Home : Student Rights

Unlawful Suspension of 8th Grader Draws ACLU of Florida Lawsuit Against Sumter County Schools (04/07/2009)
TAMPA, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and its Greater Tampa Chapter filed a federal lawsuit yesterday on behalf of 8th grader Jessica Sorensen, who was suspended from school for refusing to allow her backpack to be searched when school officials had no basis to suspect that she had anything illegal or dangerous in her backpack.

Students to Rally Statehouse in Support of Privacy (04/03/2009)
High School students and educators from across the state will be gathering in Augusta at 9:00am on Monday, April 6th to demand protection for their privacy. The group, which includes students, teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents, will be addressing the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in support of LD 725 – An Act to Protect Student Privacy while Complying with Federal Law.

Art Show to Go On as Scheduled at William & Mary (03/24/2009)
Williamsburg, VA – Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the College of William and Mary have come to an agreement that will allow the controversial Sex Workers Art Show to go on as scheduled tonight. The show was nearly cancelled last year when college officials first delayed approval of the show and then imposed unusual restrictions on it.

ACLU Demands Roane County Abandon Illegal Random Drug Testing of Students (09/10/2008)
KINGSTON, TN – The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) today sent a letter to the Roane County school district demanding a stop to the random drug testing of student athletes which is in clear violation of state law. In addition to being illegal, random drug testing of students is proven to be ineffective in deterring drug use and is opposed by leading experts in adolescent health, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Education Association, the Association of Addiction Professionals and the National Association of Social Workers.

Federal Judge Rules that the state of Hawaii Department of Education Must Fulfill Its Obligation to Homeless Children (02/14/2008)
HONOLULU – U.S. District Court Chief Judge Helen Gillmor has ordered the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) to change its enrollment procedures to ensure equal access for homeless children. After hearing from civil rights groups and attorneys representing three homeless parents and their five children on 2/11/08, Judge Gillmor granted their motion for preliminary injunction in part and their motion to proceed as a class action.

Advocates Testify On Impact Of School Suspensions And Demand Passage Of The Student Safety Act (01/23/2008)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of advocates today called on the New York City Council to pass the Student Safety Act, legislation that would provide much-needed transparency and scrutiny to the disciplinary and security policies in New York City public schools.

ACLU of Ohio Tells School Officials to Stop Forcing Students to Turn Over Cell Phones (11/27/2007)
MASON, OH – In a letter today to Dr. David Allen, principal at William Mason High School, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio warned school officials that their current practice of seizing student cell phones and reading personal text messages was poor policy and unconstitutional. Recently, the ACLU of Ohio received complaints from students and parents at the school because several administrators began confiscating phones and reading private text messages to determine if the students attended private parties off school grounds during the weekend.

ACLU of Ohio Launches Teen Health Publication in Spanish (11/26/2007)
CLEVELAND- Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio unveiled its new Spanish guide on teen health, “Tu Salud y La Ley: Una Guía para Adolescentes.” A translated and updated version of, “Your Health and the Law: A Guide for Teens,” this booklet provides insight into both Ohio and federal laws regarding teen health care with the adolescent reader in mind.

Civil Rights Lawyers Ask Court to Block Laws Illegally Denying Homeless Children Equal Access to Education (11/06/2007)
HONOLULU – Advancing their class action lawsuit, Lawyers for Equal Justice (LEJ) and the ACLU of Hawaii today filed a motion in federal court seeking an order to immediately halt state officials from enforcing laws and policies that block access by homeless children to public education. These measures are in violation of federal law.

ACLU Takes the Fight for Civil Liberties to the Comic Book Pages (09/05/2007)
NEW YORK -- From Iron Man being appointed President Bush’s Secretary of Defense to the release of Marvel’s “Civil War” series, comic books today are bringing political issues directly to their readers. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union — the real-world organization on the frontlines of the battle to protect civil liberties — is putting on a mask and cape and venturing into the comic book world.