Saint Paul, MN asked in Education Law and Contracts for Minnesota

Q: I attend a private school. Students phones are routinely seized and searched for minor policy infractions?

We signed a contract that allows them to take our phone at anytime and search it. Is the enforcement of this policy legal and is it legal for the school to make us sign this contract?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Lucas Wynne
Lucas Wynne
Answered
  • St. Louis Park, MN
  • Licensed in Minnesota

A: Schools are allowed to exhibit a greater deal of control over students in the school than would be allowed in other situations. The contract isn't so much a legal contract as it is a "behavior contract" for the purpose of communicating the policy to students. The school is allowed to set its own policies as long as they are reasonable. Thus, yes - the school is well within its authority.

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