Student Rights

      In celebration of Constitution Day, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona’s Southern Arizona Chapter is sponsoring an essay contest for students in grades 9 through 12 who attend high schools in Southern Arizona. Students can choose to write about students’ civil rights, on and off campus. Cash prizes are $500 for the first place winner, $250 for the second place winner, and $100 for the third place winner. Students must submit essays (no longer than 1,000 words) on either of the following topics:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona today filed a records request asking Arizona education officials to produce all records in their possession relating to a review of the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Mexican American Studies program. The ACLU’s request comes in the wake of an announcement by Arizona Department of Education Office (ADE) Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal that the program violates state law, despite findings by a state-selected auditor to the contrary.

PHOENIX – The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a records request seeking to prompt the Arizona Department of Education to release documents related to the implementation of a new law banning ethnic studies programs that goes into effect December 31.

Our nation’s public schools represent the highest and most revolutionary ideal of American democracy — that through education open to all on an equal basis, every child can achieve his or her full potential as a result of merit and hard work. The California Constitution, like the constitutions of every state in the Union, accordingly entitles the children of this state to a free and equal education.