Student Rights

Learn more about conflicts over what rights students have at school
ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman, left, and Liam Morrison speak at a press conference following oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit on Feb. 8, 2024.
David Cortman, senior counsel and vice president of Alliance Defending Freedom, left, and middle school student Liam Morrison speak to reporters following oral arguments over Morrison's "There Are Only Two Genders" T-shirt before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit in Boston on Feb. 8, 2024.
Courtesy of Alliance Defending Freedom
Law & Courts Court Backs School That Barred Student's 'Two Genders' Shirt
The court said the shirt could be understood to demean transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and administrators could prohibit it.
Mark Walsh, June 10, 2024
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5 min read
Officers with the New York Police Department raid the encampment by pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, in New York. The protesters had seized the administration building, known as Hamilton Hall, more than 20 hours earlier in a major escalation as demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war spread on college campuses nationwide.
New York City police officers raid the encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University on April 30, 2024. Although not as turbulent as what is happening on many college campuses, K-12 schools in some pockets of the country are also contending with conflict stemming from the Israel-Hamas war.
Marco Postigo Storel via AP
School & District Management Israel-Hamas War Poses Tough Questions for K-12 Leaders, Too
High school students have joined walkouts, while charges of antisemitism in three districts will be the focus of a House hearing this week.
Mark Walsh, May 6, 2024
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9 min read
Illustration of human silhouette and facial recognition.
DigitalVision Vectors / Getty
School Climate & Safety Civil Rights Groups Seek Federal Funding Ban on AI-Powered Surveillance Tools
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, the coalition argued these tools could violate students' civil rights.
Lauraine Langreo, April 4, 2024
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4 min read
Two teen boys sit behind a long table with a sign on the front that says "voter registration" in bold black letters.
High school students Sawyer Brockman, left, and Jack Skilling volunteer at the voter registration table for the presidential primary election at Windham High School, on Jan. 23, 2024, in Windham, N.H. Encouraging students to volunteer in elections can help them understand the process before their first time voting, experts said.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Social Studies Should Students Vote for School Boards? The Case for Lower Voting Ages in Local Elections
Doing so can give students more time to build lifelong voting habits, some advocates say.
Evie Blad, January 30, 2024
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5 min read
Illustration of a silhouetted figure standing in isolation on a labyrinth swirl.
Lorenzo Donati/iStock/Getty<br/>
Equity & Diversity Opinion An Urgent Message to School Leaders: Your Arab and Muslim Students Need You
In the past, Middle East conflicts prompted spikes of anti-Muslim collective blame. It’s happening again today.
Amaarah DeCuir , October 27, 2023
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5 min read
Kimberly Robinson speaks at the kickoff event for the new Education Rights Institute at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Va., on Oct. 16, 2023.
Kimberly Robinson speaks at the kickoff event for the new Education Rights Institute at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Va., on Oct. 16, 2023.
Julia Davis, University of Virginia School of Law
Federal America's Children Don't Have a Federal Right to Education. Will That Ever Change?
An education scholar is launching a new research and advocacy institute to make the case for a federal right to education.
Mark Lieberman, October 24, 2023
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6 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on July 13, 2023, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court on July 13, 2023, in Washington. A Tennessee student is suing his school district over his suspension for social media posts that lampooned his principal, and the student contends his discipline is inconsistent with a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court decision on when schools may punish off-campus speech.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts A Student Lampooned His Principal on Instagram and Got Suspended. Now, He's Suing
The student argues his posts did not disrupt school and are protected under a Supreme Court decision.
Mark Walsh, July 19, 2023
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6 min read
A Muslim girl and a Black boy are sitting beside each other in a tech classroom as they work with their own tablet computers.
E+/Getty
English Learners Feds to Schools: Immigrant Students Entitled to Free Public Education, Regardless of Status
The U.S Departments of Justice and Education outline the obligations schools have to immigrant students.
Ileana Najarro, June 22, 2023
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3 min read
A person wears a "Let's Go Brandon" hat before Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a Get Out the Vote Rally, on the eve of gubernatorial and other primaries in the state, on May 23, 2022, in Kennesaw, Ga.
A person wears a "Let's Go Brandon" hat before Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a Get Out the Vote Rally, on the eve of gubernatorial and other primaries in the state, on May 23, 2022, in Kennesaw, Ga.
Brynn Anderson/AP
Law & Courts Their District Banned 'Let's Go Brandon!' Shirts. Now Students Are Suing
The Michigan students wore hoodies with the coded message critical of President Biden, which their district says is inappropriate for school.
Mark Walsh, May 2, 2023
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8 min read
Emergency personnel remove police tape outside East High School after a school shooting, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver.
Emergency personnel remove police tape outside East High School after a school shooting, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver.
Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via AP
Law & Courts Schools Routinely Search Students for Weapons Under Safety Plans. Should They?
The recent shooting at a Denver high school involved a student who was subjected to daily patdowns because of a prior disciplinary matter.
Mark Walsh, March 30, 2023
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9 min read
Sivan Kotler-Berkowitz, 17, a transgender student-athlete, plays soccer with his brother, Lev, at a Massachusetts park on Sept. 3, 2022.
Sivan Kotler-Berkowitz, 17, a transgender student-athlete, plays soccer at a Massachusetts park.
Angela Rowlings for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Transgender Student Athletes 'Just Want to Play.' Will Federal Law Assure They Can?
As state debates rage, the U.S. Department of Education promises to update Title IX. But details and timing remain uncertain.
Libby Stanford, September 8, 2022
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10 min read
Conceptual picture of transgender flag overlaying shadows and silhouettes of anonymous people on a road.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Equity & Diversity Texas School District Imposes Broad Restrictions on Transgender Students' Rights
The policy addresses bathroom use, students' pronouns, and library books, and it prohibits discussion of gender fluidity in the classroom.
Eesha Pendharkar, September 7, 2022
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4 min read
Conceptual image of genders.
Anne-Marie Miller/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Guidelines Supporting Trans Students Don't Violate Parents' Rights, A Federal Judge Rules
A Maryland U.S. district court judge ruled that a policy to protect trans and non-binary students doesn't violate parents' federal rights.
Eesha Pendharkar, August 31, 2022
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5 min read
Image of a gavel
iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Appeals Court Revives Student's Free Speech Suit Over Antisemitic Social Media Post
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit reinstated a case involving an off-campus post referring to the extermination of Jews.
Mark Walsh, July 8, 2022
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3 min read
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