Home : Student Rights : Off-Campus Conduct

ACLU Urges Rhode Island Supreme Court to Review Truancy Courts (04/30/2007)
PROVIDENCE, RI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today asked the state Supreme Court to review a case that raises fundamental questions about the procedures used by so-called “truancy courts” that prosecute students who are absent from school. The ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case arguing that essential due process safeguards are absent from the operation of these courts, which have become increasingly prevalent in public schools across the state.

ACLU of Ohio Successfully Defends Student’s Free Speech (04/27/2006)
HOLLAND, OH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today applauded a decision by the Springfield School Board to reinstate eighth-grade student Jessica Schoch. Schoch was not allowed to attend school or participate in extracurricular activities after school officials discovered a MySpace.com profile that parodied a school administrator.

ACLU of Ohio Urges School to Rescind Punishment for Student Who Criticized School in Off-Campus Postings (05/06/2004)
CLEVELAND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today sent a letter to Lancaster City Schools' Interim Superintendent on behalf of the family of a student who was suspended and is currently being expelled for creating a website that skewers school administrators and staff. The website was created and maintained off school grounds, using no school resources.

ACLU Defends Louisiana High School Students Blocked From Starting an ACLU Club (10/03/2001)
ALEXANDRIA, LA --The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana announced today that it will sponsor a lawsuit against the Rapides Parish School Board, because it has refused for eight months to comply with the Equal Access Act regarding operation of non-curriculum clubs at Bolton High School by refusing to approve the formation of an ACLU club there.

In Free Speech Victory, City College Teachers Agree to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Critique Website (10/03/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO--Days before a scheduled hearing in San Francisco Superior Court, the ACLU of Northern California achieved a victory when two City College professors here voluntarily agreed to dismiss their lawsuit against Ryan Lathouwers, the operator of an Internet website where students can post critiques of their teachers.

Jessica G. v. Westerly School Department -- ACLU Brief (04/23/2007)
Jessica G. v. Westerly School Department -- ACLU Brief

Opinion in Dwyer v. Oceanport (04/04/2005)

ACLU Brief in Frederick v. Morse (04/25/2002)