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School Policy

All articles tagged with #school policy

Upstate NY student's coffee protest exposes school board's procedural failure
education28 days ago

Upstate NY student's coffee protest exposes school board's procedural failure

A senior at Beaver River Central School in Castorland, NY, was suspended on her first day of class for bringing a cup of coffee, violating a newly implemented outside food and drink ban. The student, Julie Kaputa, framed the incident as a deliberate act of civil disobedience to highlight that the school board adopted the policy without the legally required public hearing. Following the suspension, the district acknowledged the procedural error, admitted the August meeting was not properly publicized, and scheduled a retroactive hearing for September 14. Kaputa and other students plan to attend the meeting to demand the rule be revoked, arguing the policy is overly broad and was adopted without proper community input.

First-day coffee lands student in suspension, sparking policy hearing at Beaver River
education1 month ago

First-day coffee lands student in suspension, sparking policy hearing at Beaver River

A Beaver River Central School senior was suspended for bringing a cup of coffee to class on the first day due to a new outside-food rule; the family argues the rule lacked a properly announced public hearing, while the district says a prior August meeting counted as a hearing and will hold a separate Sept. 14 session to discuss the policy aimed at a safer, distraction-free learning environment.

Bethesda Students Demand ICE-Free Campuses With Walkout
politics8 months ago

Bethesda Students Demand ICE-Free Campuses With Walkout

Hundreds of students at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda walked out during fifth period to protest ICE activity on school grounds and pressed Montgomery County Public Schools to adopt a policy barring ICE enforcement on campus and to educate students on civil liberties. Organizers Evan Schwartz and Dalia Rees framed the action as part of broader youth political engagement; a freshman shared fears about identification and safety. District officials outlined existing visitor procedures and reaffirmed students’ right to peaceful assembly, noting that walkouts can result in unexcused absences.

Federal Court Rules Schools Must Allow Teachers to Inform Parents About Transgender Students
law9 months ago

Federal Court Rules Schools Must Allow Teachers to Inform Parents About Transgender Students

A federal judge in San Diego ruled that parents have a constitutional right to be informed if their child is transgender and that schools cannot hide this information from parents, banning school employees from misleading or withholding gender-related information from parents without student consent. The decision, which is being appealed, emphasizes parental involvement and the rights of teachers to inform parents, while critics argue it could harm transgender students' safety and well-being.

Oklahoma Schools Drop Bible Instruction Mandate
education1 year ago

Oklahoma Schools Drop Bible Instruction Mandate

Oklahoma's new superintendent Lindel Fields has rescinded a controversial mandate from his predecessor that required Bibles to be placed in classrooms and included in lesson plans, citing a belief that such decisions should be left to individual districts. The move comes amid ongoing legal challenges and widespread opposition to the previous policy, which was part of a broader effort by former Superintendent Ryan Walters to promote religious and conservative ideologies in schools.

law1 year ago

South Carolina Seeks Supreme Court Ruling on Transgender Student Bathroom Policy

South Carolina has appealed to the Supreme Court to allow a policy banning transgender students from using restrooms that match their gender identity, citing a challenge from a transgender boy suspended for using boys' restrooms. The case highlights ongoing legal battles over transgender rights in schools, with the state seeking to restrict access based on biological sex, amidst broader national debates and similar laws in other states.

"States Push for School Cell Phone Bans to Curb Classroom Distractions"
education2 years ago

"States Push for School Cell Phone Bans to Curb Classroom Distractions"

Teachers across the United States are increasingly advocating for the banning of smartphones in classrooms due to the pervasive distractions they cause, including watching Netflix, using gambling apps, and sending Snapchat messages. Several states, including Florida, Utah, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Kansas, have introduced legislation to enforce "phone-free schools," with some already implementing bans on student cellphone use during class time. While some students and parents express concerns about being cut off from communication, educators argue that removing phones from classrooms has led to increased student engagement and improved learning outcomes.

"Texas Students Face Suspension for Protesting Cellphone Ban"
education2 years ago

"Texas Students Face Suspension for Protesting Cellphone Ban"

Students at James Madison High School in Houston, Texas, protested against a new cellphone policy that requires them to turn in their phones to staff during the school day and pick them up at the end of the day, with the superintendent warning of possible suspensions for protesting students. The policy was implemented to address safety concerns related to recording and sharing fights on campus, but students argue that it infringes on their rights and creates an oppressive environment.

"Trial Date Set for Texas School's Punishment of Black Student with Locs"
educationlegal2 years ago

"Trial Date Set for Texas School's Punishment of Black Student with Locs"

A trial has been set for February 22 to determine whether Barbers Hill ISD in Texas is violating the CROWN Act by disciplining 18-year-old Black student Darryl George for wearing dreadlocks, which he and his family argue are protected by the new state law. The CROWN Act prohibits race-based hair discrimination in public schools and was passed to protect students like George. The school district claims George is violating a hair-length policy not covered by the CROWN Act, while state legislators who authored the law argue otherwise. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in relation to this dispute, and tensions remain high as the trial date approaches.

"Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Indiana School's Transgender Bathroom Appeal"
law-and-politics2 years ago

"Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Indiana School's Transgender Bathroom Appeal"

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from an Indiana school district regarding a policy that restricted transgender students' bathroom access based on their biological sex. The lower court had ruled that the policy violated students' constitutional rights and federal anti-discrimination law. This decision adds to the mixed rulings on school policies affecting transgender students, with some courts allowing bathroom use based on gender identity and others requiring gender-neutral facilities.

Judge Temporarily Blocks Chino School Board's Transgender Notification Policy
education3 years ago

Judge Temporarily Blocks Chino School Board's Transgender Notification Policy

A judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the Chino Valley Unified School District's transgender notification policy, which requires schools to notify parents if their children change their gender identification or pronouns. The policy has been met with opposition from LGBTQ+ advocates who argue that it invades students' privacy and threatens their well-being. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the policy, stating that it forcibly outs transgender students. The temporary restraining order blocks the policy from being in effect during the lawsuit. The battle between school districts and the state over LGBTQ+ policies has been intensifying, with conservative school board members pushing back against the state's stance.