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Student Speakers at School Events

Get an understanding of the legal issues related to student speeches at school assemblies, graduation, and other school events, as well as student-led prayer.

When students take the microphone at a school-sponsored event, are they sharing personal views or are they speaking as representatives of the school district? The answer is crucial to determining whether the school district can, or must, control the content of the students’ speech. This resource provides a brief overview of court cases, statutes, and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education relevant to student speech at school events.