Student Speech Policy Readability in Public Schools

Interpretation, Application, and Elevation of Student Handbook Language

This book explores the issue of student speech in public schools from a student usability perspective. Student speech is both a challenge and an opportunity in public schools. When school boards and districts craft policy, they do so with US Supreme Court precedents, state laws, and community expectations in mind. The result is complex ideas presented in complex speech. What do student handbooks say about free speech, if anything at all? How are these rights defined, and how is the language interpreted? Salkin and Shenkel explore these questions by analyzing a sample of public high school student handbooks from across the country. Drawing from the results, the project proposes real-world suggestions for schools seeking to create student expression handbook language that is easily accessible to the audience it seeks to serve.