The Rutherford Institute

What area of law, if any, do you believe is involved in your situation?

Do you feel that any of your civil liberties were violated?

Have you retained an attorney or other legal entity to represent you on this legal issue, or requested legal representation from anyone? If so, please include their contact information and indicate whether you give your permission for The Rutherford Institute to contact them.

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Name of School

Address of School

Name of Principal

Name of Superintendent

School Level Elementary School Middle School High School University / College

Is this a public or private school? Public School Private School

School personnel involved in this matter and their titles and responsibilities:

Student(s) involved and their grade level(s) and age(s):

Do you need help dealing with a zero tolerance policy, or overly-harsh punishment of a student? (If no, please skip to the next section of questions)

What did the student(s) do, and what did the school accuse them of doing? When and where did the incident take place?

Did the school call the police? If so, what was the reason for this (i.e., imminent threat to others’ safety, suspicion of possessing drugs, etc.)?

Was the student(s) arrested and/or charged with a crime?

What punishment did the student(s) receive (i.e., suspension, expulsion, detention, community service, etc.)?

Do you believe that a school has wrongly prevented an activity or expression by encouraging certain religious or non-religious activities or other attitudes? (If no, please skip to the next section of questions.)

Who was involved in the religious activity or expression?

Please describe this activity or expression (i.e., handing out literature, group meeting, classroom or break-time discussion, etc.), including where and when it took place.

Please describe, if applicable, who advanced or opposed religious doctrines, and if so, of what religion are they?

How did the school discourage the activity or expression, and who were the officials responsible?

Have other persons or groups been allowed to engage in the activity or expression at issue in your complaint? If so, please describe who, when, where, and how similar the activity or expression was to the issue in your complaint.

Does the school give preferential treatment to other persons or groups who engage in expressions or activities opposing the expression or activity at issue in your complaint?

Do you believe that a school has wrongly advanced a certain viewpoint by encouraging or preventing certain activities or attitudes? (If no, please skip to the next section of questions)

What specific activities or attitudes of the school’s do you find objectionable?

Are these activities or attitudes religious? If so, please describe the doctrines the school promoted or opposed.

Where and when did the school’s activities or expressions of inappropriate attitudes occur?

How did the school discourage or improperly encourage inappropriate viewpoints or activities?

If this regards a school-sanctioned activity, is there any way for students or others who object to opt out of the activity, and was there enough notice given to allow opt-outs and objections?

Do you object to a specific lesson or a part of a student’s curriculum? (If no, please skip to the next section of questions.)

What specifically is being objected to?

What specifically is the objection?

Are you objecting to an entire course or just a particular lesson?

If it is a test or psychological counseling that is being objected to, were the parents notified in advance?

What is the school's excusal or opt out policy? Is it in writing? Do you have a copy?

Has the student attempted to be excused from the objectionable part of the course?

If the student was excused, was (s)he given an alternative assignment? If so, what?

Have the parents received any information (i.e. information on the Hatch Amendment)? If so, have they shared this information with the school administration?

Were any students or groups punished over this incident? If so, who was responsible, and what were the rules or policies used to justify the punishment?

What steps in the administrative process have been taken to remedy the situation?

Is a school or district policy involved in this matter, and is there written information on the policy? If so, can you obtain a copy?

If your situation is not fully covered by the above questions, please provide a concise summary of the circumstances that have led you to seek legal assistance. Be as specific and detailed as possible. Include names, ages, dates, places, etc.

How do you believe The Rutherford Institute could help (i.e., giving advice, writing a letter, providing an attorney, etc.)?

Is there any other information that you would like to share or think we might need to know?

Legal Help Request Form - School