Officials from the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama say that a school district’s plan to use students’ social-media posts to justify disciplinary action or expulsion raises serious First Amendment concerns.
The Huntsville City school system this month updated safety guidelines to say the superintendent may review students’ public social-media accounts if they have a history of violence or gang activity, or if their behavior endangers students and employees. The school’s code of conduct also says students who violate the guidelines may be prohibited from bringing “nonschool system technology” into school buildings.
The move comes after videos of student fights gained widespread attention.
