Can a student be subjected to a mandatory one-year expulsion for a knife he didn't even know he had? We discuss Seal v. Morgan, a case that deals with the constitutionality of zero-tolerance policies and how to balance students' rights with the safe and orderly operation of schools. We also talk about a recent case out of Iowa that struck down a curricular gag order on LGBTQ+ content in the curriculum and school libraries.

Is there a fundamental constitutional right to education under the U.S. Constitution? Does a state's school funding system violate the Constitution when it results in stark inequalities between districts? We discuss the seminal Supreme Court case of San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, which analyzed the constitutionality of Texas's inequitable funding system that relied heavily on local property taxes.

Does a drama teacher have a First Amendment right to choose a play for her students to perform? We discuss Boring v. Buncomb County Board of Education, a case that deals with teachers' academic freedom and the question of who has the authority to make curricular decisions in public schools. We also discuss the newly released 2020-2021 Civil Rights Data Collection from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, which you can explore at https://civilrightsdata.ed.gov/.

Happy holidays! In Chalk & Gavel's first "Sidebar," Supreme Court Education Reporter Mark Walsh joins Chris and Jamie to discuss the Court and its role in shaping education. We'll discuss the inner workings of the Court, recent cases related to education, and what to watch for in the near future.

When can a school search a student's cell phone? How can schools manage disuptive, inappropriate, or excessive parental involvement? We discuss Jackson v. McCurry, a case about the fallout from a school principal's search of a student's cell phone.

Can a school enforce its policy that forbids students from intentionally misgendering others? We discuss the case of Parents Defending Education v. Olentangy Local School District, a timely case that addresses the interplay of transgender students' rights and antidiscrimination law with students' free speech rights.

***The original title of this episode included the phrase "preferred pronouns," which we also use sporadically in the episode to describe the pronouns with which someone self-identifies. We've since become aware that norms regarding this terminology have changed and the term has been problematized due to the implication that gender is a preference rather than a fundamental aspect of our identity. In light of this, we've updated the title and will strive to use more inclusive terminology as social understandings and conversations around these topics evolve.***

When can schools discipline students for their off-campus speech? We discuss the recent Supreme Court case, Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., a case with a very familiar situation: a student used social media (and expletives) to express her frustrations about school.

Can attempts at humor support a teacher's termination? We discuss Sheldon Community School District v. Lundblad, a teacher dismissal case based on the teacher's misguided comments to students. We also chat about a situation involving a principal who changed athletes' grades and the high proportion of school board candidates who run unopposed.

Are charter schools bound by the U.S. Constitution? Does a charter school dress code that requires girls to wear skirts violate the Equal Protection Clause or Title IX? We discuss Peltier v. Charter Day School, a dress code case with significant implications for the school choice movement.

Coming October 24!