It is argued that current school disciplinary policies are ineffective instruments for delivering moral messages: they are poorly justified; fail to distinguish moral violations (violence, vandalism, deception) from conventional school-limited violations (attendance, dress codes, eating venues), leaving the impression that dress code violations…

Describes how administrator-imposed discipline of students is circumscribed by their legal rights. (PKP)

This report points up the infringement on student constitutional rights by Washington State public schools. To remedy the situation, the report proposes State legislation guaranteeing the substantive rights of students. The proposed legislation is presented together with explanatory and supportive statements. A related document is EA 003 787. (JF)

This digest in Spanish examines schools' dress-code policies and discusses the legal considerations and research findings about the effects of such changes. Most revisions to dress codes involve the use of uniforms, typically as a way to curb school violence and create a positive learning environment. A recent survey of secondary school principals…

This digest examines schools' dress-code policies and discusses the legal considerations and research findings about the effects of such changes. Most revisions to dress codes involve the use of uniforms, typically as a way to curb school violence and create a positive learning environment. A recent survey of secondary school principals found that…

Summarizes the implications of the Tinker case (in which school authorities suspended students for wearing black armbands) and explores the extent to which the law permits school authorities to regulate student appearance. (Author/DN)

This report discusses various types of student codes, presents the need for such codes, outlines court challenges of these codes, and provides guidelines for drafting codes. Sample codes in the packet include citywide codes from eight cities, four Statewide policy statements, and selected model codes. (JF)

Examines the reasons for the rapid intervention of courts into areas primarily an administrative decision-making process and describes those areas in which legal decisions have drastically defined and restricted the permissible scope of administrative activity in schools. (Author/RK)

Any restrictions on student dress must have a legitimate educational rationale. Standards of attire for school employees are also permissible. A dress-code policy that calls for reasonable restrictions and is enforced with common sense can create a better school environment. Restrictive measures can lead to costly lawsuits. Cites advantages of…

This report contains digests of 171 federal and State court decisions concerning students, which were compiled from court decisions published in the National Reporter System during the calendar year 1970. The case digests are classified under (1) admission and attendance, (2) school desegregation, (3) student discipline, (4) student injury,(5)…

In "Stephenson v. Davenport Community School District," the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that schools cannot adopt unduly vague policies to regulate student expression, in this case, a cross-shaped tattoo. (LMI)

A challenge for teachers and administrators has been to develop security policies that will effectively reduce violence and improve school climate. This paper describes students' reactions to security measures implemented at a Chicago high school that served a low-socioeconomic-status neighborhood comprised predominantly of African-American and…

In response to growing levels of violence in American schools, many communities are deciding to adopt school-uniform policies as part of an overall program to improve school safety and discipline. This document provides the following guidelines for parents, teachers, and school leaders who may consider adopting a school-uniform policy: (1) Get…