Student prayer at school events, such as football games and graduation ceremonies, has spawned several contradictory circuit court decisions. A 2000 Supreme Court ruling against pregame prayer ("Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe") reversed an 11th Circuit Court decision, with far-reaching effects on all student-initiated and…

In 2001, the Supreme Court upheld equal access for student religious groups meeting at school facilities, declared graduation prayer unlawful, agreed to resolve a peer-grading dispute, may consider constitutionality of a Cleveland educational voucher program, and upheld authors in a database copyright lawsuit. (MLH)

Teachers continue to be underinformed about legal issues affecting schools. Litigation and case law since 1998 suggest that principals should provide teachers with additional training in the areas of school violence, school prayer, sexual harassment, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, data privacy, and student suicide. (MLH)