Court Cases

Education news, analysis, and opinion about lawsuits and legal proceedings
James Pan, the parent of an eighth-grader, speaks about a lawsuit he and other parents filed against the Fairfax County School Board over its plans to change the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, an elite public schools regularly ranked as one of the nation's best on Nov. 5, 2020 in Fairfax, Va.
James Pan, the parent of an 8th grader in Fairfax, Va., speaks Nov. 5, 2020, about a lawsuit he and other parents filed against the Fairfax County district over its plans to change the admissions process at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Matthew Barakat/AP
Law & Courts How a Court Ruling on a School’s Admission Policy Could Impact Others
Legal experts say a coming U.S. Supreme Court decision on race in college admissions could be relevant for the magnet school's policy.
Mark Walsh, May 25, 2023
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8 min read
This artist sketch depicts Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, right, presenting an argument before the Supreme Court, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Washington.
U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, shown in a November 2021 sketch arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court, has filed a brief urging the justices not to take up a closely watched case about the legal status of charter schools.
Dana Verkouteren via AP
Law & Courts Biden Administration Urges High Court to Reject Case on Legal Status of Charter Schools
The case about whether a North Carolina charter school is a "state actor" when it enforces its dress code is being watched closely.
Mark Walsh, May 23, 2023
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4 min read
Jennifer Wilson, a Largo High School English teacher, wears a shirt against banning books at the Pinellas County School Board meeting in Largo, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles.
Jennifer Wilson, a Largo High School English teacher, wears a shirt against banning books at the Pinellas County School Board meeting in Largo, Fla., on Feb. 14, 2023. In Florida, some schools have covered or removed books under a new law that requires an evaluation of reading materials and for districts to publish a searchable list of books where individuals can then challenge specific titles.
Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times via AP
Law & Courts District That Restricted Access to Over 100 Books Sued by Publisher, Free Speech Group
Penguin Random House, PEN America, and several banned book authors are suing a Florida school district over removing and restricting books.
Eesha Pendharkar, May 17, 2023
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6 min read
Supporters of a bill to create a "parents' bill of rights" attend a rally outside the New Hampshire Statehouse on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Concord, N.H. The rally was held ahead of a public hearing on the bill in the House Education Committee.
Supporters of a bill to create a "parents' bill of rights" attend a rally outside the New Hampshire Statehouse on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Concord, N.H. New Hampshire is one of six states where parents have sued districts over keeping their children's pronouns secret and allegedly violating their rights.
Holly Ramer/AP
Equity & Diversity Parents Are Suing Schools Over Pronoun Policies. Here's What You Need to Know
Parents in six states have sued school districts for not requiring staff to disclose their children's chosen names and pronouns.
Eesha Pendharkar, May 12, 2023
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11 min read
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, center, with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., left, and Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., speaks about proposed legislation dubbed the "Parents Bill of Rights," Wednesday, March 1, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, center, with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., left, and Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., speaks about proposed legislation dubbed the "Parents Bill of Rights," Wednesday, March 1, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts Lawsuit Alleges Maine School District Violated Parental Rights Over Child's Social Transition
A mom claims her child's school district is supporting their social transition at school without informing her.
Eesha Pendharkar, May 4, 2023
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9 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
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 8, 2022, on youth mental health care.
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Feb. 8, 2022, on youth mental health care.
Susan Walsh/AP
Student Well-Being Kids' Declining Mental Health Is the 'Crisis of Our Time,' Surgeon General Says
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called out social media as a driving force behind the surge in children’s mental health challenges.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 25, 2023
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6 min read
A female and male professional with open laptops and surrounded by chat bubbles and social media icons.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Law & Courts Can School Board Members Block Parents on Social Media? Supreme Court to Decide
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal from board members who blocked 'unreasonable,' repetitious posts from parents on social media pages.
Mark Walsh, April 24, 2023
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5 min read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts U.S. Supreme Court Has Schools in Mind as It Weighs What 'True Threats' Are
The justices cite school and college scenarios as they consider when speech perceived as threatening may be punished.
Mark Walsh, April 19, 2023
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6 min read
Wellness Center nurse Lynda Boyer-Chu holds a Juul vaporizer and cartridge she uses to help teach students the dangers of vaping, in her office at Washington High School in San Francisco, Calif, on Thursday, September 5, 2019.
Wellness Center nurse Lynda Boyer-Chu holds a Juul vaporizer and cartridge she uses to help teach students the dangers of vaping, in her office at Washington High School in San Francisco, Calif, on Sept. 5, 2019. More school districts are purchasing vape detectors with funds they're receiving through settlements with the e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs.
Michael Short/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
Student Well-Being Schools Are Installing Vape Detectors and Using Juul Settlement Money to Pay for It
Schools are turning to technology that notifies staff that students may be vaping.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 19, 2023
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5 min read
Image of a phone on the floor near the feat of a girl sitting on the floor.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Districts Say Social Media Is Hurting Students' Mental Health. Now They're Suing
A growing number of school districts are filing lawsuits to hold social media companies accountable for teens' declining mental health.
Arianna Prothero, April 13, 2023
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6 min read
Scales of justice and Gavel on wooden table and Lawyer or Judge working with agreement in Courtroom, Justice and Law concept.
Pattanaphong Khuankaew/iStock
Law & Courts Court Backs Firing of Teacher Who Refused to Use Transgender Students’ Names
The appellate court said a teacher seeking a religious accommodation under Title VII caused undue hardship for a school district.
Mark Walsh, April 10, 2023
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6 min read
Tristan, the 13-year-old child of Danielle Miller who identifies as nonbinary, was sent to in-school suspension for having long hair at Magnolia ISD.
Tristan, a 13-year-old child who identifies as nonbinary, was sent to in-school suspension for having long hair at the Magnolia ISD in Magnolia, Texas.
Courtesy of Danielle Miller
School Climate & Safety Nonbinary Child's Long Hair Results in Suspension, Dress Code Amended After Legal Battle
Magnolia ISD in Texas suspended a then-11-year-old nonbinary child for having long hair until a lawsuit forced a gender neutral dress code policy.
Eesha Pendharkar, March 31, 2023
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5 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
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