The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of a Michigan special education teacher who claimed she was fired for complaining that the size of her teaching caseload kept her from providing proper instruction. Susan M. Fox sued over her nonrenewal on First Amendment free-speech grounds. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, in Cincinnati, ruled against her, citing a 2006 Supreme Court ruling that on-the-job speech by public employees is not protected by the First Amendment.

Mark Walsh covers education law and the U.S. Supreme Court for Education Week.
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