DES MOINES, IOWA – The following statement on the bullying bill in the Iowa Legislature can be attributed to Jeremy Rosen, ACLU of Iowa Executive Director:
“The ACLU of Iowa commends lawmakers who voted Wednesday evening against legislation that would have expanded the authority of schools to monitor, investigate, and discipline students’ constitutionally protected speech.
The ACLU of Iowa is a strong advocate for reducing bullying in our schools, while safeguarding young people’s constitutional rights. Bullying is a serious problem that warrants thoughtful action by schools and policymakers.
The proposed legislation would have expanded the authority of school officials to monitor and curb student free speech when it was outside school hours, off school time, and in a variety of electronic and social media. Allowing school officials to monitor student communications 24/7—even when under the care and supervision of parents, an employer, a summer camp, or a church group—raises troubling free speech and due process issues.
The ACLU of Iowa has suggested alternative language to include in a bullying bill. We will continue to support the effort to provide kids in Iowa with a safe, nondiscriminatory school environment where civil and constitutional rights are protected.”
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