Home : Student Rights

Citing Student Privacy, Court Blocks Random Drug Testing at New Jersey High School (01/04/2001)
NEWARK--Saying that "students should not have to surrender their right to privacy," a New Jersey judge today blocked a local high school's random drug testing policy in a challenge brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey on behalf of three area families.

In Football Controversy, ACLU of MN Sues School District on Behalf of 10-Year-Old Packers Fan (12/15/2000)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN--The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit against the New Prague School District on behalf of Roy Sonkowsky and his son Rocky, who was excluded by school officials from participating in school activities because of his allegiance to the Green Bay Packers football team.

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 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.

Court Rules that Tragic Police Outing of Gay Teen Violated Constitutional Rights; ACLU Sees Broad Impact (11/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a solid victory for the privacy rights of lesbian and gay Americans -- and particularly for young gay people -- a Federal Appeals Court ruled late yesterday that police violated a gay teen's constitutional rights when they threatened to tell his family that he was gay. The boy committed suicide after the threat was made.

Major Victory in Tragic Case of Teen Outing Will Have Broad Impact for LGBT Youth (11/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a solid victory for the privacy rights of lesbian and gay Americans -- and particularly for young gay people -- a Federal Appeals Court ruled late yesterday that police violated a gay teen's constitutional rights when they threatened to tell his family that he was gay. The boy committed suicide after the threat was made.

High School Volleyball Player Fights Urine Testing With Aid of Oregon ACLU (10/31/2000)
EUGENE -- A 15-year-old high school student and her parents are going to court today to challenge her removal from the Oakridge High School volleyball team for refusing to consent to random urinalysis drug testing, in case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon.

ACLU of Oklahoma Files Federal Lawsuit on Behalf of Student Accused of "Hexing" a Teacher (10/26/2000)
TULSA, OK--In a case reminiscent of the Salem Witch trials, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma today filed a federal lawsuit charging that school officials violated 15-year-old Brandi Blackbear's rights when they accused her of casting a hex that resulted in a teacher's illness.

In Free Speech Victory, City College Teachers Agree to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Critique Website (10/03/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO--Days before a scheduled hearing in San Francisco Superior Court, the ACLU of Northern California achieved a victory when two City College professors here voluntarily agreed to dismiss their lawsuit against Ryan Lathouwers, the operator of an Internet website where students can post critiques of their teachers.

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 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 Says Louisiana Dress Code Denies Rastafarian Children the Right to an Education (09/18/2000)
LAFAYETTE, LA--The American Civil Liberties Union believes that Rastafarian children have the right to enroll in and attend school without having to choose between their religion and their education. In pursuit of that right, the ACLU today filed a lawsuit on behalf of two parents and their eight children who profess and practice the Rastafarian faith, tradition and belief system.