Youth Rights

Just because youth might not yet have the right to vote or have other privileges of legally recognized adulthood, all young people still have basic, constitutionally protected rights and freedoms. The ACLU dedicates resources to defending youth and educating students about their rights. Youth activists are also involved with the ACLU on issues related to free speech, LGBTQ, drug policy, sex education and health, as well as religious freedom.

In Wisconsin, the ACLU works with schools, community based organizations and ACLU Student Alliances for the protection, advancement and education of student rights. Please visit our youth page for more information on our programs.

Resources for Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Wisconsin:
Questions for Parents to Ask About Sex Education (PDF)
Ten Ways to Work for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (PDF)

Student Free Speech Includes “Boobies” Bracelets: Lawsuit Filed Against Sauk Prairie Middle School Bracelet Ban
Thursday September 8, 2011
Student free speech should include the right to wear breast cancer awareness bracelets, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation and cooperating attorneys today. The suit was filed on behalf of a middle school student at Sauk Prairie Middle School who along with many classmates wore an "I ♥ Boobies! (Keep A Breast)” bracelet to school and prompted a school ban. “While a public school can put some reasonable limits on expression that poses a credible threat of a disruption of its educational activities or school mission, the mere discomfort some may have with the bracelets’ slang language is not a justification for banning the bracelets and punishing students who wear them,” said volunteer attorney Tamara Packard. Read more…
Press Release: 9/8/2011 - Student Free Speech Includes “Boobies” Bracelets: Lawsuit Filed Against Sauk Prairie Middle School Bracelet Ban
Legal Complaint: Filed on 9/8/2011 with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

ACLU of WI, American Civil Liberties Union (national) and Disability Rights WI Allege Voucher Program Discriminates on Basis of Disability: Groups Request Federal Investigation
Tuesday June 7, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation, and Disability Rights Wisconsin filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division charging discriminatory practices in Milwaukee’s private voucher schools have led to an egregious segregation of students with disabilities. The complaint was filed against the State of Wisconsin, its Department of Public Instruction and two voucher schools. The groups say that Wisconsin has failed to hold taxpayer-funded private voucher schools accountable for serving children with disabilities, and has created a program that segregates and isolates children with disabilities. Read more...
Press release: 6/7/2011 – Civil Rights Advocates Allege Voucher Program Discriminates on Basis of Disability: Groups Request Federal Investigation
Complaint to DOJ: Cover letter; full complaint; exhibits

ACLU of WI Calls Governor Walker’s Fantastic Math Part of National Attempt to Privatize Public Education
Thursday March 17, 2011
The Governor’s privatization ideology appears to have blinded him to the stark realities Wisconsin school children will face if a budget is passed with a $834 million cut in school aids over the course of the biennium. Walker’s de-funding scheme coupled with a costly and wasteful expansion of the failed private school voucher program in Milwaukee and independent charter schools statewide will privatize public education in Wisconsin. Read more…
Press release: 3/17/2011- ACLU of WI Calls Governor Walker’s Fantastic Math Part of National Attempt to Privatize Public Education

Belleville School Board Votes Unanimously to Keep Challenged Book in English Curriculum
Monday January 24, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin applauds the Belleville School District in their unanimous decision to keep a challenged book in the ninth grade English curriculum. The school board demonstrated patience and courage to recognize the importance of both due process and the need for relevant and contemporary literature in the classroom. Over 200 community members attended the hearing: the majority wore green "Keep the Book" stickers in a show of support. Read more…
Press release: 1/24/2011 - ACLU of WI Applauds Belleville Book Decision: School Board Votes Unanimously to Keep Challenged Book in English Curriculum

Merrill School Board Stands Up For Healthy Youth
Friday September 10, 2010
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin would like to send three cheers to the Merrill school board and the Mauston’s school district’s Human Growth and Development Advisory Committee for affirming that fact-based, comprehensive sexuality education should be taught in their local classrooms. The Merrill school board and Mauston’s board committee made decisions that will help young people in their district get the information and life skills they need to make healthy choices throughout their lives. Read more…
Documents: 9/7/2010 – Letter to Juneau County school boards (PDF), legal department memo on purported criminal liability for teaching comprehensive human growth and development under the Healthy Youth Act (PDF)

