Understanding Students’ Rights to Speech and Information under the First Amendment by Catherine E. Ferri*, Guest Blogger^ Understanding a K-12 student’s rights has always been complicated. The Supreme Court famously wrote in 1969 that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” In that landmark case, […]| Politics in Practice
If you’re involved in public schools, you’ve probably heard by now that the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds will end in September 2024. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds were created to assist schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While a statutory end to pandemic relief funding has […]| Politics in Practice
Technology and learning resources are critical to enhancing student achievement in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape. However, many school libraries need to take advantage of a valuable funding resource that could help them achieve their goals. Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants […]| Politics in Practice
The First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses create a constitutional balance: the government cannot establish a state religion nor impede individual religious practices. This delicate equilibrium has posed challenges for public schools, which must remain religiously neutral while not infringing upon personal religious expression. Historical Supreme Court rulings have defined this balance by prohibiting school-led religious activities, while recent decisions have leaned toward...| Politics in Practice
Parents play a crucial role in the ecosystem of school libraries. Their advocacy, support, and involvement are often key to securing the budget to maintain and expand library services. Engaging parents effectively means communicating the multifaceted value of the library not just to individual students but to the entire school community.| Politics in Practice
Empower your school library advocacy through the power of social proofs. Discover how endorsements drive coalitions and funding success.| Politics in Practice
The First Amendment is a crucial defense against book bans, particularly those targeting LGBTQ+ stories, critical race theory, and BIPOC authors. However, schools often navigate around these protections through| Politics in Practice
