Supreme Court

Abstract Illustration of long winding path to unknown destination framed by diverse people looking on.
John Woodcock/DigitalVision Vectors + Vanessa Solis/Education Week
Equity & Diversity Opinion Now That the Court Has Ruled on Affirmative Action, What Must School Leaders Know?
Nothing in the Supreme Court decision keeps K-12 educators from working for racial equity, writes a teacher educator.
John Pascarella, July 10, 2023
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5 min read
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Washington.
AP
Law & Courts 2 Big Supreme Court Cases—But Not the Ones You Think—With Implications for Public Schools
Employees won stronger ground to claim a religious accommodation, as a new case will address when job transfers are covered by federal law.
Mark Walsh, July 7, 2023
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10 min read
People react outside of the Supreme Court Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington, after the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.
People react outside of the U.S. Supreme Court Friday, June 30, 2023, in Washington, after the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled that a Christian graphic artist who wants to design wedding websites can refuse to work with same-sex couples. The court ruled 6-3 for designer Lorie Smith despite a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, gender, and other characteristics. Smith had argued that the law violates her free speech rights.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts In Supreme Court Decision Affecting LGBTQ+ Rights, Both Sides Cite Education Precedents
In case of a wedding website designer who refused to create a site for a same-sex couple, the majority and dissent cite school cases.
Mark Walsh, June 30, 2023
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4 min read
President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on June 30, 2023, in Washington. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona listens at left. The Biden administration is moving forward on a new student debt relief plan after the Supreme Court struck down his original initiative to provide relief to 43 million borrowers.
President Joe Biden speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on June 30, 2023, in Washington. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona listens at left. The Biden administration is moving forward on a new student debt relief plan after the Supreme Court struck down his original initiative to provide relief to 43 million borrowers.
Evan Vucci/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Rejects Student Loan Relief Plan
In a case watched by teachers, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s plan to relieve $400 billion in student debt.
Mark Walsh, June 30, 2023
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6 min read
People protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday, June 29, 2023. The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.
People protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday, June 29, 2023. The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Ends Affirmative Action in College Admissions in Decision Watched by K-12
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, a change to the use of race that may be felt in K-12 schools.
Mark Walsh, June 29, 2023
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10 min read
Police officers stand guard outside of the U.S Supreme Court building on June 23, 2023, in Washington.
Police officers stand guard outside of the U.S Supreme Court building on June 23, 2023, in Washington, where the justices this week are ruling on major cases that will impact K-12 schools.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Makes It Harder to Prosecute 'True Threats' That Could Be Aimed at Schools
The justices seek to strike a balance between First Amendment free speech and threats, with concerns evident about student expression.
Mark Walsh, June 27, 2023
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4 min read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Declines to Hear Closely Watched Case on Charter Schools
The justices won't consider whether charter schools are "state actors," which has implications for the push for religious charter schools.
Mark Walsh, June 26, 2023
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5 min read
Activists demonstrate as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on a pair of cases that could decide the future of affirmative action in college admissions, in Washington, Oct. 31, 2022. As the Supreme Court decides the fate of affirmative action, most Americans say the court should allow consideration of race as part of the admissions process, yet few believe students' race should play a significant role in decisions.
Activists demonstrate as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on a pair of cases that could decide the future of affirmative action in college admissions on Oct. 31, 2022. Most Americans say the court should allow consideration of race as part of the admissions process, yet few believe students' race should play a significant role in decisions.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Equity & Diversity Explainer What Is Affirmative Action? How a Supreme Court Decision Could Impact K-12 Schools
Experts talk about what affirmative action is, how it's worked, and what's at stake—including for K-12 schools.
Ileana Najarro, Eesha Pendharkar & Mark Walsh, June 20, 2023
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1 min read
Demonstrators stand outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, as the court hears arguments over the Indian Child Welfare Act on Nov. 9, 2022, in Washington. The Supreme Court has preserved the system that gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children. The court left in place the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which was enacted to address concerns that Native children were being separated from their families and, too frequently, placed in non-Native homes.
Demonstrators stand outside of the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard arguments over the Indian Child Welfare Act on Nov. 9, 2022. In a ruling Thursday, the court preserved the system that gives preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings of Native children.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Backs Indian Child Welfare Act, as a Justice Cites Boarding School Legacy
Justice Neil M. Gorsuch says the nation's "devastating" policies of removing Native children from families necessitated the federal law.
Mark Walsh, June 15, 2023
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7 min read
Harry Briggs stands in front of the Scott's Branch School in Summerton, S.C., May 8, 1979. In 1950, Briggs filed a school desegregation lawsuit, seeking equal schools and pay for teachers. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that separate but equal schools were unconstitutional.
Harry Briggs stands in front of the Scott's Branch School in Summerton, S.C., May 8, 1979. In 1950, Briggs filed a school desegregation lawsuit, seeking equal schools and pay for teachers. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that separate but equal schools were unconstitutional.
Lou Krasky/AP
Law & Courts Should 'Brown v. Board of Education' Be Renamed? The Debate, Explained
Descendants contend the companion case Briggs v. Elliott was unfairly bumped from the top of the historic decision.
Mark Walsh, June 5, 2023
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11 min read
This artist sketch depicts Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, right, presenting an argument before the Supreme Court, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, in Washington.
U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, shown in a November 2021 sketch arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court, has filed a brief urging the justices not to take up a closely watched case about the legal status of charter schools.
Dana Verkouteren via AP
Law & Courts Biden Administration Urges High Court to Reject Case on Legal Status of Charter Schools
The case about whether a North Carolina charter school is a "state actor" when it enforces its dress code is being watched closely.
Mark Walsh, May 23, 2023
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4 min read
Justice John Paul Stevens looks over some legal material on Jan. 12, 1976 in Washington, in his chambers prior to joining his colleagues for his first working session on the Supreme Court bench.
Justice John Paul Stevens looks over some legal material on Jan. 12, 1976, in his chambers before joining his colleagues for his first working session on the U.S. Supreme Court bench.
Bob Daugherty/AP
Law & Courts Justice's Files Offer Insights Into Student Prayer and Other Supreme Court Education Cases
The new trove of John Paul Stevens' papers reveals internal debates over football game prayer, desegregation, Title IX, and drug testing.
Mark Walsh, May 12, 2023
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14 min read
A female and male professional with open laptops and surrounded by chat bubbles and social media icons.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Law & Courts Can School Board Members Block Parents on Social Media? Supreme Court to Decide
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal from board members who blocked 'unreasonable,' repetitious posts from parents on social media pages.
Mark Walsh, April 24, 2023
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5 min read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts U.S. Supreme Court Has Schools in Mind as It Weighs What 'True Threats' Are
The justices cite school and college scenarios as they consider when speech perceived as threatening may be punished.
Mark Walsh, April 19, 2023
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6 min read
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