Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 71, § 1D Discriminatory school policies or codes that prohibit hairstyles associated with race (The "CROWN Act")
MGL c. 71, § 82 Right of students to freedom of expression
"The right of students to freedom of expression in the public schools of the commonwealth shall not be abridged, provided that such right shall not cause any disruption or disorder within the school."
MGL c. 71, § 83 Dress and appearance of students protected
Federal laws
U.S. Constitution, 1st Amendment Free speech, press, religion
Selected cases
Doe v. University of Massachusetts, 145 F.4th 158 (2025)
University violated a student’s First Amendment rights by disciplining him for offensive speech that did not cause a substantial disruption under the Tinker standard. Qualified immunity of university officials bars damages because it was not clearly established that they could not discipline in this context.
L.M. v. Town of Middleborough, Massachusetts, 103 F.4th 854, cert. denied (PDF) 605 U.S.___2025
Court held that school may enforce dress code’s “hate speech” provision to prevent student from wearing t-shirt declaring “there are only two genders.” The court concluded that the student’s free speech rights were not violated.
Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., 594 U.S. 180 (2021)
The Supreme Court ruled that a school district could not punish a former cheerleader for a profanity-laced post on social media outside of school hours, but it did not completely bar schools from regulating out-of-school speech.
Pyle v. South Hadley School Committee, 423 Mass. 283 (1996)
Court held that high school students in public schools have the freedom under MGL c. 71, s. 82 to engage in non-school sponsored expression (wearing a t-shirt) reasonably considered vulgar, but which causes no disruption or disorder.
Tinker v. Des Moines Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
Supreme Court held that students who wore armbands which carried a political message had a constitutionally-protected right, under the First Amendment, to do so.
“[Students do not] shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate. ”
Web sources
4 things public schools can and can't do when it comes to dress codes, ACLU, 2022.
Provides "a few of the basics on what public schools can and can’t do when it comes to dress codes."
Student dress code, ACLU.
Includes news on court cases and reports.
Student rights at school: Free speech, Findlaw, 2023.
Public school students generally have the same First Amendment rights to freedom of speech as everyone else when they're at school and during school activities. But the U.S. Supreme Court has carved out some exceptions when it comes to protecting student speech because of the need to provide a safe and orderly school environment.
Student speech and privacy, ACLU.
Includes symbolic speech, such as dress, as well as more traditional issues, like school papers and theater productions.
Print sources
Education law, Matthew Bender, loose-leaf. (eBook available with library card)
Volume 4. Chapter 9, section 9.04: Rules affected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
The law of schools, students, and teachers in a nutshell, 7th ed., West Academic Publishing, 2022.
Municipal law and practice, (Mass Practice v.18B), Thomson/West, 2006 with supplement.
Sections 22.40-22.41.
Representing the child client, Matthew Bender, loose-leaf. (eBook available with library card)
Volume 2. Chapter 6, section 6.07: Freedom of expression.
School law in Massachusetts, 6th ed., MCLE, 2026.
Chapter 7, section 7.4.1: Free speech rights; Chapter 11: Public schools, online speech, and electronic devices and data.
"Validity of regulations by public school authorities as to clothes or personal appearance of pupils," 58 ALR 5th 1.
Contact
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| Last updated: | September 29, 2026 |
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