Youth/Childrens' Rights

The extent to which we protect the constitutional rights of young people strongly influences how much they respect and understand those rights as adults. As the Supreme Court noted in an early student rights case, “That [schools] are educating the young for citizenship is reason for scrupulous protection of Constitutional freedoms of the individual, if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount important principles of our government as mere platitudes.” The ACLU works to educate young people about their rights and safeguard those rights in public schools and other settings.

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The extent to which we protect the constitutional rights of young people strongly influences how much they respect and understand those rights as adults. As the Supreme Court noted in an early student rights case, “That [schools] are educating the young for citizenship is reason for scrupulous protection of Constitutional freedoms of the individual, if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount important principles of our government as mere platitudes.” The ACLU works to educate young people about their rights and safeguard those rights in public schools and other settings.

The Latest

Resource
A diverse group of young people march and hold protest signs reading “Education shapes our future,” “Stand for change,” “Every voice matters,” and “Empower the youth.” One person speaks through a megaphone. The image includes an artistic collage featuring the Statue of Liberty, the Washington, D.C. flag, and bold green geometric shapes against a dark blue background.

Know Your Rights At School In D.C.

You don’t lose your rights just because you enter a school!
Press Release
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Interim Agreement Reached for Arab Student Union in Pro-Palestinian Speech Censorship Case at D.C. High School

The Arab Student Union (ASU) at Jackson-Reed High School withdrew its request for emergency court action this morning in exchange for key concessions by the school in the case of challenging the unlawful censorship of the student club's pro-Palestinian speech.
Issue Areas: Freedom of Speech and Association, Racial Justice, Youth/Childrens' Rights
News & Commentary
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“Police-Free Schools” Means Committing to D.C. Students’ Health and Safety

The #PoliceFreeSchools campaign is about creating a healthy school environment that’s conducive to learning for all students. It’s time for a different approach, and we hope District leaders will continue to listen to young people and to prioritize the investments needed to achieve real safety.
News & Commentary
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What’s Next for the D.C. Council? Issues We’re Watching This Year

Oversight season is underway at the D.C. Council, and the ACLU-D.C. is closely following bills dealing with criminal code reform, police accountability, youth justice, and economic justice. Here are a few of them!
Legislation
May 07, 2026

FY27 Budget Oversight Testimony for the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services

Justice-involved young people and their families need more investment in intervention, programming, and resources – not less.
Position: Oversight Testimony
Legislation
May 06, 2026

FY27 Budget Oversight Testimony for the Department of Corrections and the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants

This testimony addresses ACLU-D.C.'s recommendations regarding the District’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget for the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG).
Status: Budget Oversight
Position: Oversight Testimony
Legislation
Apr 27, 2026

FY27 Budget Oversight Testimony for the Department of Parks and Recreation

The ACLU-D.C. supports FY27 funding levels for DPR at or above FY26 levels, which will allow the department to continue to invest necessary funds in accessible facilities and programming for all D.C. residents. We are particularly concerned that the Mayor’s proposed budget does not fund DPR at the correct level to provide young people and their families with safe spaces to grow and develop. Cuts to DPR’s operating budget will make it more difficult for DPR to provide robust, youth-centered programming that is both fully staffed and accessible to residents across the District’s eight wards. Our communities can flourish when we take a preventive, rather than punitive, approach to youth development and public safety. We believe funding levels that support DPR’s full operating needs will help implement this holistic approach, thereby making our communities safer, and helping the District’s young residents grow into healthy, successful adults.
Status: Budget Oversight
Position: Oversight Testimony
Legislation
Apr 29, 2026

FY27 MPD Budget

Among other things, ACLU-D.C. urges the Council to put pressure on MPD to implement all recommendations from the Office of the D.C. Auditor (Auditor) and Office of Police Complaints (OPC); pass legislation prohibiting all District government entities, including all entities designated as law enforcement, from collaborating with any federal agency for the purpose of carrying out immigration enforcement; and taking a more compassionate approach to concerns about youth misbehavior, by investing in proven crime prevention strategies, rather than punitive ones, like the youth curfew.
Position: Oversight Testimony