Summary
Fourteen -year-old high school freshman Brandi Levy had just failed to make the varsity cheerleading squad and to get the softball team position she wanted when she angrily posted a Snapchat story with many uses of the F-word. As a result, her school officials kicked her off the junior varsity cheerleading team. Levy’s father ended up suing the school district, and a judge ordered Brandi back on the team.- This continues a debate on free speech and disciplinary measures schools are able to take. In this case, Levy posted the picture not on school grounds and on a Saturday.
- The case eventually made it to the Supreme Court. Schools administrators and the Biden administration say a school’s jurisdiction extends to off-campus speech, and is sometimes necessary such as in instances of cyber-bullying.
- Francisco Negron, the chief legal officer for the National School Boards Association, says that the way students communicate on social media today can have a tremendous impact on student safety and emotional harm.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that Levy was just blowing off steam like millions of other kids do when they’re disappointed. He said it didn’t seem like the punishment was tailored to the offense.
Five Facts
- Who is the story about?
- What did Levy do that got her kicked off the cheerleading team?
- Where has the case recently been heard?
- Why is this case important to students everywhere?
- How does this case impact free speech in and out of schools?
