Summarizes civil rights litigation on behalf of institutionalized persons with mental retardation, including number and type of cases, type of plaintiffs, type of legal counsel, role of other parties and of the Department of Justice, and number of institutional closures as result of litigation. A table presents information on class-action…

Describes student forums as a means for students to learn through role-playing instead of reading a textbook or listening to a lecture. Explains that students debate the issue of independence of the U.S. judiciary in this sample forum. Provides detailed roles for students willing to express their positions during the panel discussion. (CMK)

Traces the history of legal rulings leading up to the Edwards vs. Aguillard decision by the Supreme Court that it is unconstitutional to mandate "balanced treatment" and "equal time" for teaching creationism along with evolution in school science classes. Contains 17 references. (WRM)

In August 1999, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to remove the subject of evolution from state-mandated tests required for all Kansas students. Looks at the board's decision in light of current Establishment Clause jurisprudence; examines the consequences for schools, students, and courts nationwide; and whether the state's action is a…

Federal Supreme Court and appellate court decisions in 1996 concerning discrimination against college students are reviewed. Several decisions deal with diversity and the lawfulness of excluding applicants under a diversity rationale or extending preferences to certain classes of applicants to enhance diversity. Other cases of discrimination based…

The Supreme Court decision in "Davis" added a fiscal incentive to school districts to prevent peer sexual harassment by ruling that educational institutions that show deliberate indifference to known harassment between students may be liable for the resultant damages. (Contains 212 references.) (MLF)

"Rosenberger" prohibits public colleges and universities from discriminating against religious viewpoints in their allocation of student activities funds that are equally available to other groups. The Supreme Court decision also extends the range of facilities equally available to student religious organizations for free-speech…

The Supreme Court, in "Rosenberger," ruled against the University of Virginia when it denied student newspapers with religious perspectives equal access to student activities funds. Discusses decisions by all the courts and implications for future changes in the legal standard by which cases involving public assistance for religious…

"Rosenberger" revises Establishment Clause jurisprudence in several aspects: (1) ends "Lemon versus Kurtzman" as a main precedent; (2) alters First Amendment law by holding that government efforts to treat religious speech differently amounts to discrimination against people based on their "viewpoint"; and (3)…

Addresses the question of institutional duty of care in college sports. Asks if the Supreme Court's decision in "Vernonia," which held that random, suspicionless urinalysis testing of student-athletes is allowed, gives college officials a free hand in conducting random, suspicionless searches for college athletes and nonathletes alike.…

Discusses several state and federal court cases testing the limits of school district efforts to expand the scope of random student drug-testing since the Supreme Court's 1995 decision in "Vernonia School District 47J v. Action," wherein the Court approved random drug-testing of student athletes in public high schools. (Contains 113…

Describes legal standard of reasonable suspicion for school officials to conduct student searches in public schools and court cases interpreting that standard. Discusses probable-cause standard for student searches by law-enforcement officials, voluntary student searches, and individual versus random searches. Recommends two practices to reduce…

A federal case from Georgia about strip-searches of fifth-grade students for a missing $26 was appealed to the 11th Circuit Court. The 11th Circuit affirmed the district court that the strip searches were unconstitutional but that certain federal law rules shielded the school employees, a police officer, the school district, and the county from…

In "Castorina," the Sixth Circuit reversed a lower court ruling that had dismissed a suit by two high school students challenging their suspension for wearing T-shirts adorned with the Confederate flag. Reviews three Supreme Court decisions about the regulation of student expression. Concludes that a consensus for the regulation of…

Since the advent of the "Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms", the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has rendered judgments in four cases where individual educational stakeholders have alleged violations of their constitutional rights. In three of the cases, "R. v. Jones", "Eaton v. Brant County Board of Education",…