For Authors

Write
for LAPIS.

LAPIS publishes original work by practitioners, scholars, attorneys, and policymakers who are close to the issues shaping America's schools. If you have something worth saying, we want to hear from you.

Open the Submission Form → See Categories ↓

Who We Welcome

Teachers & Instructional Staff
School & District Administrators
Education-Law Scholars & Researchers
Attorneys Practicing in Education Law
Policymakers & Policy Advocates

LAPIS is a practitioner-focused magazine. We are not a law review. Every piece we publish should leave a reader with something to do, decide, or watch for on Monday morning.

750–1,500 words

Feature Articles

Topical pieces with a clear law-or-policy angle: free speech, special education, due process, privacy, religion, discrimination, torts and liability — anything with implications for K-12 schools.

What to Include

Present an issue relevant to teachers or administrators in K-12 schools.
Incorporate the legal contexts or precedents that inform or govern the issue.
Offer clear implications and practical considerations for schools and educators.

Example Article Sample link coming soon

500–1,000 words

Law & Policy Spotlight

A deeper dive into a particular law or policy with current relevance — AI, Title IX regulations, vouchers, book bans, parental rights, and so on.

What to Include

Laws or policies may be national or state-level.
State pieces must have relevance for a national audience.
Summarize the law or policy, then critically discuss its purpose and impacts.

Example Article Sample link coming soon

500–1,000 words

Voices from the Field

Articles by teachers and administrators sharing their experiences, perspectives, expertise, or advice on law or policy issues — written from inside the building. First-person welcome.

What to Include

First-person perspective is welcome and encouraged.
Ground the piece in a real classroom, hearing, or district decision.
Close with something a colleague could actually use on Monday morning.

Example Article Sample link coming soon

Concise · bullets where useful

Case Briefs

A focused brief of a single court decision and what it means for schools. Structured for skimming — this is the format practitioners reach for first.

What to Include

Briefly state the facts of the case.
Identify the legal issue or question at hand.
Cover the court's ruling and reasoning.
Most importantly — what does this mean for educators?

Example Article Sample link coming soon

300–600 words

Commentaries

A concise, thoughtful take on a current or timeless issue in education law or policy. Short, sharp, opinionated where warranted. Suitable for a back-page slot or a margin column.

What to Include

One argument, one frame — resist the urge to cover everything.
Opinionated where the evidence warrants it.
Suitable for a back-page slot or a margin column.

Example Article Sample link coming soon

Have something that doesn't fit neatly into a category? We're flexible. If you have a piece that's genuinely useful to practitioners and educators, pitch us — we'll tell you where it lands. Email lapis@educationlaw.org with a one-paragraph summary.

Ready to Pitch?

How to Submit

Every submission goes through our editorial team. We read everything and aim to respond within four weeks. We don't require exclusivity during review, but please let us know if the piece is under simultaneous consideration elsewhere.

Open the Submission Form →

Or email directly to lapis@educationlaw.org

Your Full Byline

Full name as you would like it to appear in the magazine. Include the credentials you want printed — title, institution, and any relevant professional designations.

A High-Resolution Headshot

300 dpi minimum. JPEG or TIFF preferred. Low-quality images will not reproduce properly in print, and we cannot run a piece without a printable photo.

Your Manuscript

In the category you're pitching to, within the relevant word count. Word document preferred. Use plain formatting — we'll handle design. Include any citations as endnotes or inline parentheticals.

AI Disclosure

Use of any generative AI tool must be disclosed. Note the tool and describe how it was used. Non-disclosure of AI assistance is grounds for rejection or retraction.

Before You Write

House Style

LAPIS has a strong voice. These four principles will help you write in it — or at least close enough that our editors can work with you.

Conversational, Not Academic: We are not a law review. Write the way a thoughtful colleague would explain the issue over coffee. No jargon that a classroom teacher couldn't parse; no footnoted sentences when a clause will do.
Action-Oriented: Every piece should leave a practitioner with something to do, decide, or watch for. "Here's what this means for your school on Monday morning" is the frame we're always after.
Concise: Articles exceeding 1,500 words are less likely to be published. Bullets are welcome where they genuinely help. Say the most important thing first, not last.
Engaging: Lead with the human stake. A real student, a real case, a real decision — then the law. Cite as needed; don't footnote what a sentence can carry.

See the Summer 2026 issue for tone and format examples.

Browse the Current Issue →

Pitch us a piece.

The editorial team reviews every submission personally. If your piece isn't right for LAPIS, we'll tell you why — and sometimes suggest a better fit. We'd rather hear from you than not.

Open the Submission Form → About the Magazine