points where appropriate, and should be organized into sections based on the aforementioned bolded components.
Law & Policy Spotlight
Word count: 500-1,000
Authors may submit a “deeper dive” into a particular law or policy with current relevance (e.g. AI, Title IX regulations, vouchers, book bans, parental rights, etc.). Laws or policies can be national or state, but if a state law or policy is selected, authors must ensure that the content has relevance for a national audience. Authors should present a summary of the law or policy and critically discuss its purpose and impacts.
Voices from the Field:
Word count: 500-1,000
LAPIS welcomes articles written by teachers and administrators sharing their experiences, perspectives, expertise, or advice regarding law or policy issues in schools.