A room full of student journalists and supporters — many of whom have waited more than a decade for this moment — watched on as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed the state’s New Voices bill, Substitute Senate Bill 5064, into law on March 21.
The recently-introduced "New Voices of New Jersey" bill will grant protections to students in public schools and colleges and their advisers.
The SPLC spoke with Jeremy Steele who is heading up the effort in Michigan to pass meaningful legislation that guarantees the rights of student journalists.
Thursday, Sept. 17, is Constitution Day, when all schools must set aside time to teach about constitutional principles. For Constitution Day 2015, the SPLC has created a classroom lesson plan to get young people talking about the nation's newest student-rights statute, the New Voices of North Dakota Act, and how it fortifies their federally protected First Amendment rights.