Court Cases

Education news, analysis, and opinion about lawsuits and legal proceedings
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Law & Courts West Virginia Law Barring Transgender Girls From School Sports Upheld by Federal Judge
The decision is a turnabout for the judge, who cast doubt on the law in 2021 and issued an order allowing a transgender girl to compete.
Mark Walsh, January 6, 2023
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4 min read
Image of a gavel
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Law & Courts A Teacher Argued His MAGA Hat Was Protected Speech. Here's What a Federal Appeals Court Said
Did a principal violate a teacher's rights when she told him not to bring his Donald Trump-inspired hat to a racial-sensitivity training?
Mark Walsh, January 4, 2023
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4 min read
Transgender student Drew Adams speaks with reporters outside of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on Dec. 5, 2019.
Transgender student Drew Adams speaks with reporters outside a federal courthouse in Atlanta in 2019. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled against him on Dec. 30.
Ron Harris/AP
Law & Courts School District Policy Basing Restroom Access on 'Biological Sex' Upheld by Appeals Court
The sharply divided appellate court rules against transgender student Drew Adams and possibly tees up a major fight in the Supreme Court.
Mark Walsh, January 2, 2023
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5 min read
Scales of justice and Gavel on wooden table and Lawyer or Judge working with agreement in Courtroom, Justice and Law concept.
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Law & Courts Court Upholds Discipline of Students for Instagram Posts That Targeted Black Classmates
A unanimous federal appeals court panel said its ruling was consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2021 decision on off-campus speech.
Mark Walsh, December 29, 2022
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4 min read
Social studies teacher Matthew Hawn, who is accused of insubordination and repeated unprofessional conduct for teaching about racism and white privilege, sits on his couch inside his home on August 17, 2021.
Tennessee social studies teacher Matthew Hawn, who is accused of insubordination and repeated unprofessional conduct for teaching about racism and white privilege, sits on his couch inside his home back in August of 2021.
Caitlin Penna for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Educators' Opposition to Censorship Comes at a Big Personal Cost
A Tennessee teacher and a Louisiana librarian discuss their very public battles against book bans or restrictions on teaching about racism.
Eesha Pendharkar, December 29, 2022
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5 min read
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Law & Courts The 8 Most Consequential Developments in Education Law in 2022
The list includes major decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, a transition on the high court, and several lower court decisions.
Mark Walsh, December 22, 2022
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6 min read
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School Choice & Charters Q&A Voucher Programs Gain Strength With Help From the Courts, An Expert Says
A school choice expert explains how recent rulings could prevent future voucher programs from getting blocked by opponents.
Mark Lieberman, December 22, 2022
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8 min read
A multiple exposure of a wooden gavel and a long row of columns from a courthouse.
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Law & Courts Appeals Court Upholds Connecticut's Pro-Transgender Student Athletics Policy
The court hinted its agreement that Title IX protects transgender athletes who seek to compete consistent with their gender identity.
Mark Walsh, December 16, 2022
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3 min read
Photo of calendar with holidays marked.
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School & District Management Celebrating Holidays at School: Legal Guidance for Administrators
Tips to help keep celebrations inclusive and immune from lawsuits.
Elizabeth Heubeck, December 13, 2022
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4 min read
Image of a gavel.
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Law & Courts A Native Student Barred From Graduation Over a Sacred Feather: Why Her Lawsuit Was Revived
A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said a district may have selectively enforced its policy on graduation decorations.
Mark Walsh, December 9, 2022
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2 min read
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Illustration by Chris Whetzel for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Schools Are Resegregating. There's a Push for the Supreme Court to Consider That
As the court weighs race-conscious college admissions policies, some say the needs of resegregating K-12 schools ought to be considered, too.
Mark Walsh, November 28, 2022
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8 min read
Thunder storm sky over the United States Supreme Court building in Washington DC.
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Law & Courts Supreme Court Won't Take Up Cases Seen as Expanding Schools' Liability for Sexual Harassment
The court rejected appeals from a school district and university about when educational institutions may be sued for sexual harassment.
Mark Walsh, November 21, 2022
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4 min read
Image of a pending lawsuit.
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Law & Courts Georgia Educators Plan to Sue Over the State's 'Divisive Concepts' Law
Georgia's could be the sixth lawsuit to challenge state laws limiting classroom discussion of race and racism.
Eesha Pendharkar, November 11, 2022
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3 min read
Members of the NAACP Youth and College division rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as justices heard oral arguments on two cases on whether colleges and universities can continue to consider race as a factor in admissions decisions Oct. 31, 2022.
Members of the NAACP Youth and College division rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court as justices hear oral arguments on whether colleges and universities can continue to consider race as a factor in admissions.
Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO via AP Images
Law & Courts As a Skeptical Supreme Court Weighs Race in College Admissions, 'Brown' Looms Large
The cases heard Monday involve Harvard and the University of North Carolina, but a decision could be felt in K-12 education.
Mark Walsh, October 31, 2022
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8 min read
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