We conclude our review of student discipline topics with a few words on search and seizure. The basic rules are straightforward. The seminal case is New Jersey v TLO, a 1985 decision from the United States Supreme Court. TLO involved a school administrator who had reason to believe a student was in possession of tobacco products, a violation of school rules. The school administrator searched the student's purse for the tobacco and, instead, found marijuana. The question presented was whether the administrator's search violated the Fourth Amendment of the federal constitution, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

The Supreme Court established a two-part test for determining whether an administrator's search of a student, or a student's effects, is legal. First, the administrator must have reasonable suspicion the student has violated school rules, typically set forth in the district's student code of conduct. Second, the administrator must have reasonable suspicion the search will result in evidence supporting the alleged violation. If both parts of the test are satisfied, the search is legal. If not, the search violates the Fourth Amendment of the federal constitution and the district is subject to liability. Read more (including examples!).