A parent brings a cyber bullying incident to your attention and expects you to resolve it. What are the students' rights and your responsibilities according to the law? Because the laws regarding disciplinary action are still evolving, this manual fills the gap by providing public school leaders with data-driven solutions for managing cyber…

Federal court cases are examined in an effort to view recent First Amendment rights infringements which have occurred in Mississippi. Case law reinforces students' rights to wear same-sex outfits to school functions as well as to bring same-sex dates. Connection to a recent civil rights investigation by the NAACP into a north Mississippi middle…

This article discusses some basic principles that can guide principals' decisions on when and how to regulate student dress. Like many school issues, implementing a dress code or uniform policy involves both the constitutional rights of students and the responsibilities of school officials. As a result, with dress codes and many other concerns,…

Explores the responsibility incumbent upon student journalists, the school administration, and the community for upholding the First Amendment. (HTH)

Due to increasing attacks on school curriculum and policies, administrators must understand the law associated with education and religion. Guided by this knowledge, school leaders can foster an educational environment while simultaneously protecting individual expression. If a lawsuit occurs, an administrator can best protect both the school and…

This guide reviews legal standards inherent in the First Amendment and recommends management techniques that ensure employees' free speech rights while maintaining school efficiency. Section 1, "Introduction," presents an overview of the trend toward litigation in which public employees allege that school officials have violated First…

To behave responsibly toward school journalism, personnel officers and administrators must select a qualified, fully cognizant adviser/instructor with training in press law and ethics, journalism advising and instruction, news reporting, copy editing, and design and layout principles. A professionally oriented curriculum is also a must. (MLH)

Administrators need to know what control they have over student-produced publications. The first step administrators should take is to be well versed in the First Amendment and in court rulings involving the scope of student rights and school authority in regard to the student press. Step two is to make rules within the law. In general, school…

Discusses several defamation cases involving school executives' written or spoken statements about terminated employees' performance and qualifications. Pays special attention to lawsuits hinging on administrators' and board members' informal remarks about school employees, outlining permissible behaviors and suggesting ways to avoid defamation…

Principals desiring to develop a school-uniform policy should involve parents, teachers, community leaders, and student representatives; beware restrictions on religious and political expression; provide flexibility and assistance for low-income families; implement a pilot program; align the policy with school-safety issues; and consider legal…

There is now remarkable agreement on religion's proper constitutional and educational place in public education. A 1995 statement issued by 24 religious and educational groups reaffirms Americans' commitment to First Amendment principles, envisioning civil public schools that neither inculcate nor inhibit religion. Sidebars list resources for…

Outlines current federal Department of Education guidance to public school administrators and teachers on the extent to which religious expression and activities are permitted on school grounds and in the classroom. (ET)