Home : Student Rights : Due Process/Zero Tolerance

ACLU of Rhode Island Files Lawsuit Challenging Ban of High School Yearbook Photo (12/12/2006)
PROVIDENCE, RI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Portsmouth High School senior Patrick Agin, whose planned yearbook photo was rejected by the principal on the grounds that it violates the school district's "zero tolerance" policy for weapons. In the photo, Patrick is dressed in a medieval chain mail coat with a prop sword over his shoulder, representing his long-standing interest in medieval history.

ACLU Raises Concerns About RI School's "Anti-Bullying" Policy (11/13/2002)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - - Rejecting concerns voiced by the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, the East Providence School Committee last night gave final passage to an overly broad and vague "anti-bullying" policy. The ACLU said it is now considering a legal challenge to the policy.

ACLU Responds with Humor After Louisiana School Bars Girl From Class for Failing to Wear a Belt (03/20/2001)
CHALMETTE, LA - At a news conference today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana presented local high school officials with much needed uniform accessories -- belts inscribed with the ACLU logo -- in response to a complaint filed by a parent after his daughter was removed from class for violating the dress code by not wearing a belt. 

ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Maine High School Student Expelled for Taking Pain Reliever (02/01/2001)
PORTLAND, ME - In yet another case of zero tolerance school policy gone awry, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine filed a lawsuit today on behalf of ninth-grader Tracy Jannicelli, who was denied her right to due process when she was expelled by school officials for violating her school's zero tolerance drug policy, which bans possession or use of Tylenol. 

ACLU Lawsuit Charges Hawai'i School Officials and Police with Persecution of 12-Year-Old Girl (11/16/2000)
HONOLULU--School officials and city police officers violated a 12-year-old girl's rights when they had her arrested, handcuffed and partially strip-searched over a missing $20 bill, all without notifying her parents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i charged in a federal lawsuit today.

ACLU of Georgia Represents Student Suspended from School for Carrying "Tweety Bird" Key Chain (10/02/2000)
ATLANTA, GA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia announced today that the organization will be representing 11-year-old Ashley Smith and other students in an effort to change Cobb County's controversial "zero tolerance" policy.

ACLU Hails Victory in Defense of 11-Year-Old in Trouble for "Home Alone" Inspired Drawings (03/13/2000)
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- An 11-year-old who triggered the overreaction of local school and police officials with his "Home Alone" inspired drawings of booby-traps has finally been freed from court proceedings against his family, the ACLU of Arkansas announced today.

ACLU Asks Rhode Island to Overturn School "Zero Tolerance" Policy (12/02/1999)
South Kingstown, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island said today that it is seeking to overturn a "zero tolerance" policy after a high school senior was barred from all school-related activities for the entire academic year when she admitted to taking a sip of alcohol before a school dance.

RI School Withdraws Proposed Expulsion Of Student for the "Crime" of Being on a List (09/13/1999)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- School officials have agreed to withdraw the proposed expulsion of a middle-grade student whose sole "crime" was that his name appeared on the list of another student involved in a shoving match, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island said today.