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Plessy v. Ferguson
This case was about Racial Segregation. Homer Plessy refused to sit in a car for black people. Plessy felt that his constitutional rights were violated when he was not allowed an option to sit elsewhere than with the blacks.. The court ruled that state-mandated segregation laws did not violate the 14th Amendment equal protection clause. The doctrine was known as separate but equal regarding whites and blacks. -
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
The West Virginia Board of Education required schools to include saluting the American Flag by teachers and students. If students disobeyed this rule they were subject to expulsion and would not be reenrolled in school unless they complied. If they did not comply they would then face criminal charges based on the student having too many unlawful absences. The Barnette Court held that school officials can not force students to salute the flag. The students in this case were Jehovah's Witnesses. -
Brown v. the Board of Education, Topeka
Oliver Brown filed a class action suit against the Board of Education of Topeka after his daughter was denied entrance into the all white elementary schools located in Topeka, Kansas. The Supreme Court final ruling was that separating children by race in schools was unconstitutional. It overruled the "separate but equal" principle in the Plessy v. Ferguson case and was officially the end of legalized racial segregation in the United States of America. -
Engel v. Vitale
A law in New York State required public schools in the start of the day to say the Pledge of Allegiance and a nondenominational prayer which children were to recognize their dependence upon God. A parent filed a lawsuit on behalf of his child stating that the law violated the First Amendment establishment clause. The Supreme Court ruled in favor stating that it was unconstitutional for schools to lead students in prayer. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Ernesto Miranda was arrested and questioned at the local police station where police were able to get a written confession after 2 hours of interrogation. The officers had not advised Miranda of his rights to have an attorney present. The Supreme Court ruled that people are entitled to an attorney under the 5th & 6th Amendment to protect them against self-incrimination. It is their constitutional right to be informed prior to any police questioning. -
Title IX
Title IX protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive financial assistance. It was a federal civil rights law that was enacted as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. Schools were required to publish a policy about not discriminating students based on sex and were also required to make it widely distributed, Every school was also required to have a Title IX Coordinator and provide contact information to parents if requested. -
Education of all Handicapped Children Act
Education of all Handicapped Children Act also known as EHA guaranteed a free public education to each child with a disability in all the U.S. This was was signed into act by President Gerald Ford. This act required all public schools that were funded to provide one free meal a day for children with physical and mental disabilities as well as equal access to education. -
Plyler v. Doe
Texas Legislature revised education laws to deny entrance to public schools and withhold funding to immigrant children. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court who ruled in favor of the parents. Plyler v. Doe made sure children living in the United States without proper documentation still be provided access to basic education. -
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Students at Hazelwood East High School journalism class wrote stories about teenage pregnancy and the impact of divorce. Once they published these articles in the school newspaper the principle deleted them without telling the students. The students argued the school violated their First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school in a 5-3 decision. They decided that schools do not have to allow students speech if it does not correspond to the schools education values. -
Board of Education of Independent School District #92 of Pottawatomie County v Earls
Two students at Tecumseh High School Lindsay Earls and Daniel James filed a case against the school board that challenged the policy of drug testing in schools stating it was unconstitutional. In a 5-4 ruling the Supreme Court decided that it does not violate the Fourth Amendment for public schools to conduct mandatory drug testing on students who are involved in extracurricular activities.