Considers how school officials face the delicate task of balancing a student's individual right to Fourth Amendment protection against their duty to provide a safe and secure environment for all students--a major challenge in cases involving intrusive searches. Discusses recent developments involving intrusive searches, previous court rulings…

Cautions that while the decision of the Supreme Court in "New Jersey vs. T.L.O." did affirm the authority of school officials to search students under some circumstances, it did not give them unfettered authority to search students. (FL)

Discusses how to determine whether a school-related search is reasonable. Suggests 10 guidelines to avoid suits over illegal searches. Recommends that school authorities exercise extreme care to protect themselves against suits alleging Constitutional violations. (MS)

Discusses case law regarding schools and strip searches of students, and offers five generalizations regarding the matter. (SR)

To search or not to search is a perplexing issue facing school leaders. On one hand, school officials are responsible for providing a safe and orderly learning environment for all students. On the other hand, they must recognize and respect students' personal rights. Achieving this delicate balance often is difficult for school officials. This…

Notes that students' legitimate expectations of privacy and school officials' need to maintain school discipline and safety often collide. Outlines guidelines for searching in the following instances: student lockers; drug dogs; student trips; strip searches; and urinalysis. Suggests that training for all administrators, faculty, and staff in the…