Landmark Supreme Court Cases in U.S. Education: Part II

Education Headline Roundup

This week’s stories:

Liberty University, a large evangelical Christian university in Virginia, was fined a hefty $14 million by the U.S. Department of Education. The fine stemmed from the university’s failure to comply with the Clery Act, a federal law regarding campus safety.
Lawmakers in Greece’s parliament have voted effectively to end a state monopoly on university education amid protests and demonstrations in central Athens that drew 18,000+ people.
Nebraska’s State Board of Education has voted 5-3 against a rule change process that would have enabled the defining and banning of sexually explicit books and materials from school libraries and removed a requirement for schools to purchase a minimum number of new books each academic year.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases that Changed U.S. Education: Part II

Welcome to part two of our discussion of pivotal Supreme Court cases that have shaped the landscape of student rights, privacy, religious freedom, and affirmative action in education. This week, we’re covering:

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

This case significantly impacted student press freedom, allowing schools to restrict student speech in school-sponsored publications under certain conditions. We discuss the balance between student free speech and school authority.

Safford Unified School District v. Redding (2009)

The strip search of a 13-year-old student raised questions about student privacy and the limits of school searches. We analyze the Supreme Court’s decision and its impact on school policies regarding student searches.

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)

Examining the intersection of state scholarship programs and religious freedom, we look at how this case challenged the separation of church and state and its implications for educational funding and religious schools.

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022)

This case highlighted the clash between religious expression and public school policies. We discuss the implications of the Court’s decision on the role of religion in public life and the rights of students and educators.

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College (2023)

In this recent landmark case, we analyze the impact of affirmative action policies on college admissions and the Court’s ruling on diversity and racial discrimination in higher education.

Join us as we contemplate each case’s significance in shaping the rights and responsibilities of students, educators, and institutions in the United States.

Questions for Reflection:

How do these Supreme Court decisions impact the rights of students and educators in schools today?
What are the broader implications of these rulings for education policy and practice?
How can we ensure a balance between protecting individual rights and maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment in schools?

Sources & Resources:

Liberty University Hit With Record Fines for Failing to Handle Complaints of Sexual Assault, Other Crimes — ProPublica

U.S. Department of Education Imposes $14 Million Fine Against Liberty University for Clery Act Violations

State Education Board rejects rule to ban sexually explicit books in all school libraries

Board of Education votes ‘no’ on rule impacting content in school libraries | Nebraska Public Media.

State Ed Board rejects measure defining and banning sexually explicit materials in school libraries • Nebraska Examiner

Facts and Case Summary – Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier | United States Courts

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier | Oyez

HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al., Petitioners v. Cathy KUHLMEIER et al. | Supreme Court | US Law

Safford Unified School District v. Redding | Oyez

Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue | Constitution Center

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College | Definition, Questions, Grutter v. Bollinger, Affirmative Action, & Decision | Britannica