/student-rights Student Rights en-US 2021 (c) Education Week Thu, 14 May 2026 20:08:20 GMT /sponsor/advancement-project/student-voices-matter-now-school-leaders-must-protect-the-young-people-brave-enough-to-raise-them School leaders should protect student protesters and affirm youth civic action as essential to democracy. Thu, 14 May 2026 20:08:20 GMT /sponsor/advancement-project/student-voices-matter-now-school-leaders-must-protect-the-young-people-brave-enough-to-raise-them /policy-politics/appeals-court-revives-lawsuit-over-1st-graders-black-lives-matter-drawing/2026/03 A court revived a 1st grader 's claim she was punished for giving a drawing to a Black classmate. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:20:01 GMT /policy-politics/appeals-court-revives-lawsuit-over-1st-graders-black-lives-matter-drawing/2026/03 /policy-politics/project-2025-group-targets-undocumented-students-access-to-free-education/2026/02 The conservative group put forward Project 2025, which has shaped Trump administration policy. Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:58:15 GMT /policy-politics/project-2025-group-targets-undocumented-students-access-to-free-education/2026/02 /leadership/free-speech-debates-resurface-with-student-walkouts-over-ice-raids/2026/02 As students walk out to protest immigration enforcement tactics, schools face questions about safety and speech. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:09:20 GMT /leadership/free-speech-debates-resurface-with-student-walkouts-over-ice-raids/2026/02 /policy-politics/appeals-court-halts-ruling-letting-teachers-disclose-students-gender-identity/2026/01 A federal appeals court has temporarily paused enforcement of the ruling but has not yet decided whether to grant a longer-term stay. Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:15:59 GMT /policy-politics/appeals-court-halts-ruling-letting-teachers-disclose-students-gender-identity/2026/01 /policy-politics/schools-cant-bar-teachers-from-telling-parents-if-kids-are-transgender-judge-rules/2025/12 The injunction bans any public school employee from misleading parents about their child’s gender presentation at school. Wed, 24 Dec 2025 18:12:37 GMT /policy-politics/schools-cant-bar-teachers-from-telling-parents-if-kids-are-transgender-judge-rules/2025/12 /policy-politics/federal-appeals-court-upholds-8th-graders-expulsion-over-gun-comments-in-class/2025/12 Shortly after a nearby mass school shooting, a student allegedly discussed bringing a gun to school. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:43:22 GMT /policy-politics/federal-appeals-court-upholds-8th-graders-expulsion-over-gun-comments-in-class/2025/12 /policy-politics/court-rejects-discipline-of-student-whose-post-mocked-george-floyds-death/2025/10 An appeals court ruled that a student's off-campus social media post is constitutionally protected. Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:03:12 GMT /policy-politics/court-rejects-discipline-of-student-whose-post-mocked-george-floyds-death/2025/10 /policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-administrators-who-banned-lets-go-brandon-shirts/2025/10 A coded message of political criticism was vulgar and can be barred in schools. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:27:31 GMT /policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-administrators-who-banned-lets-go-brandon-shirts/2025/10 /teaching-learning/advocates-call-for-return-of-rescinded-federal-guidance-on-english-learners/2025/09 The Trump administration quietly rescinded 2015 guidance on English learners' federal rights. Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:48:30 GMT /teaching-learning/advocates-call-for-return-of-rescinded-federal-guidance-on-english-learners/2025/09 /policy-politics/schools-confederate-name-violates-students-free-speech-judge-says/2025/09 The district was the first to reverse course and bring back Confederate names for its schools. The litigation is ongoing. Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:36:53 GMT /policy-politics/schools-confederate-name-violates-students-free-speech-judge-says/2025/09 /policy-politics/trump-says-ed-dept-will-release-new-guidance-on-school-prayer/2025/09 The federal agency will wade into an intensified debate over the place of religion in schools. Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:20:42 GMT /policy-politics/trump-says-ed-dept-will-release-new-guidance-on-school-prayer/2025/09 /teaching-learning/trump-admin-quietly-rescinds-guidance-on-english-learners-rights/2025/08 The 2015 Dear Colleague letter detailed how schools and districts can comply with federal requirements in English-learner education. Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:47:15 GMT /teaching-learning/trump-admin-quietly-rescinds-guidance-on-english-learners-rights/2025/08 /policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-in-anti-abortion-clubs-flyer-dispute/2025/08 A federal appeals court upheld an Indiana school district's limitation on a Students for Life club's political messages on school walls. Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:46:33 GMT /policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-in-anti-abortion-clubs-flyer-dispute/2025/08 /policy-politics/supreme-court-wont-hear-two-genders-student-t-shirt-case/2025/05 Over two justices' dissent, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a student barred from wearing an anti-transgender T-shirt. Tue, 27 May 2025 19:55:45 GMT /policy-politics/supreme-court-wont-hear-two-genders-student-t-shirt-case/2025/05 /teaching-learning/do-teachers-political-beliefs-shape-outcomes-for-english-learners/2025/05 Educators and experts spoke about the implications behind teachers opposing federal mandates on English learners and immigrant students. Thu, 01 May 2025 20:51:58 GMT /teaching-learning/do-teachers-political-beliefs-shape-outcomes-for-english-learners/2025/05 /teaching-learning/immigrant-students-rights-a-guide-for-schools-front-office-staff/2024/10 A downloadable guide to help school staff familiarize themselves with immigrant students' rights and schools' responsibilities to them. Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:00:31 GMT /teaching-learning/immigrant-students-rights-a-guide-for-schools-front-office-staff/2024/10 /leadership/religion-in-public-schools-explained/2024/08 Public schools cannot promote any particular religion, and they must respect the individual religious beliefs of students and staff. Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:47:11 GMT /leadership/religion-in-public-schools-explained/2024/08 /leadership/high-school-athletes-can-profit-from-brand-deals-what-that-means-for-schools/2024/08 Student-athletes in most states can cash in on their name, image, and likeness while still in high school. Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:06:41 GMT /leadership/high-school-athletes-can-profit-from-brand-deals-what-that-means-for-schools/2024/08 /policy-politics/court-backs-school-that-barred-students-two-genders-shirt/2024/06 The court said the shirt could be understood to demean transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and administrators could prohibit it. Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:55:27 GMT /policy-politics/court-backs-school-that-barred-students-two-genders-shirt/2024/06 /leadership/israel-hamas-war-poses-tough-questions-for-k-12-leaders-too/2024/05 High school students have joined walkouts, while charges of antisemitism in three districts will be the focus of a House hearing this week. Mon, 06 May 2024 22:15:15 GMT /leadership/israel-hamas-war-poses-tough-questions-for-k-12-leaders-too/2024/05 /technology/civil-rights-groups-seek-federal-funding-ban-on-ai-powered-surveillance-tools/2024/04 In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, the coalition argued these tools could violate students' civil rights. Thu, 04 Apr 2024 21:25:10 GMT /technology/civil-rights-groups-seek-federal-funding-ban-on-ai-powered-surveillance-tools/2024/04 /teaching-learning/should-students-vote-for-school-boards-the-case-for-lower-voting-ages-in-local-elections/2024/01 Doing so can give students more time to build lifelong voting habits, some advocates say. Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:54:20 GMT /teaching-learning/should-students-vote-for-school-boards-the-case-for-lower-voting-ages-in-local-elections/2024/01 /leadership/opinion-an-urgent-message-to-school-leaders-your-arab-and-muslim-students-need-you/2023/10 In the past, Middle East conflicts prompted spikes of anti-Muslim collective blame. It’s happening again today. Fri, 27 Oct 2023 21:25:16 GMT /leadership/opinion-an-urgent-message-to-school-leaders-your-arab-and-muslim-students-need-you/2023/10 /policy-politics/americas-children-dont-have-a-federal-right-to-education-will-that-ever-change/2023/10 An education scholar is launching a new research and advocacy institute to make the case for a federal right to education. Tue, 24 Oct 2023 19:49:46 GMT /policy-politics/americas-children-dont-have-a-federal-right-to-education-will-that-ever-change/2023/10 /policy-politics/a-student-lampooned-his-principal-on-instagram-and-got-suspended-now-hes-suing/2023/07 The student argues his posts did not disrupt school and are protected under a Supreme Court decision. Wed, 19 Jul 2023 15:32:01 GMT /policy-politics/a-student-lampooned-his-principal-on-instagram-and-got-suspended-now-hes-suing/2023/07 /teaching-learning/feds-to-schools-immigrant-students-entitled-to-free-public-education-regardless-of-status/2023/06 The U.S Departments of Justice and Education outline the obligations schools have to immigrant students. Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:31:24 GMT /teaching-learning/feds-to-schools-immigrant-students-entitled-to-free-public-education-regardless-of-status/2023/06 /policy-politics/their-district-banned-lets-go-brandon-shirts-now-students-are-suing/2023/05 The Michigan students wore hoodies with the coded message critical of President Biden, which their district says is inappropriate for school. Tue, 02 May 2023 20:43:44 GMT /policy-politics/their-district-banned-lets-go-brandon-shirts-now-students-are-suing/2023/05 /policy-politics/schools-routinely-search-students-for-weapons-under-safety-plans-should-they/2023/03 The recent shooting at a Denver high school involved a student who was subjected to daily patdowns because of a prior disciplinary matter. Thu, 30 Mar 2023 22:18:01 GMT /policy-politics/schools-routinely-search-students-for-weapons-under-safety-plans-should-they/2023/03 /leadership/transgender-student-athletes-just-want-to-play-will-federal-law-assure-they-can/2022/09 As state debates rage, the U.S. Department of Education promises to update Title IX. But details and timing remain uncertain. Thu, 08 Sep 2022 20:30:07 GMT /leadership/transgender-student-athletes-just-want-to-play-will-federal-law-assure-they-can/2022/09