Are students allowed to gather petitions in public schools?

Students are generally allowed to gather petitions in public schools because such activities fall under their rights to free speech and expression, which are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Public schools, as government entities, cannot infringe upon students' rights to engage in political or social advocacy, including the gathering of signatures for petitions, as long as the activities do not substantially disrupt the educational process.

While there may be some restrictions on when and where students can gather petitions, such as needing to conduct activities in non-disruptive areas or during designated times, these limitations should not infringe on their overall right to do so. Therefore, the correct answer indicates that students have the right to organize and gather petitions within the bounds set by school policy, as these activities represent a form of expression that schools must respect.