The School Law Blog
The School Law Blog offered expert insights and analysis on legal issues in education, including school-related cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and in lower courts. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: law & courts, supreme court, and court cases.
Education
Appeals Court Finds No Disparagement of Hinduism in Calif. Curricular Framework
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit turned aside a challenge to California's history and social science content standards and curriculum framework.
Education
Court Revives Suit Stemming From Black Lives Matter Discussion in Classroom
A Nebraska middle school student alleges her teacher cut her off during a discussion about athletes kneeling during the national anthem in support of Black Lives Matter.
Education
Florida School Reopening Date Arrives as Legal Skirmishing Continues
A state appellate court indicated it was likely to side with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration's emergency order requiring schools to open for brick-and-mortar instruction.
Education
California Private School in Legal Storm as It Reopens in Defiance of Health Orders
Immanuel Schools in Reedley, Calif., has already defeated a county's effort for a temporary restraining order seeking to shut it down. The state supreme court has been asked to weigh in on the issue.
Law & Courts
Federal Appeals Court Backs Gavin Grimm in Long-Running Transgender Case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit rules 2-1 that a Virginia school district's policy limiting transgender students to certain restrooms violates Title IX and the equal-protection clause.
Education
Judge Blocks Florida Order Requiring Most Schools to Re-Open by Aug. 31
The injunction blocking a state order requiring most Florida schools to open their campuses is a significant development in the debate over reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education
Judge Blocks Idaho Law Limiting Sports Participation by Transgender Females
The judge said the law likely discriminates on the basis of transgender status in violation of the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Education
Federal Appeals Court Backs Transgender Student on School Restroom Use
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit says a Florida district's policy violated the transgender student's rights under Title IX and the equal-protection clause.
Education
District Not Liable Under Title IX for Administrator's Relationship With Student
A federal appeals court rejected arguments that the abuser was an "appropriate" district official with knowledge of the harassment and the authority to remedy it.
Law & Courts
Court Upholds $400,000 Jury Award to Superintendent Ousted Amid Discord
An Illinois school superintendent's contract was not renewed amid turmoil with her school board that started with her push for an audit of district finances.
Education
High Court Blocks Electronic-Signature Gathering for Idaho Education Initiative
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked an injunction that had allowed a group backing an Idaho education spending measure to collect electronic signatures because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Education
Trump Administration Keeps DACA Closed to New Participants Amid Review
The deportation relief program, which is of wide interest to the education community, will shorten renewals from two years to one year while remaining closed to new participants.
Education
Idaho Seeks to Block Electronic-Signature Gathering for Education Ballot Measure
Idaho officials asked a U.S. Supreme Court justice to block an injunction that allows a group backing an education ballot initiative to collect electronic signatures because of COVID-19.
Education
Supreme Court to Weigh 'Nominal Damages' Issue Often Seen in School Lawsuits
The justices granted review in a case that raises a procedural question with significant practical implications for the types of constitutional lawsuits often brought against public schools and colleges.