Reviews a recent Supreme Court decision reaffirming the court's stand on school prayer. The ruling resolves important issues concerning religious activity in public schools but does not address the constitutionality of moment of silence provisions. (MD)

The recent "Garcia" holding by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals federalized students' constitutional rights against excessive corporal punishment under the 14th Amendment's due process clause. Major issues raised by the Supreme Court's 1977 "Ingraham v. Wright" decision are thereby resolved. School boards should review…

A recent Pennsylvania case, "Student Coalition for Peace v. Lower Merion School District Board of Directors," has established the principle that outsiders who are not invited by student groups have no right of access to school facilities under the Equal Access Act. (TE)

Considers recent issues of school law and implications for local districts: the right of untenured school employees on short-term contracts to property interest in continued employment ("Vail vs. Board of Education"), and the constitutionality of public display of religious symbols at Christmas ("Lynch vs. Donnelly"). (JW)

The Supreme Court ruled that school officials could not make a unilateral decision to keep a special education student out of school for more than 10 days. However, it gives officials an opportunity to reach lawful agreements with the student's parents or with a court to change the child's placement. (MLF)

Analyzes the California Supreme Court case "Randi W. v. Muroc Joint Unified School District." The court determined that letters of recommendation, which had omitted mentioning allegations of improper sexual conduct with students, were deceptively incomplete. Writers of letters have three choices: refuse to write a letter, write a fully…

In "Tucker v. State of California Department of Education," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that a public employee has the right to engage in religious advocacy among fellow employees under certain circumstances. Judge Reinhardt suggests that government agencies either ban all employee displays about any topic…

Describes the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling in the case "Ceniceros v. Board of Trustees of the San Diego Unified School District." The case raises the question about the meaning of the 1984 Equal Access Act, specifically, how to interpret "noninstructional time." (LMI)