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report - Our Right to Resources - that Jesus' and others worked on highlighting the misuse of funds meant to educate low-income students, foster youth, and English learners that were spent on police and surveillance - 

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report - Our Right to Resources - that Jesus' and others worked on highlighting the misuse of funds meant to educate low-income students, foster youth, and English learners that were spent on police and surveillance - 

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OUR RIGHT TO RESOURCES: SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CHEATING HIGH NEED STUDENTS BY FUNDING LAW ENFORCEMENT - My School My Rights

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In 2019, youth leaders at Gente Organizada discovered that their school district was illegally spending funds reserved for foster youth, English learners, and low-income students ("high-need students") on school police and security. Outraged, the students organized and ran a campaign to stop it. After months of advocacy, they ultimately convinced their district to stop spending ...

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sharing a resource on students' rights to safeguard the contents of their own cell phones/electronics in CA schools:  

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sharing a resource on students' rights to safeguard the contents of their own cell phones/electronics in CA schools:  

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Do I have the right to keep what's on my phone private?

YES. The privacy of your phone (or tablet or laptop), as well as your accounts with services like Instagram or Snapchat, is protected both by the United States and California Constitutions and by the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA) ¹.

Can my school look through my phone without my permission?

ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY² OR WITH A SEARCH WARRANT ISSUED BY A JUDGE based on "probable cause" that your phone contains evidence of a crime (meaning that a reasonable person would believe there is evidence in your phone).

You have the right to keep your digital devices private, even if:

You use your phone when you are not supposed to;

You break any other school rule;

You cause a disruption by using your phone; or

Your school wants to search your phone to investigate another student's misconduct.

What can I do if a school official asks to look through my phone?

You can SAY NO. You can also say you aren't sure and that you want to talk to your parents or someone else before you decide. Or that you will only agree if they tell you what parts of the phone they will look through or let you or your parents watch the search. If you do say yes, you give the school the right to look through your phone, and possibly to use what they find can be used as evidence against you or others.

What if my school asks me to sign a waiver allowing the school to search my phone at any time?

You can SAY NO. Public schools cannot require you to waive your right to privacy in order to attend school.
If your school tries (or has already tried) to get you to sign a waiver or otherwise "consent" to a search in advance, please contact the ACLU office closest to you to let us know.

If my school has a search warrant, can it look at everything on my phone?

NO. First, only duly-sworn law enforcement officers can execute a search warrant. Second, the search can only be for evidence of the specific crime that you are suspected of breaking, and the search warrant must describe the type of information and parts of the phone that may be searched. For example, school officials cannot look at photos unless they have probable cause to believe that the photos contain evidence of a crime.

Can my school restrict when I use my phone?

YES. Your school can also confiscate your phone if you violate your school's cell phone policy. But that does not give it the authority to conduct a search.

What can I do if my school doesn't follow the law?

You can DEMAND THAT YOUR INFORMATION BE DELETED and prevent it from being used in any kind of disciplinary action or other proceeding. If the school repeatedly violates students' rights or otherwise causes you harm, you may have additional remedies as well.

If you believe your rights have been violated, you can contact the ACLU office closest to you. Check out www.myschoolmyrights.com/about to find the ACLU office closest to you and we'll see what we can do to help.

Notes:

1. Penal Code §§ 1546 et seq. CalECPA went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

2. CalECPA defines an emergency as a situation "involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person [that] requires access to the electronic device information." Penal Code § 1546.1(c)(6).

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Cell Phone Privacy - My School My Rights

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Do I have the right to keep what's on my phone private? YES. The privacy of your phone (or tablet or laptop), as well as your accounts with services like Instagram or Snapchat, is protected both by the United States and California Constitutions and by the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act (CalECPA)1.

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Appreciate Jesus' mention of intervening with Gaggle contracts. Interested in intervening with tech procurement in general and discussing strategies for targeting the procurement and contracting process as a site where public interest and oversight tools get compromised and corporate values begin to dominate. 

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Appreciate Jesus' mention of intervening with Gaggle contracts. Interested in intervening with tech procurement in general and discussing strategies for targeting the procurement and contracting process as a site where public interest and oversight tools get compromised and corporate values begin to dominate. 

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Question for all three panelists: how surveillance literate are parents of youth impacted by the challenges you are sharing? Are there easy solutions well-resourced organizations can support to increase these parents' literacy?

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Question for all three panelists: how surveillance literate are parents of youth impacted by the challenges you are sharing? Are there easy solutions well-resourced organizations can support to increase these parents' literacy?

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Trainings on digital defense and privacy and trainings for creating a positive online footprint for the future.

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Facilities not allowing young people to engage in online activism. Remembering young people who are system involved and their ability to engage in movement work.

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Potential collaboration to make sure access right is actually implemented.

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Potential collaboration with Encode Justice on making sure youth voices are heard when Shotspotter being discussed in communities and state legislation.

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I find the story Jesus shared about the same-day police call quite disturbing and sad. It's one thing to call the police to a young person's home, but it's quite another thing to have the school do nothing to follow up with the young person's well-being.

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I find the story Jesus shared about the same-day police call quite disturbing and sad. It's one thing to call the police to a young person's home, but it's quite another thing to have the school do nothing to follow up with the young person's well-being.

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Really appreciated Jennifer talking about how technology is a lifeline for young people. Had to do a bill in 2018 to provide access - and in many places, they still do not have access - seen as contraband. 

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Really appreciated Jennifer talking about how technology is a lifeline for young people. Had to do a bill in 2018 to provide access - and in many places, they still do not have access - seen as contraband. 