Seems to me if anyone really wanted these two idiots to suffer the consequences of their actions, they'd be allowed into school where those actions would have direct and severe consequences.
“Can you explain to me how the school is within any legal rights by expelling these students for what they did while (a) not on school property and (b) not under the supervision of the school?”
Exactly. Government schools cannot claim to provide free education but only to those that meet their speech requirements.
Can you explain to me how the school is within any legal rights by expelling these students for what they did while (a) not on school property and (b) not under the supervision of the school?
My school district in CA (San Ramon Valley Unified) just settled for $650,000 when sued for doing exactly this.
The US Supreme Court has addressed the issue of students’ rights; they don’t have as many as adults but school districts are definitely overreaching when they get involved with kids’ actions on the weekend, at home, in social media posts that don’t even mention the school or other students.
The district official statement..."A school district spokesperson confirmed to news outlets that the students will not be graduating as planned at the end of the spring semester." says it all.
There probably isn't going to be a ceremony anyway, but I'd bet that these two will simply get their diploma mailed to them and not be allowed to participate if there is a ceremony.
The diploma is a toy, the real graduating is done in the registrar's office and you can bet that these two will quietly cross that line there.