The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. If we rule that the search of Tim's bookbag violates the Fourth.Students in US public schools have the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. The 4th amendment definitely applies on school grounds, so long as they are actuay within the United States. The answer to whether these data trails coming from one's home should be protected is relatively straightforward as a matter of Fourth Amendment precedent. In 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the Fourth Amendment applies to students in the public schools (New Jersey v. The Fourth Amendment Protections Apply in Public Schools. a. '" In Earls, the Court recognized the schools'. 45. AMENDMENT 4—SEARCHES AND SEIZURES have been reaffirmed directly in a Fourth Amendment case. '" In Earls, the Court recognized the schools'. 45.