Reference no: EM133431301

The Fourth Amendment and Student Drug Tests: The Case of Lindsay Earls

Extracurricular activities such as sports, marching bands, choirs, and quiz bowls, have long been a basic part of high school. In recent years, out of concern for the continued drug use among some teens, school administrators across the country have implemented random drug testing programs for students involved in school sports and other activities. Several court cases challenging these testing programs have required the courts to grapple with the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches. Usually, the issue involves conflicts between students' rights to privacy and the schools' obligation to ensure their safety and well-being. In a closely watched 1995 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that random drug tests for student-athletes were reasonable because team players already had a lower expectation of privacy and because of the extra danger of physical exertion while under the influence of drugs. But the question of whether schools can require drug tests for students in non-sports programs remained unsettled until 2002.

What happened with this case in 2002?

Do you think drug tests of students are constitutional?

What about locker searches? or backpack searches?