School law for the child psychiatrist: legal principles and case implications.

Schools are evolving to support all students, including those with mental health issues. Clinicians can help patients and schools by providing diagnostic clarity about a child’s condition, how that condition interferes with school progress, and what interventions are needed in the school setting. State and Federal legislation supports timely response by schools to mental health issues emerging in students through special education laws and general education accommodations, such as Response To Intervention (RTI), which encourages schools to implement evidence-based interventions for students exhibiting mental health conditions. Case examples illuminate important legal considerations when clinicians are faced with issues such as therapeutic placements, home hospital forms, and substance abuse, and student misconduct.