Resources on Your State
The DSC is gathering Know Your Rights booklets for youth, Advocacy Guides for parents and other materials from states around the country. Please send us links to information from your state at research@dignityinschools.org.
Arizona | California | Connecticut | Georgia | Florida | Louisiana | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | New Jersey | New York | Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Virginia | Washington
- Guidebook for Parents on Advocating for Your Child
A guidebook for Arizona parents with information on tracking, testing, school discipline and due process hearings, special education and NCLB from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.
- Student Handbook on Suspension and Expulsion in California Schools
Visit the ACLU of Northern California website to access their handbook and learn about their Youth Projects.
- Guidebook for Parents on School Rights and Responsibilities
A guide for parents on advocating for their children in California schools from Public Counsel, with a focus on the Los Angeles Unified School District.
- Guide for Parent Advocacy under NCLB
A Connecticut Parent's Guide to Advocating for Equal Educational Opportunities from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. It is also available Spanish.
- Guidebook on Advocating for Your Child
A guidebook for Georgia parents with information on tracking, testing, school discipline and due process hearings, special education and NCLB from the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.
- Handbook for Public School Students in Florida from the ACLU of Florida.
- Toolkit for Parents in Lousiana on School Disicpline
The Juvenile Justice Project of Lousiana produced this toolkit - "Educational Advocacy: How to Help a Child with School Discipline Issues."
- Guides on School Discipine and Special Education
The Children's Law Center of Massachusetts has a variety of guides on School Suspension and Expulsion, Special Education, and Disciplining Children with Special Needs.
- FAQ on Rights of Students with Disabilities in Suspension and Expulsion
Spanish version
Visit the Disability Law Center of Massachusetts website for a variety of resources on the rights of students with disabilities.
- What Schools Need to Know: LGBT Students and the Law
Read this booklet from the ACLU of Michigan and GLSEN of Detroit about the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students. Also visit the national ACLU website to access the on-line toolkit Get Busy, Get Equal and the Quick Know Your Rights Guide for LGBT High School Students.
- Guide on Discipline for Students with Disabilities
Pacer is an advocacy organization created by parents. It offers support, publications, and leadership on disability issues for parents and education professionals. PACER has created an online guide for parents on discipline policies in Minnesota for students with disabilities. To access this guide, visit www.pacer.org and click on: New! Interactive Product on School Discipline in Minnesota.
- A Students' Rights Handbook from the ACLU of NJ.
- Know Your Rights with Police in School Card
Visit the NYCLU website for resources on the School to Prison Pipeline.
- Guides for Parents on a Wide Range of Issues
http://www.advocatesforchildren.org/guidesbytopic.php
Visit the Advocates for Children website for guides on the rights of immigrant parents and students, special education, access to schools, alternative education programs and more.
- Students! Know Your Rights
The ACLU of Ohio has a handbook outlining your rights as a public school student in Ohio. You can also visit their webpage for High School Students.
- Your Right to Equality in Education
The ACLU of Oregon website has a Youth Section with information on student rights, including rights related to discipline and exclusion from school.
- Know Your Rights
The ACLU of Pennsylvania has A Manual for Public School Students in Pennsylvania which includes information on discrimination, school discipline and security.
- Know Your Rights!
The ACLU of Tennessee has A Guide for Public School Students in Tennessee, a fact sheet on Military Recruiting in high school, and information on their annual student conferences.
- Guide for Parents on Advocating for Your Child
The Just Children Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Virginia has developed the guide - Helping You Help Your Child: A Focus on Education - for parents on a wide range of educational issues, including school discipline, special education, immigrant students' rights, and issues facing homeless children and foster children.
- Know Your Rights!
The ACLU of Washington has A Guide for Public School Students in
- Guides on Discipline and School Board Advocacy
The ACLU of Washington State has created multiple guides on advocacy for parents available on the organization’s website at http://www.aclu-wa.org/.
Guide to school discipline in Washington – English and Spanish
Guide for parents to school board advocacy