In "Virgil v. School Board of Columbia County," a federal district court upheld a school board's decision to remove a textbook from the curriculum. The ruling is in line with the Supreme Courts'"Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier" decision that gave school boards sweeping power over the curriculum. (MLF)

Examines legislative and judicial interventions in the schooling process and discusses some consequences for teachers, administrators and school board members. (Author/AM)

A case involving a strip-search of two second-grade girls in Talledega, Alabama, was dismissed with an eight-to-three vote by the 11th Circuit Court. The court issued an opinion on only one question in the case: whether the employees involved were entitled to "qualified immunity." Advises administrators to be cautious and permit strip…

Discusses history and purpose of state open-records laws. Surveys how parties make open-records requests, various causes of action, and sanctions for noncompliance. Examines how open-records requests related to district investigations can implicate the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Attempts to find appropriate balance between public's…

A recent decision by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case from Arkansas centered on a vicious letter written by an 8th-grade boy about his former girlfriend and turned over to school officials. The court ruled for the school district in expelling the student for the year, without allowing him to attend an alternative school. Argues that…

In 1985 the United States Supreme Court concluded that the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures does apply to public school officials. Offers some hypothetical examples for public school officials to consider regarding mandatory urine testing and the reasonable suspicion standard. (MLF)

This review of the Supreme Court's term of cases that are relevant to school districts is divided into five sections by subject matter: (1) desegregation; (2) voting rights and political activity; (3) employment and labor; (4) student rights; and (5) special education. A list of cases and statutes discussed, with citations is included at the end…

Discusses two cases in which federal courts stretched the boundaries of students' constitutional protection to void decisions it saw as palpably unfair. Suggests that the concepts of law and legalization instilled in educators can easily lead them astray. (MLF)

Based on past incidents involving racial tension and student wearing apparel that displayed the Confederate flag, a South Carolina middle school prohibited clothing with the Confederate flag visible. Judge William B. Traxler Jr. ruled for the district. Advises administrators that they can regulate or ban expressive conduct by students only if…

The United States Supreme Court is currently deliberating the case of "Kiryas Joel." At issue is a public school district set up specifically to meet the religious needs of an orthodox Jewish community, as the community defines them. Presents opposing arguments from the New York State School Boards Association and the National Jewish…

Discusses the issue of whether a state may sponsor single-gender education without violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Traces the history of "United States versus Virginia," discussing the arguments of both sides; and briefly explores the likely ramifications of the holding as the Supreme Court prepares to review…

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in "Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier" established that a public high school newspaper, produced by students in a journalism class, is not a forum for public expression. The Court said that although school board policy specified that student free speech would not be restricted, other factors…

The traditional approach of the courts was to accept as "reasonable cause" for teacher dismissal any conduct that set a bad example for students. This chapter examines a cross-section of cases illustrating recent court decisions in this area and attempts to identify any consistent patterns of adjudication and their implications for school…

The thesis advanced in this paper is that the American legal system is responsible for changing the course of public education and is causing two separate educational systems, one private and the other public, to develop. Court cases and laws cited show that generally the U. S. Supreme Court, the Congress, and state legislatures have left private…

This book is the third in a biennial series of school law monographs that was initiated in 1975 by Educational Research Service. These monographs present reviews of 100 recent state and federal court decisions, rendered since 1977, that have particular significance for those who determine educational policy and administer the public schools.…