Supreme Court

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor listens as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pays tribute to O'Connor's advocacy work on behalf of civic education, impact on female judges and justice for women and girls worldwide at the Seneca Women Global Leadership Forum at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, on April 15, 2015 in Washington.
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor listens to a tribute to her advocacy work on behalf of civics education and women's role in the legal profession at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, on April 15, 2015, in Washington.
Kevin Wolf/Invision for Seneca Women via AP Images
Law & Courts What Sandra Day O'Connor Did to Shape School Law and Civics Education
O'Connor wrote influential opinions on affirmative action, Title IX, and other education issues. Then she tirelessly worked on civics.
Mark Walsh, December 1, 2023
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10 min read
Gun safety and domestic violence prevention organizations gather outside of the Supreme Court before oral arguments are heard in United States v. Rahimi on Nov. 7, 2023, in Washington.
Gun safety and domestic violence prevention organizations gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court before oral arguments are heard in <i>United States</i> v. <i>Rahimi</i> on Nov. 7, 2023, in Washington.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
Law & Courts U.S. Supreme Court Takes Up Major Gun Case With School Safety in Backdrop
The principle that guns may be barred from schools may bolster a federal law restricting firearm possession by domestic abusers.
Mark Walsh, November 7, 2023
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6 min read
The sun rises behind the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 10, 2020.
The sun rises behind the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Nov. 10, 2020.
Alex Brandon/AP
Law & Courts What the Supreme Court Had to Say About School Board Members Blocking Constituents
The justices take up a case involving school board members who blocked some constituents from posting comments on public social media pages.
Mark Walsh, October 31, 2023
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7 min read
The setting sun illuminates the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 10, 2023.
The setting sun illuminates the Supreme Court building in Washington on Jan. 10, 2023.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Law & Courts School Board Members' Use of Social Media Faces Key First Amendment Test in Supreme Court
The justices will decide whether school board members engaged in government action when they blocked parents who posted repetitive comments.
Mark Walsh, October 24, 2023
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9 min read
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 25, 2023. The new term of the high court begins Oct. 2, 2023.
The Supreme Court is seen in Washington on Sept. 25, 2023. The new term of the high court begins Oct. 2, 2023.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law & Courts In New Term, Supreme Court Set to Tackle Case on School Board Members' Social Media Use
The docket for education cases looks more modest than last term, but cases on magnet schools and transgender students could be added.
Mark Walsh, September 28, 2023
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11 min read
Education Week opinion letters submissions
Gwen Keraval for Education Week
Law & Courts Letter to the Editor Why Does America Still Need Affirmative Action?
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling may have negative implications for K-12, writes a special education teacher.
August 15, 2023
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1 min read
People protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington on June 29, 2023. The Supreme Court 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.
Demonstrators outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29, the day the court struck down affirmative action in college admissions. The Biden administration on Aug. 14 issued guidance on other ways colleges to promote racial diversity.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Law & Courts Biden Administration Outlines How Colleges Can Pursue Racial Diversity After Court Ruling
The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice say universities may partner with schools on outreach and recruitment of minority students.
Mark Walsh, August 14, 2023
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5 min read
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona gives an address to the American Federation of Teachers Together Educating America’s Children (TEACH) conference, in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2023.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, shown speaking to a teachers' conference on July 21, addressed educational leaders Wednesday about the U.S. Supreme Court's affirmative action decision.
Graeme Sloan for Education Week
Federal Secretary Cardona Says Affirmative Action Decision Will Challenge All Education Leaders
The U.S. Department of Education held a summit to discuss the Supreme Court decision and said that more detailed guidance was coming soon.
Mark Walsh, July 26, 2023
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4 min read
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
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