Thought Leadership

Say What? First Amendment Limits on Addressing Disruptive Speech in Public Schools

Disruption from school community member speech is all too common these days. From social media call-outs by students to boisterous board meetings overrun by parents to employees taking aim at contentious issues in the classroom and beyond, there are innumerable landmines that school leaders must navigate. In doing so, they must balance the First Amendment free speech rights of speakers against the need to maintain discipline and protect others in the school environment. What rules must they consider when navigating such issues in the public school environment? What can a school do if First Amendment protections get in the way of traditional responses to disruptive speech? This webinar addresses the issues school leaders need to know to navigate these and many other issues involving disruptive student, parents, and employee speech in public schools.