Student Rights & Free Speech Rhode Island
Can Rhode Island Public Schools Legally Ban Political Clothing and Hats?
When students walk into a public high school in Providence, Cranston, or Warwick, they do not leave their constitutional rights at the door. Clothing has long been a powerful form...
Fourth Amendment Rights in RI Schools: Can a Principal Confiscate and Search Your Phone?
Smartphones hold our most private conversations, photos, and personal information. When a student brings a phone into a Rhode Island public school, they do not completely lose thei...
Refusing the Pledge of Allegiance in Rhode Island Public Schools
Every morning across the country, millions of public school students are asked to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. While this is a deeply held tradition for many, others...
Censorship of Student Journalism in Rhode Island High Schools
For decades, high school principals across the country have had broad power to censor student newspapers, yearbooks, and broadcast programs. However, Rhode Island is one of the few...
LGBTQ+ Student Privacy Rights in Rhode Island: Can Teachers Out Students to Parents?
Navigating middle and high school is difficult enough, but for transgender, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ youth, the stakes are often much higher. A critical issue facing students in Prov...
Student Walkouts in Rhode Island: First Amendment Rights vs. Truancy Laws
In recent years, student-led walkouts have become a powerful tool for young people across the country. Whether marching out of class to demand action on climate change, gun violenc...