Mosinee and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Schools Must Defend Student Speech
Friday June 18, 2010
Wisconsin students have the right to free speech, even when it causes offense. In the recent examples of students wearing controversial t-shirts in Mosinee and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau schools, the ACLU of Wisconsin underscores the need for a greater understanding of student expression rights and clearer policies on discipline for disorderly conduct. Read more…
Press Release: 6/18/2010 – Wisconsin Students Have Free Expression Rights (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Juvenile Corrections Review Committee to Focus on Childrens’ Well-Being in Making Decisions about Juvenile Facilities
Thursday June 17, 2010
“A core mission of the state schools is to build the competency for responsible and productive community living of these young men,” said ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Christopher Ahmuty. “While there may be budgetary concerns, this committee’s decisions must prioritize the needs of youth who are under the state’s control, and who will eventually reenter our communities.”
Press Release: 6/17/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Juvenile Facilities (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to Juneau County District Attorney’s Attack on New Comprehensive Sexuality Education Law
Tuesday April 6, 2010
The district attorney in Juneau County has made an ill-advised attack on Wisconsin’s newly passed comprehensive sexuality education law. The Healthy Youth Act raises the state standards for human growth and development curricula. But the letter from District Attorney Southworth erroneously compares teaching the facts about reproduction and contraception to the sexual assault of children. “District Attorney Southworth has taken it upon himself to threaten possible prosecution of public school teachers in the county if they implement the new standards that require medically accurate and age-appropriate sex education,” said ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Christopher Ahmuty. Read more…
Press Release: 4/6/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to Ill-Advised Attack on New Comprehensive Sex Education Law in Juneau County (PDF)
Juneau County District Attorney letter: 2009 Wisconsin Act 134 – Sex Education Mandates (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Asks Wisconsin Senate to Vote Favorably on Bill to Limit Race-Based School Team Names and Mascots
Monday, March 1, 2010
Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin asked Wisconsin State Senate majority leader, Russell Decker (D-Schofield), to schedule a vote on legislation to address discriminatory race-based school team nicknames, logos and mascots. Last Thursday, the Wisconsin Assembly passed an amended version of such legislation with bipartisan support. Read more…
Press release: 3/1/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin asks Wisconsin Senate to vote favorably on bill to limit race-based school team names and mascots (PDF)
Letter to Senator Decker: 3/1/2010 – Sen. Decker RE AB 35 (PDF)

Big Brother Honadel’s Call to Fingerprint Poor Children Gives Businessmen a Bad Name
Monday, February 15, 2010
Today State Representative Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) sent out a media release announcing his plan to introduce legislation to require fingerprinting of poor children in the Wisconsin Shares day care program every day at check-in and check-out. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin opposes treating our children – including poor children -- like parts at an auto supply store or boxes of cereal at a grocery store.
Read more…
Press release: 02/15/2010 - Big Brother Honadel’s Call to Fingerprint Poor Children Gives Businessmen a Bad Name (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Applauds the Passage of the Healthy Youth Act
Friday, January 29, 2010
The ACLU of Wisconsin applauds the passage of the Healthy Youth Act, the legislation that will raise state standards for public school human growth and development instruction. The Healthy Youth Act will give Wisconsin teens the tools they need to make healthy and responsible life decisions by providing comprehensive sexuality education that is age appropriate and medically accurate. Read more…

ACLU Responds to Milwaukee School Mayoral Takeover Proposal
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The proposal to give MPS governance to the mayor is a scheme that won’t remedy Wisconsin’s failure to provide an adequate education to far too many of Milwaukee’s children. Rather than spending time and effort to push through a controversial takeover program, the Governor, Mayor and state legislators need to comply with the state Constitutional obligation to ensure that all Milwaukee children have equal opportunity in education. Read more...
Press release: 01/06/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Statement in Support of Legislative Action on Public Schools Now (PDF)
Press release: 01/04/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Opposes Proposed Mayoral Takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools, Calls on Elected Officials to Focus on Adequacy (PDF)
Testimony: 01/04/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Senate Education Committee to Focus on Adequacy (PDF)

For more resources and information on the ACLU’s work on the rights of youth across the nation, please visit the ACLU’s Stand UP! webpage.