Frequently Asked Questions
1)What is the ACLU?
ACLU stands for American Civil Liberties Union. They work to protect individual rights including your right to privacy, equal protections under the law, and even your First Amendment Rights.
2)Are there any schools in the United States where students have more rights then the typical public school?
Yes there are schools in the United States where students have more rights then the typical public school. There is schools, like Monument Mountain Regional High School, that have no faculty, adults, or any higher power during school hours.
3)I am a high school student, can my school check my personal email?
The school cannot check my personal email without my consent. They must have a reasonable suspension and evidence to back it up, they can then try to get access to my person email.
4)I want to protest conflict in the Middle East, can I legal stage a demonstration on my school grounds?
Yes, you can legally stage a demonstration on school grounds, as long as there is no violence or harm involving other students during the protest.
5)I go to a private school, are my rights different than kids who go to public school?
Students who go to private school have different rights than kids who go to public school. Before entering a private school, the student and their parents sign forms that state what rights the school has over the student’s actions.
6)I feel like my school administration has violated my rights, who do I contact?
If an administrator has violated your rights, a student must first tell their parents. If the situation gets out of hand, the next step is to go to the ACLU. The ACLU will represent you and fight for the rights of the student.
7)Someone in my class got arrested for having drugs in his locker, does this mean the school has the right to search all of our lockers?
The school does not have the right to search all of the students lockers just because of one arrest in the class for drugs. The school must have a reasonable reason to search each locker.
8)How far may schools go in restricting student speech in the interest of school safety?
They can go as far as stopping a protest, searching lockers, receiving private information from students computers or cell phones if they feel that it has brought up a threat or danger to other students or faculty members.
9)What limits, if any, may school officials place on student expression that occurs off school grounds?
If the students are at a school event that is off campus, they may place the same rules that apply during school hours on the school campus. They however have no control over the student’s expression during any non school related event.
10)How do courts determine whether speech is a true threat?
They look at what has been said by a student and how it effected the community surrounding him/her. If this student used harsh language but did not touch or hurt anyone physically, the court cannot consider this a threat.
11)Can I be suspended from my school for creating a club discussing religious beliefs that might be strongly against another religion?
If the club does not do any harm to another student then this club may be allowed. These beliefs must only be talked about during this club. If the club starts to harm any students in anyway, the kids who take part in the club, may be suspended.
12)If I am using the school’s internet, are they allowed to see my search history?
Yes, since you are using the school’s internet, you are giving them permission to access any information you researched or recorded on that device.
13)Can a school have a tracking system?
Yes. Tracking systems are all right if the students are not separated based on gender or race. Any tracking system used by a school system must make sure that all students are given the same basic education.
14)Does a student have the right to express him/herself’ opinions and beliefs in school?
A student is allowed to express themselves orally or in writing. A student must make sure that the way they chose to express their opinion does not disrupt classes or other school activities.
15)Can a school have a dress code?
All schools are allowed to have a dress code unless they are unreasonable or discriminatory.
ACLU stands for American Civil Liberties Union. They work to protect individual rights including your right to privacy, equal protections under the law, and even your First Amendment Rights.
2)Are there any schools in the United States where students have more rights then the typical public school?
Yes there are schools in the United States where students have more rights then the typical public school. There is schools, like Monument Mountain Regional High School, that have no faculty, adults, or any higher power during school hours.
3)I am a high school student, can my school check my personal email?
The school cannot check my personal email without my consent. They must have a reasonable suspension and evidence to back it up, they can then try to get access to my person email.
4)I want to protest conflict in the Middle East, can I legal stage a demonstration on my school grounds?
Yes, you can legally stage a demonstration on school grounds, as long as there is no violence or harm involving other students during the protest.
5)I go to a private school, are my rights different than kids who go to public school?
Students who go to private school have different rights than kids who go to public school. Before entering a private school, the student and their parents sign forms that state what rights the school has over the student’s actions.
6)I feel like my school administration has violated my rights, who do I contact?
If an administrator has violated your rights, a student must first tell their parents. If the situation gets out of hand, the next step is to go to the ACLU. The ACLU will represent you and fight for the rights of the student.
7)Someone in my class got arrested for having drugs in his locker, does this mean the school has the right to search all of our lockers?
The school does not have the right to search all of the students lockers just because of one arrest in the class for drugs. The school must have a reasonable reason to search each locker.
8)How far may schools go in restricting student speech in the interest of school safety?
They can go as far as stopping a protest, searching lockers, receiving private information from students computers or cell phones if they feel that it has brought up a threat or danger to other students or faculty members.
9)What limits, if any, may school officials place on student expression that occurs off school grounds?
If the students are at a school event that is off campus, they may place the same rules that apply during school hours on the school campus. They however have no control over the student’s expression during any non school related event.
10)How do courts determine whether speech is a true threat?
They look at what has been said by a student and how it effected the community surrounding him/her. If this student used harsh language but did not touch or hurt anyone physically, the court cannot consider this a threat.
11)Can I be suspended from my school for creating a club discussing religious beliefs that might be strongly against another religion?
If the club does not do any harm to another student then this club may be allowed. These beliefs must only be talked about during this club. If the club starts to harm any students in anyway, the kids who take part in the club, may be suspended.
12)If I am using the school’s internet, are they allowed to see my search history?
Yes, since you are using the school’s internet, you are giving them permission to access any information you researched or recorded on that device.
13)Can a school have a tracking system?
Yes. Tracking systems are all right if the students are not separated based on gender or race. Any tracking system used by a school system must make sure that all students are given the same basic education.
14)Does a student have the right to express him/herself’ opinions and beliefs in school?
A student is allowed to express themselves orally or in writing. A student must make sure that the way they chose to express their opinion does not disrupt classes or other school activities.
15)Can a school have a dress code?
All schools are allowed to have a dress code unless they are unreasonable or discriminatory.