1. Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Issue: Racial segregation in schools.
Outcome: Proclaimed segregation in public schools unconstitutional and established the rule of equality in education.
2. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
Issue: Student free speech.
Outcome: Confirmed students’ freedom of speech in schools as long as it doesn’t disrupt any educational activities.
Also read:
- https://nexgenlegalaid.com/30-steps-to-resolving-school-related-legal-issues-through-education-law/
- https://nexgenlegalaid.com/40-questions-about-education-law-answered-by-legal-experts/
- https://nexgenlegalaid.com/20-legal-rights-every-student-should-know-in-education-law/
3. Plyler v. Doe (1982)
Issue: Education for undocumented children.
Outcome: Held that states cannot deny free public education to children based on their immigration status.
4. San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez (1973)
Issue: School funding disparities.
Outcome: Ruled that education is not a fundamental right under the U.S. Constitution, upholding local funding systems.
5. Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)
Issue: Affirmative action in education.
Outcome: The court upheld the use of race as one of the factors in college admissions but rejected racial quotas.
6. Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017)
Issue: Rights of students with disabilities.
Outcome: Strengthened the IDEA by requiring schools to provide more than minimal educational progress.
7. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1993)
Issue: Right to free and compulsory education.
Outcome: Identified free education as one of the essential rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
8. Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)
Question: Sexual harassment in educational institutions in the workplace
Outcome: Determined guidelines regarding sexual harassment applicable to educational personnel and students alike.
9. Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)
Issue: Race-based admissions
Conclusion: Held the use of race in admissions practices is constitutional only if narrowly tailored to achieve the goal of diversity.
10. Board of Education v. Rowley (1982)
Issue: Special education services.
Ruling: Defined the level of services required under IDEA, setting a baseline for what constitutes “appropriate education.”
11. S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
Issue: Religious education in schools.
Ruling: Reinforced secular principles, restricting religious indoctrination in public education.
12. Missouri v. Jenkins (1995)
Issue: Desegregation funding.
Ruling: Limited judicial remedies for funding inequities related to desegregation.
13. Lau v. Nichols (1974)
Issue: Language rights in education.
Outcome: Mandated schools to provide language support for non-English-speaking students under the Civil Rights Act.
14. Doe v. Bolton (1973)
Issue: Student access to counseling.
Outcome: Improved access to educational and psychological counseling services.
15. Abbott v. Burke (1985, ongoing)
Issue: Education funding equity.
Outcome: Established the right to equal educational funding in impoverished districts in New Jersey.
16. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)
Issue: School voucher programs.
Outcome: Sanctioned government financing of nonpublic, including religious, schools through voucher plans.
17. Papas v. State of Kerala (2012)
Issue: Higher education reservation policies.
Outcome: Affirmed reservation policies to preserve representation for disadvantageous groups.
18. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
Issue: School newspaper censorship.
Outcome: Permitted schools to retain control over editorial matters of student-run newspapers for appropriate educational reasons.
19. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Issue: Religious freedom and compulsory education.
Outcome: Allowed Amish parents to withdraw children from school after 8th grade based on religious beliefs.
20. J.P. Unnikrishnan v. State of Andhra Pradesh (1993)
Issue: Capitation fees in private education.
Outcome: Declared capitation fees unconstitutional and emphasized access to quality education.
21. Fisher v. University of Texas (2016)
Issue: Affirmative action.
Outcome: Upheld the use of race as a factor in admissions, reaffirming diversity’s educational benefits.
22. Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (2007)
Issue: Racial balance in schools.
Outcome: Restricted the use of race in school assignment plans aimed at achieving racial balance.
23. Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala (2018)
Issue: Gender equality in education-linked institutions.
Outcome: Allowed entry of women into the Sabarimala Temple, reinforcing gender equity in educational and societal contexts.
24. Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (2007)
Issue: School assignment policies.
Decision: Race-based student assignments allowed only if narrowly tailored.
25. Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools (1992)
Issue: Sexual harassment in schools.
Decision: Permitted students to recover monetary damages for sexual harassment under Title IX.
Conclusion
These cases demonstrate the impact of courts in molding education law and ensuring that education is fair, accessible, and equitable. They offer significant legal precedents that inform policies and practices in educational institutions across the globe.