E.A. Gjelten
Legal Editor
Is the School Liable When Another Student Hurts or Harasses My Child?
Learn when you might be able to sue the school if other students have bullied, sexually harassed, or assaulted your child. ... READ MORE
Can I Be Sued If My Child Hurts Another Student at School?
If your child assaults or bullies a classmate, you might be legally responsible for the other student’s injuries. ... READ MORE
What Are the Rules for Disciplining Special Ed Students?
Learn what public schools have to do before they can discipline special ed kids by moving them to different classrooms or suspending them for more than 10 days. ... READ MORE
School Liability: Who's Responsible When Your Child Is Harmed at School?
Find answers to frequently asked questions about when parents or students can successfully sue schools for injuries, harassment, or other harms. ... READ MORE
Truancy Laws: The Legal Consequences of Skipping School
Learn how different states deal with unexcused absences from school—from truancy prevention programs to threatening truants’ parents with fines or jail. ... READ MORE
Bullying and Harassment at School
What can parents do if their children are being bullied at school, on social media, or through texts? When is bullying or cyberbullying a crime? ... READ MORE
Fourth Amendment Rights and Searches at School: Frequently Asked Questions
When can a teacher or principal search a student’s phone, locker, or backpack? Can a school force you to take a drug test or conduct a strip search? Look below for answers to common questions about privacy rights at school. ... READ MORE
When Can Schools Search Students and Their Belongings?
Schools have more leeway than police when searching students’ pockets, backpacks, lockers, and other belongings, but there are limits. ... READ MORE
Cell Phone Use in Schools: When Can Teachers Confiscate or Search Students' Devices?
Learn how Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure apply when school officials take students' smartphones or look at texts, pictures, and other data on the devices. ... READ MORE
When Does the First Amendment Protect What Students Wear to School?
Students’ right to freedom of expression extends to the messages on their clothes, as long as they aren’t disruptive or vulgar. But schools can impose dress codes that aren’t meant to silence opinions. ... READ MORE