Court Cases

Education news, analysis, and opinion about lawsuits and legal proceedings
Woman clutching knees next to prescription bottle: opioid crisis.
iStock/Getty
States As States Dole Out Billions for Opioid Relief, Educators Rarely Get a Say
Most states haven't included a district representative or state education department employee on their council for doling out opioid funds.
Mark Lieberman, August 4, 2023
•
4 min read
Illustration of an online teacher working with four students.
Olivia_art/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Lawsuit Challenges First Religious Charter School in Oklahoma
The suit argues that the Catholic virtual school violates a state constitutional requirement that public schools not be "sectarian."
Mark Walsh, July 31, 2023
•
4 min read
A group of around 200 people who turned out for a rally inside the Nebraska State Capitol hold up signs in support of the transgender community on March 24, 2023 in Lincoln, Neb. A Wisconsin district can't enforce a policy banning trans students from using the bathrooms of their choice, a judge said.
A group of around 200 people who turned out for a rally inside the Nebraska State Capitol hold up signs in support of the transgender community on March 24, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. A Wisconsin district can't enforce a policy banning trans students from using the bathrooms of their choice, a judge said.
Margery Beck/AP
Equity & Diversity District Can't Restrict Transgender Student's Bathroom Use, Federal Judge Says
A Wisconsin district must allow trans students to use bathrooms aligning with their gender identity, according to a new ruling.
Eesha Pendharkar, July 31, 2023
•
5 min read
Nina Rees walks on stage during the National Charter Schools Conference held from June 18 through June 21, 2023, at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.
Nina Rees walks on stage during the National Charter Schools Conference held from June 18 through June 21, 2023, at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas.
Courtesy of McLendon Photography
School Choice & Charters Q&A Here's What's Next for Charter Schools, According to Their Chief Advocate
Nina Rees, head of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, sat down with Education Week to discuss the future of charter schools.
Libby Stanford, July 27, 2023
•
7 min read
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona gives an address to the American Federation of Teachers Together Educating America’s Children (TEACH) conference, in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2023.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, shown speaking to a teachers' conference on July 21, addressed educational leaders Wednesday about the U.S. Supreme Court's affirmative action decision.
Graeme Sloan for Education Week
Federal Secretary Cardona Says Affirmative Action Decision Will Challenge All Education Leaders
The U.S. Department of Education held a summit to discuss the Supreme Court decision and said that more detailed guidance was coming soon.
Mark Walsh, July 26, 2023
•
4 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on July 13, 2023, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court on July 13, 2023, in Washington. A Tennessee student is suing his school district over his suspension for social media posts that lampooned his principal, and the student contends his discipline is inconsistent with a 2021 U.S. Supreme Court decision on when schools may punish off-campus speech.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts A Student Lampooned His Principal on Instagram and Got Suspended. Now, He's Suing
The student argues his posts did not disrupt school and are protected under a Supreme Court decision.
Mark Walsh, July 19, 2023
•
6 min read
Illustration of a man holding oversized money.
Nuthawut Somsuk/iStock/Getty
Education Funding School Funding Debates Are Raging in States, With Districts Caught in the Middle
School choice, historically inequitable funding, political partisanship, and funding predictability are among the issues at stake.
Mark Lieberman, July 14, 2023
•
6 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Washington.
AP
Law & Courts 2 Big Supreme Court Cases—But Not the Ones You Think—With Implications for Public Schools
Employees won stronger ground to claim a religious accommodation, as a new case will address when job transfers are covered by federal law.
Mark Walsh, July 7, 2023
•
10 min read
People react outside of the Supreme Court Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington, after the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.
People react outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington, after the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender, and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts In Supreme Court Decision Affecting LGBTQ+ Rights, Both Sides Cite Education Precedents
In case of a wedding website designer who refused to create a site for a same-sex couple, the majority and dissent cite school cases.
Mark Walsh, June 30, 2023
•
4 min read
Police officers stand guard outside of the U.S Supreme Court building on June 23, 2023, in Washington.
Police officers stand guard outside of the U.S Supreme Court building on June 23, 2023, in Washington, where the justices this week are ruling on major cases that will impact K-12 schools.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Makes It Harder to Prosecute 'True Threats' That Could Be Aimed at Schools
The justices seek to strike a balance between First Amendment free speech and threats, with concerns evident about student expression.
Mark Walsh, June 27, 2023
•
4 min read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Declines to Hear Closely Watched Case on Charter Schools
The justices won't consider whether charter schools are "state actors," which has implications for the push for religious charter schools.
Mark Walsh, June 26, 2023
•
5 min read
Image of a gavel
iStock/Getty
Education Funding What Happens (or Doesn't) After Courts Order States to Improve School Funding
Pennsylvania is the latest state working on school funding reforms after a judge ruled its current approach unconstitutional.
Mark Lieberman, June 23, 2023
•
8 min read
Caution tape and caution signs surround Burlington High School in Burlington, Vt., on May 9, 2021.
Caution tape and caution signs surround Burlington High School in Burlington, Vt., on May 9, 2021.
Luke Awtry for Education Week
Law & Courts Vermont Is First State to Sue Monsanto Over PCBs in Schools
Vermont officials are demanding compensation for the costs of testing and remediating the toxic chemical in schools.
Mark Lieberman, June 21, 2023
•
4 min read
A copy of the book "And Tango Makes Three" is seen on a bookstore shelf on Nov. 16, 2006 in Chicago. The illustrated children's book is based on a true story of two male penguins in New York City's Central Park Zoo who adopted a fertilized egg and raised the chick as their own.
The book "And Tango Makes Three" is seen on a bookstore shelf on Nov. 16, 2006, in Chicago. The illustrated children's book is based on a true story of two male penguins in New York City's Central Park Zoo who adopted a fertilized egg and raised the chick as their own. The authors of the book and some students are suing a Florida district and the state board over the book's removal.
Nam Y. Huh/AP
Law & Courts Authors and Students Sue Florida Education Officials to Restore Access to Banned Book
The plaintiffs are suing to get access to the book restored.
Eesha Pendharkar, June 21, 2023
•
4 min read
Load More ▼