Appealed From: U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
Subjects: Sexual Harassment; Schools; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Decision: The justies ruled 5-4 that school districts are not responsible if teachers sexually harass or abuse students and school administrators do not know about it.

• Read the full text of the Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District decision at the Findlaw Internet Legal Resources Web site.

• Listen to the Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District oral argument in RealAudio at the Oyez Oyez Oyez Web site.

• Read the full text of the 1997 lower court case, Jean Doe v. Lago Vista Independent School District, at the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit Web site.

• Take a look at the specifics of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 on the Department of Labor's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) Web site.

• Look at the pertinent provision regarding discrimination in the U.S. Code (20 U.S.C. 1681, et. seq.,) at the U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library Web site.

Sources: The Washington Post, Supreme Court, The United States Law Week (a Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. publication)