What did the Supreme Court rule in Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier regarding school newspapers?

In Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, the Supreme Court ruled that schools have the authority to limit the content of school-sponsored newspapers under certain circumstances. The ruling emphasized that because these publications are part of the school's educational mission and can be seen as an extension of the curriculum, the school administrators have more leeway in exercising editorial control compared to other forms of student expression.

This decision stemmed from the understanding that schools can promote a learning environment and ensure that the content is appropriate for the student audience. The Court recognized that while students do have free speech rights, those rights can be balanced against the school's responsibility to maintain a conducive educational atmosphere. Thus, the ruling established that school officials can exercise their discretion to reject material that is deemed inappropriate or inconsistent with the school’s educational goals.

In terms of the other options, they suggest a misunderstanding of the balance established by the Court between student expression and school authority. Schools do have the right to limit content, but this does not mean they can censor everything without a valid educational justification, nor does it imply that students have absolute control over school newspapers, or that such publications lack First Amendment protection altogether.