October 12, 2007

New Brunswick - The American Civil Liberties Union and New Jersey State Bar Foundation announced today the release of a revised and expanded version of their publication, Students' Rights Handbook: A Guide for Public School Students in New Jersey. The handbook, a copy of which is being mailed to every school district in New Jersey, describes student rights when it comes to discipline, religious freedom, privacy, and freedom of expression, among other topics.

"More than thirty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that students do not 'shed their rights at the schoolhouse gates,'" said Bar Foundation President Mary Ellen Tully. "We've published this guide so that students and their families can better understand what those rights are. As our world changes and the law evolves, we want to keep students and parents current on their constitutional rights in the school environment."

Keeping students and the adults that deal with them informed of students' rights is the goal of the Students' Rights Handbook. Created and written by the ACLU-NJ, the booklet is geared to high school students. The revised copy adds new topics that have developed in New Jersey in recent years, such as bullying and military recruiting. It also updates sections on student drug testing and free speech on the Internet.

"It is critical that students know their rights so that they may fully exercise them and stand up for themselves," said Deborah Jacobs, Executive Director of the ACLU-NJ. "We've found this guide to be an important resource for people - including teachers and administrators - who are concerned about students' rights."

Free copies of the Students' Rights Handbook are available through the New Jersey State Bar Foundation in single copies and bulk orders and can be ordered at http://www.njsbf.org or by calling 1-800-FREE LAW.