This paper explores questions of institutional responsibility and the potential for legal liability falling on public school institutions as a result of their involvement with computer-networking technology. First, the paper examines the doctrine of sovereign immunity to understand the limits of government responsibility for damages in this context. Second, the separate liability of school officials and employees is discussed. Third, ways of using computer networks are related to questions of legal liability, with particular focus on the issue of electronic publication of defamatory statements. Fourth, the paper addresses how school authorities might balance protection against liability with the constitutional rights of students. Lastly, some guidelines are proposed for the prudent control of school computer networks. Seventy-two notes are included. (SR)