Students' & Youth Rights

Young people and students face unique vulnerabilities to their civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of New Jersey works to make sure that young people are not punished for their youth and that students can fully access their constitutional rights, including their educational rights.

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Young people and students face unique vulnerabilities to their civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of New Jersey works to make sure that young people are not punished for their youth and that students can fully access their constitutional rights, including their educational rights. We work with students, parents, teachers, and advocates to end the over-policing of schools and to ensure equality and dignity for students, including those who have historically been marginalized and under-resourced, such as students of color, young people who are incarcerated, LGBTQ+ youth, and low-income youth.

The Latest

News & Commentary
laura cohen

“Every young person, regardless of the crime they have committed, must be afforded a viable pathway to liberation.”

A Q&A with Professor Laura Cohen, director of the Rutgers Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic.
News & Commentary
Trans rights are human rights

Trans Students Need Their Identities Respected, Not Fear Being Outed by Their Schools

Students should feel fully empowered to decide where, when, and with whom they explore and express their gender identity.
News & Commentary
i voted

Young People are the Future – We Hope They Make Their Voices Heard at the Polls

The right to vote is one of the most fundamental pillars of our society. Encouraging young people to vote and have a say on the issues that impact their futures makes our democracy stronger.
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Aug 2025

Protecting LGBTQ+ Students’ Rights

All students deserve to feel safe, supported, and respected in school. That’s why the ACLU-NJ is working to ensure all school districts across the state meet their responsibilities to LGBTQ+ students and their families under federal and state law.