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 : Press Releases

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.

ACLU Sues Ohio School Board that Sold Students' Personal Information to a Bank (08/29/2000)
CLEVELAND, OH--The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a lawsuit against a local school district, saying that it violated the privacy of its students when it sold their personal information to a local bank.

ACLU Challenge Ends Student Drug Testing in Maryland Schools (08/17/2000)
EASTON, MD -- In a national first, Maryland school officials who removed 18 high school students from final exam review classes and forced them to have their urine tested on the stage of their school auditorium agreed last night to cease all student drug testing in county schools and pay damages to the students, effectively conceding that the harms of school drug testing outweigh the benefits.

ACLU of Michigan Sues School District Over Strip Search of Students (08/15/2000)
DETROIT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a federal lawsuit today against the Whitmore Lake School District for the unjustified strip searches of more than 20 male and female students last May.

Court Orders School to Enroll Honors Student Who Protested Mandatory Uniform Policy (08/15/2000)
ALBUQUERQUE -- A sixth-grade honors student in Las Cruces started school today with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, when a federal judge forced officials to enroll him after they turned him away because he opposes school uniforms.

With ACLU Help, Parents and Students Fight Drug Testing Policies at NJ High School (08/14/2000)
NEWARK, NJ -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit challenging Hunterdon Central High School's expanded drug testing policy, which requires that students participating in athletics, extracurricular activities and those parking on campus submit to random drug tests.

Virginia School to Use Cameras To Keep Eye on Students (08/06/2000)
FAIRFAX, VA -- High school and middle school students in Virginia's Fauquier County will be watched by electronic eyes this year after the installation of almost $60,000 worth of cameras over the spring and summer, The Washington Post reported

Washington Court Upholds Student Free Speech Rights on Internet (07/18/2000)
OLYMPIA, WA -- In the latest victory for student rights in cyberspace, a county judge here today ruled that public school officials cannot punish a student for free speech outside of school. 

ACLU of Arkansas Sues School District on Behalf of Student Expelled for Creating Off-Campus Web Site (06/22/2000)
LITTLE ROCK -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas filed a lawsuit in federal court today on behalf of the parents of 15-year-old Justin Redman, who was expelled from Valley View Junior High School in Jonesboro for creating a Web site from his home that parodied the official school Web site and lampooned some school administrators, teachers and students.

ACLU Asks Senate to Preserve Civil Liberties While Preventing Terrorism (06/15/2000)
"This report is a virtual smorgasbord of civil liberties violations," said ACLU Legislative Counsel Gregory T. Nojeim, who pointed to a broad range of red flags raised by the Commission's report. 

Attack on Terrorism Misses Target, Hits America's Freedoms Instead, Charges the ACLU (06/05/2000)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today criticized a new report by the National Commission on Terrorism, which included several disturbing recommendations, including putting the Pentagon in charge when there is a terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

ACLU Will Take Battle Against Yeshiva University's Anti-Gay Housing Discrimination to State's Highest Court (05/15/2000)
NEW YORK--Vowing to press ahead against a common form of anti-gay discrimination nationwide, the American Civil Liberties Union today said it will appeal a New York Supreme Court ruling that affirms Yeshiva University's policy prohibiting same-sex pairs from living in couples' student housing.

WA Student Enters Court Today in Challenge to School Punishment For Parody Created on Home Computer (05/12/2000)
OLYMPIA, WA--A student at Timberline High School in nearby Lacey is going to court today to challenge his suspension last year for posting an Internet parody lampooning the school's assistant principal.

Students and Parents Challenge "Rumor Mill" Drug Testing at Maryland High School (05/02/2000)
BALTIMORE, MD -- In what is believed to be the first legal challenge to student drug testing in the state, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland and a private law firm filed suit here today in federal district court on behalf of a group of Easton High School students and their parents.

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