It's back-to-school season once again!
Do you have your essentials? New pencils, a fresh notebook, and a solid understanding of your civil rights at school?
At a time when the federal government is targeting people simply for going about their daily lives, it's more important than ever for students, families, teachers, and school staff to know their rights and how to protect them.
That's why the ACLU of Maine has partnered with EqualityMaine and GLAD Law to create an updated Know Your Rights guide for students, faculty, staff, and families. It covers a range of issues, including immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of speech.
What's new this year?
Maine's new ICE Out of Schools and State Healthcare law provides important protections for immigrant students and families. It requires school staff to deny federal immigration agents access to private spaces and private information unless agents present a valid judicial warrant. This empowers frontline employees to protect the people they serve. The law applies to all public schools, charter schools, public pre-K programs, public colleges and universities, state libraries, and state healthcare facilities.
The guide also responds to a recent Supreme Court decision, West Virginia v. BPJ. The Court ruled that states can ban trans students from school sports – but the decision does not change anything here in Maine. State law still protects against discrimination based on gender identity and protects the trans students' right to participate in school activities consistent with their gender identity.
What else does the guide cover?
- Immigrants' rights at school
- The rights of pregnant students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students
- Gender-inclusive participation in sports, facility use, names and pronouns, and the Maine Human Rights Act protections for gender identity
- Student free speech, protests, and walkouts
- Teacher and staff free speech
- Tribal regalia at graduation and other events
- Faculty and staff resources to understand Maine's ICE Out of Schools and State Healthcare law and protect immigrant students' rights
- Names and pronouns at public colleges and universities
- Celebrating Pride at school
- Student clubs and GSAs
- Book bans and access to information free from censorship
- LGBTQ+ Youth Resource Guide
- Title IX
Students do better when they can learn and thrive in safe, healthy environments. Schools play a crucial role in ensuring that everyone in our society is informed about the world around us and the issues that matter most in our lives. And true learning requires that teachers and students remain free to ask questions, debate, study, and present their views without restriction, intimidation, or retaliation. We encourage everyone to learn more about their rights and to exercise and enforce them every day.
Have a wonderful school year!
