https://www.edweek.org/first-amendment First Amendment en-US 2021 (c) Education Week Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:20:01 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-revives-lawsuit-over-1st-graders-black-lives-matter-drawing/2026/03 A court revived a 1st grader 's claim she was punished for giving a drawing to a Black classmate. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:20:01 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-revives-lawsuit-over-1st-graders-black-lives-matter-drawing/2026/03 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/free-speech-debates-resurface-with-student-walkouts-over-ice-raids/2026/02 As students walk out to protest immigration enforcement tactics, schools face questions about safety and speech. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:09:20 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/free-speech-debates-resurface-with-student-walkouts-over-ice-raids/2026/02 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/judge-tells-ed-dept-to-remove-language-blaming-democrats-from-staff-emails/2025/11 The agency added language blaming "Democrat Senators" for the federal shutdown to staffers' out-of-office messages Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:37:12 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/judge-tells-ed-dept-to-remove-language-blaming-democrats-from-staff-emails/2025/11 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/court-rejects-discipline-of-student-whose-post-mocked-george-floyds-death/2025/10 An appeals court ruled that a student's off-campus social media post is constitutionally protected. Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:03:12 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/court-rejects-discipline-of-student-whose-post-mocked-george-floyds-death/2025/10 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-administrators-who-banned-lets-go-brandon-shirts/2025/10 A coded message of political criticism was vulgar and can be barred in schools. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 19:27:31 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-administrators-who-banned-lets-go-brandon-shirts/2025/10 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/free-speech-lines-blur-for-teachers-in-wake-of-charlie-kirks-killing/2025/09 Fallout from teacher reactions to the activist's death led some state officials to threaten to revoke educators' licenses. Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:07:09 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/free-speech-lines-blur-for-teachers-in-wake-of-charlie-kirks-killing/2025/09 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-educators-are-being-fired-for-posting-about-charlie-kirk-is-that-a-problem/2025/09 Many schools lack a shared understanding of how free speech and professional ethics intersect on social media. Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:41:17 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-educators-are-being-fired-for-posting-about-charlie-kirk-is-that-a-problem/2025/09 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-across-the-u-s-get-suspended-or-fired-over-posts-linked-to-charlie-kirk/2025/09 Teachers face discipline for social media posts following the conservative speaker's assassination. Fri, 12 Sep 2025 22:00:46 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-across-the-u-s-get-suspended-or-fired-over-posts-linked-to-charlie-kirk/2025/09 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/schools-confederate-name-violates-students-free-speech-judge-says/2025/09 The district was the first to reverse course and bring back Confederate names for its schools. The litigation is ongoing. Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:36:53 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/schools-confederate-name-violates-students-free-speech-judge-says/2025/09 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-a-new-law-claims-to-curb-teacher-sexual-misconduct-what-does-it-really-do/2025/08 In one state, teachers now face strict limits on how they can communicate with students outside the classroom. Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:27:41 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-a-new-law-claims-to-curb-teacher-sexual-misconduct-what-does-it-really-do/2025/08 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/judge-blocks-texas-law-requiring-ten-commandments-in-schools/2025/08 A federal district judge ruled that the Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays is schools likely violates the First Amendment. Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:07:09 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/judge-blocks-texas-law-requiring-ten-commandments-in-schools/2025/08 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/some-teachers-could-lose-out-on-loan-forgiveness-under-trump-admin-proposal/2025/08 Districts and other employers face proposed restrictions on student loan forgiveness for employees. Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:44:05 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/some-teachers-could-lose-out-on-loan-forgiveness-under-trump-admin-proposal/2025/08 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-in-anti-abortion-clubs-flyer-dispute/2025/08 A federal appeals court upheld an Indiana school district's limitation on a Students for Life club's political messages on school walls. Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:46:33 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-school-in-anti-abortion-clubs-flyer-dispute/2025/08 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-sides-with-school-in-come-and-take-it-gun-hat-dispute/2025/08 A full federal appeals court declined to reconsider a panel's decision backing administrators who required a student to remove her gun hat. Wed, 13 Aug 2025 20:32:40 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-sides-with-school-in-come-and-take-it-gun-hat-dispute/2025/08 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-arkansas-law-targeting-critical-race-theory/2025/07 A federal appeals court allowed Arkansas to enforce its law barring teachers from "indoctrination" of students in Critical Race Theory. Fri, 18 Jul 2025 21:43:51 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-arkansas-law-targeting-critical-race-theory/2025/07 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-fla-law-barring-transgender-teachers-use-of-her-pronouns/2025/07 A federal court upheld Florida’s ban on K-12 teachers using pronouns that differ from their sex assigned at birth when speaking to students. Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:25:47 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-backs-fla-law-barring-transgender-teachers-use-of-her-pronouns/2025/07 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-cases-on-teacher-student-political-speech/2025/06 The justices refused to take up the cases of a teacher fired over social media posts and a student who alleged harassment over his MAGA hat. Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:50:07 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-declines-to-hear-cases-on-teacher-student-political-speech/2025/06 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-ruling-raises-bar-for-challenging-school-book-bans/2025/05 A federal appeals court rejected a challenge to book removals in a Texas public library and overruled a precedent on school library cases. Wed, 28 May 2025 21:18:40 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/appeals-court-ruling-raises-bar-for-challenging-school-book-bans/2025/05 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-wont-hear-two-genders-student-t-shirt-case/2025/05 Over two justices' dissent, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a student barred from wearing an anti-transgender T-shirt. Tue, 27 May 2025 19:55:45 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-wont-hear-two-genders-student-t-shirt-case/2025/05 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/religious-charter-school-blocked-after-supreme-court-deadlock/2025/05 The U.S. Supreme Court's 4-4 split over a religious charter school affirms a lower court ruling against the school but sets no precedent. Thu, 22 May 2025 18:15:56 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/religious-charter-school-blocked-after-supreme-court-deadlock/2025/05 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-what-the-supreme-court-case-on-lgbtq-books-reminds-us-about-parents-rights/2025/05 Regardless of which side wins Mahmoud v. Taylor, we have a big problem. Thu, 15 May 2025 14:47:34 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-what-the-supreme-court-case-on-lgbtq-books-reminds-us-about-parents-rights/2025/05 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-appears-open-to-religious-charter-school/2025/04 The U.S. Supreme Court grappled with whether charter schools are public schools and whether the Constitution permits a religious charter. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 21:50:48 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-appears-open-to-religious-charter-school/2025/04 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-case-could-reshape-landscape-for-charter-and-religious-schools/2025/04 The U.S. Supreme Court on April 30 will take up the much-debated case of a Roman Catholic charter school in Oklahoma. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:03:27 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-case-could-reshape-landscape-for-charter-and-religious-schools/2025/04 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-leans-toward-parents-on-opt-outs-for-lgbtq-lessons/2025/04 The U.S. Supreme Court took up a case on whether religious parents may remove their children from public school lessons on LGBTQ+ topics. Tue, 22 Apr 2025 22:24:27 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-leans-toward-parents-on-opt-outs-for-lgbtq-lessons/2025/04 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-faces-big-test-on-religious-students-opt-outs-from-lgbtq-books/2025/04 The justices will weigh whether a school district must allow parents with religious objections to LGBTQ+ books to excuse their children. Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:56:42 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-faces-big-test-on-religious-students-opt-outs-from-lgbtq-books/2025/04 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-can-states-bar-religious-charter-schools-the-supreme-court-will-soon-decide/2025/03 Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions suggest that bans on faith-based charter schools may violate the Free Exercise Clause. Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-can-states-bar-religious-charter-schools-the-supreme-court-will-soon-decide/2025/03 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-wont-take-up-case-on-schools-bias-response-policies/2025/03 Over the dissents of two justices, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to weigh a case about educational institutions' bias-reporting policies. Mon, 03 Mar 2025 22:38:56 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-wont-take-up-case-on-schools-bias-response-policies/2025/03 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/how-educators-feel-about-the-supreme-courts-decision-to-uphold-tiktok-ban/2025/01 The Supreme Court upheld a law targeting TikTok, increasing the uncertainty for an app highly popular among U.S. educators and students. Fri, 17 Jan 2025 19:46:20 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/how-educators-feel-about-the-supreme-courts-decision-to-uphold-tiktok-ban/2025/01 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/bidens-title-ix-rule-to-expand-protections-of-trans-students-struck-down/2025/01 The Title IX rule improperly expands sex-discrimination protection to gender identity, the judge ruled. Thu, 09 Jan 2025 22:22:07 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/bidens-title-ix-rule-to-expand-protections-of-trans-students-struck-down/2025/01 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/ten-commandments-law-for-public-schools-is-impermissible-judge-rules/2024/11 The Louisiana law would require displays of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:04:43 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/ten-commandments-law-for-public-schools-is-impermissible-judge-rules/2024/11