Youth and Students’ Rights

3 Children with backpacks walking home from school

The Constitution doesn’t place age requirements on our freedoms. ACLU-TN works to ensure that every student has the equal opportunity to attend nurturing and safe schools that provide high quality education free from discrimination. Highlights of our youth rights work include defending students’ free speech and privacy rights, preserving students’ religious freedom, protecting LGBTQ youth from harassment and bullying, and working to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.

The Latest

Know Your Rights
Placeholder image

ACLU-TN's Youth & Students' Rights Resource Sheet

Resource
Placeholder image

Stand Up/Speak Up: A Guide for Youth Activists

Know Your Rights
Frequently Asked Questions: Censorship in Tennessee's Schools

FAQ: Censorship in Tennessee’s Schools

Learn about how Tennessee's legislature censors teachers or employees of LEAs through the Age Appropriate Materials Act, the State Library Censorship Law, and the K-12 Censorship Law.
Press Release
Placeholder image

ACLU-TN Files Open Records Request on McMinn County School Board’s Banning of “Maus”

Issue Areas: Youth and Students’ Rights, Education Equity, Free Speech & Censorship
Legislation
Apr 15, 2024

STOP SCHOOL VOUCHERS IN TENNESSEE

SB 0503/HB 1183 would divert up to $141.5 million in taxpayer funds to implement an unfair and discriminatory statewide private school voucher program.
Status: Failed
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Mar 11, 2024

Protect Tennessee schools from harmful censorship lawsuits.

Allows any parent with a child eligible to attend a school operated by a local LEA or public charter school to sue the LEA or charter school, if they believe they aren’t enforcing Public Chapter 744, a 2022 law aimed at censoring and restricting students from learning about race and gender in school
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Feb 12, 2024

Oppose the flag ban and defend free speech.

SB 1722/HB 1605 would ban the display of most flags in public schools, particularly targeting flags that promote an “agenda,” such as Black Lives Matter flags or Pride flags.
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Mar 13, 2023

Mechanical restraints on students with disabilities

Tell lawmakers not to allow the use of handcuffs, zip ties, and other mechanical restraints on students with disabilities.
Status: Closed
Position: Oppose