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Morse v. Frederick in the Supreme Court
The ACLU criticized the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling in Morse v. Frederick, which held that Alaska public school officials did not violate Joseph Frederick's free speech rights by punishing him for displaying a banner during a public event. The case arose in 2002 when Frederick, then a student at Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska, was suspended for 10 days for holding up a humorous sign that the principal of the school, Deborah Morse, interpreted as a pro-drug message. Learn more >>
> ACLU Slams Supreme Court Decision in Student Free Speech Case (6/25/2007)

Tennessee Schools And Students Reach Settlement In Internet Censorship Case (08/13/2009)
NASHVILLE, TN – As a result of a settlement reached in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, two Tennessee school districts agreed to stop blocking access to online information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. A federal court dismissed the lawsuit against the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and Knox County Schools after the settlement was reached.

Thibodaux High Student's First Amendment Rights Secured (07/23/2009)
New Orleans, LA - Thibodaux High School student Brady Chiasson, who received a detention for following his conscience, has had his disciplinary record cleared of all charges, at the request of the ACLU of Louisiana.

ACLU/SC and Big Bear School District Agree on Measures to Protect Students' Right to Free Speech (02/10/2009)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Bear Valley Unified School District announced today that they will enter into a settlement that will protect students' right to free speech.

Schools Must Allow Talk About Obama's Inauguration, Says ACLU (01/14/2009)
Today the ACLU of Louisiana released a letter to the Superintendents of all school districts in Louisiana, reminding them to respect the rights of students and school personnel to discuss issues surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20. The letter was prompted by reports of students being punished after Election Day for discussion of the election and its outcome.

Florida Student Who Won ACLU Lawsuit Wins Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award (10/21/2008)
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that Heather Gillman has been selected by the Playboy Foundation to receive the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award for "her fearlessness in speaking out on behalf of the rights of gay students" at Ponce de Leon High School, located in Florida's Panhandle.

Ask Sybil Liberty About Your Right to Free Expression (12/31/1997)
ACLU's resident expert, Sybil Liberty, answers common questions about students' rights from a student point of view.

Scott v. Napa Valley Unified School District - Ruling on Submitted Motion for Preliminary Injunction (07/02/2007)

NYCLU Letter to the Katonah-Lewisboro School District (03/13/2007)
NYCLU Letter to the Katonah-Lewisboro School District regarding censorship of The Vagina Monologues.

Morse v. Frederick - Respondent's Brief (02/20/2007)
Whether school officials violated the First Amendment when they suspended a high school student for holding up a sign that the principal interpreted as a pro-drug message when the sign caused no disruption, was displayed at a public event on the public streets, and the student had not yet arrived at school for the day.

Lowry v. Watson Chapel School District Amended Complaint (02/06/2007)
Lowry v. Watson Chapel School District Amended Complaint

Lowry v Watson Chapel School District Motion for Preliminary Injunction (10/10/2006)
Lowry v Watson Chapel School District Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Tinker v. Des Moines (393 U.S. 503, 1969) (03/16/2007)
Background on the foundational free speech case from 1969.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go: Students and Their Parents Fight School Uniform Policies (11/04/1999)

Morse v. Frederick (02/20/2007)
Whether school officials violated the First Amendment when they suspended a high school student for holding up a sign that the principal interpreted as a pro-drug message when the sign caused no disruption, was displayed at a public event on the public streets, and the student had not yet arrived at school for the day. DECIDED