American Civil Liberties Union

Student Rights:
Constitutional violations are far too common in public schools across the country. Teachers and administrators have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for the students that is conducive to learning. They also have a responsibility to respect each student's individual rights. Simply put, students have rights too. Learn more and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.


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Student Rights : Freedom of Expression : Press Releases

After ACLU Intervenes, Principal Apologizes to San Diego High School Student for Free Speech Violation (04/29/2002)
SAN DIEGO--In accordance with a settlement agreement negotiated by the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego, a local high school principal has issued a formal written apology to a student he threatened to punish for distributing pamphlets which advised students of their right not to take a standardized test, the ACLU announced today. 

ACLU Files Lawsuit Challenging Alaska School District's Censorship of Student's Off-Campus Speech (04/25/2002)
JUNEAU, AK--The Alaska Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal district court against a high school principal and the Juneau School Board for violating the free speech rights of a student after he displayed a banner off school property saying, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." The student was suspended for 10 days. 

ACLU Sues Michigan School for Suspending Honor Student Who Privately Criticized Tardiness Policy (09/05/2001)
PLEASANT, MI--The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a lawsuit today in federal court against the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools on behalf of an honor student who was suspended for writing a humorous commentary criticizing his school's new tardiness policy.

ACLU Defends Ohio 8th Grader Expelled for Humorous Web Site Created at Home (07/26/2001)
CLEVELAND--The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a federal lawsuit challenging the suspension and expulsion of an 8th grade student over a web site he and his friends created off-campus. 

Lawsuit Seeks to Block Play Depicting Gay Christ (07/18/2001)
FT. WAYNE, IN -- Residents and state lawmakers asked a judge Tuesday to block a state university from allowing students to stage a play that portrays a gay Christ-like character, the Associated Press reported. 

ACLU of Illinois Welcomes University's Action on "Chief Illiniwek" Issue as Victory for Free Speech (06/06/2001)
CHICAGO--The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and its clients in a lawsuit against the University of Illinois today expressed hope that a new directive issued by e-mail from the office of Chancellor Michael Aiken signals the end of the University's efforts to censor the speech of thousands of its students and faculty. 

University of Illinois Students and Faculty Challenge Gag Rule Set by Chancellor (03/22/2001)
CHICAGO - In a federal lawsuit filed today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois charged that efforts by the University of Illinois Chancellor to limit faculty and students' public statements surrounding the school's controversial use of Native American Chief Illiniwek as a school mascot are an unconstitutional limitation upon free speech rights. 

ACLU Challenges GA Prison's Claim that Cartoon Drawn By Student Could Incite Racial Violence (03/15/2001)
ATLANTA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia today filed a lawsuit challenging the censorship of a cartoon which officials at Calhoun State Prison in Morgan claimed might incite racial violence among prisoners.

Free Speech Victory For NJ University Alumni Group in Magazine Censorship Case (03/13/2001)
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Superior Court Judge Joseph Messina ruled today that Rutgers University Magazine violated the free speech rights of the Rutgers 1000 Alumni Council by refusing to publish their advertisement. 

ACLU of Kentucky Hails Two Free Speech Victories (01/05/2001)
Ruling en banc in what is being called a landmark case, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals said that Kentucky State University officials violated the First Amendment when they confiscated and banned distribution of the school's student-produced yearbook. 

Rhode Island School District Reinstates Student Suspended for English Composition (12/05/2000)
JOHNSTON, RI -- The Johnston School District has agreed to reinstate 11th grader Matthew Parent, who had been given a summary and indefinite suspension more than a month ago based on the content of extra-credit journal writing he submitted in his English Honors class.

ACLU Challenges Suspension of Student in Latest Example of "Post-Columbine Hysteria" (11/21/2000)
JOHNSTON, RI--In response to the latest example of lingering post-Columbine hysteria, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit challenging a local school's indefinite suspension, without notice or a hearing, of an 11th-grade honors student based solely on the content of an extra-credit journal writing assignment for his English Honors class. 

ACLU of Arkansas Defends Student Expelled for Private Writing Deemed "Terroristic Threat" (09/26/2000)
LITTLE ROCK, AR--The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas today asked a federal court to reinstate a 14-year-old boy who was expelled over private writing that another boy took out of his house without his knowledge and showed to a student at their school.

ACLU of Texas Issues "Banned Books" Report In Wake of Major Victory in Local Censorship Case (09/22/2000)
AUSTIN, TX--Kicking off national "Banned Books Week," and in the wake of a recent local victory in a book censorship case, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas today issued a 71-page report on books that were banned or challenged in Texas public schools during the 1999-2000 school year.

ACLU Urges Boston School to Annul Suspension of Creative Student (04/27/2000)
BOSTON, MA -- When Boston Latin Academy suspended Charles Carithers for writing a vivid horror story as assigned by his English teacher, the school not only violated the rights of the student, but violated the principles of free expression which the school should be jealously guarding, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts said today.

Charlotte Student Wins First ACLU Youth College Scholarship (04/20/2000)
RALEIGH, NC -- The American Civil Liberties Union today announced the winners of a nationwide student activist college scholarship competition, awarding eight high school seniors $4,000 each for outstanding contributions in the struggle for civil liberties and the rights of young people.

Salt Lake City Student Wins First ACLU Youth College Scholarship (04/20/2000)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- The American Civil Liberties Union today announced the winners of a nationwide student activist college scholarship competition, awarding eight high school students $4,000 each for outstanding contributions in the struggle for civil liberties and the rights of young people.

ACLU Defends Student Website in Case that Threatens Free Expression on the Internet (01/31/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- In a case with important implications for free speech on the Internet, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has asked a Superior Court to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at shutting down a website that provides student reviews of the teachers at San Francisco City College.

ACLU Vows Legal Action Over Honor Student's Expulsion for Displaying Artwork (01/20/2000)
LEON, KANSAS -- As school officials convened this morning to hear an appeal of a high school senior expelled for displaying artwork deemed "threatening," the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri vowed to bring a court challenge if the punishment is not rescinded.

ACLU Defends Missouri Honors Student Suspended for Remark in Internet Chat Room (10/14/1999)
ST. LOUIS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed a federal lawsuit this week against a local school district for suspending an honors student who spoke his mind on an Internet chat room on the topic of school violence.

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