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.

Washington Court Upholds Student Free Speech Rights on Internet (07/18/2000)
OLYMPIA, WA -- In the latest victory for student rights in cyberspace, a county judge here today ruled that public school officials cannot punish a student for free speech outside of school. 

ACLU of Arkansas Sues School District on Behalf of Student Expelled for Creating Off-Campus Web Site (06/22/2000)
LITTLE ROCK -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas filed a lawsuit in federal court today on behalf of the parents of 15-year-old Justin Redman, who was expelled from Valley View Junior High School in Jonesboro for creating a Web site from his home that parodied the official school Web site and lampooned some school administrators, teachers and students.

WA Student Enters Court Today in Challenge to School Punishment For Parody Created on Home Computer (05/12/2000)
OLYMPIA, WA--A student at Timberline High School in nearby Lacey is going to court today to challenge his suspension last year for posting an Internet parody lampooning the school's assistant principal.

Settlement Ends Attempt To Punish Student for Web Site in Washington State (04/07/2000)
KENT, WA -- A settlement between student Nick Emmett and Kent School District has ended the district's attempt to punish the student because of a Web site created on his home computer. Under terms of the settlement negotiated by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State, the suburban Seattle district will not pursue disciplinary action against Emmett over the Web site and will pay his attorney fees.

Court Blocks WA School from Suspending Student Over Humorous Web Site (02/23/2000)
SEATTLE, WA -- In the latest case involving student free speech in cyberspace, a federal judge in Seattle today blocked school administrators from suspending a student because of a web site he had created on his home computer. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington represented the student in contesting the suspension.

WA School Board Decides Not to Punish Student Web Site Hosts (02/03/2000)
SEATTLE, WA -- A suburban school board has decided not to impose restitution or community service on three Eastlake High School students who created a website on which someone else posted a death threat last fall, the American Civil Liberties said today.

ACLU Defends Student Website in Case that Threatens Free Expression on the Internet (01/31/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- In a case with important implications for free speech on the Internet, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has asked a Superior Court to dismiss a lawsuit aimed at shutting down a website that provides student reviews of the teachers at San Francisco City College.