PITTSBURGH — A high school senior who was transferred to an alternative program as punishment for parodying his principal on the Internet will begin returning to regular classes next week.

Justin Layshock was punished for creating a phony profile under the principal's name and photo on the Web site MySpace.com. He was suspended for 10 days from Hickory High School in January and was placed in a program typically reserved for students with behavior or attendance problems.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the district on Layshock's behalf, seeking to have the gifted student returned to regular classes.

On Wednesday, the ACLU and the Hermitage School District worked out an agreement that will put Layshock back in regular classes and allow him to participate in school events, including the Academic Games. Barring further trouble, he will also be able to participate in graduation ceremonies.

"The important thing is ... the school district agreed to reinstate Justin next week. That was our most immediate objective," Witold "Vic" Walczak, the Pennsylvania Legal Director of the ACLU, said Thursday.

The lawsuit, however, will continue. The ACLU still believes the district violated Layshock's free speech rights and that its punishment interfered with his parent's right to control his upbringing, Walczak said.

Justin admitted setting up the site, in which he posted questions and answers purportedly from his principal that were peppered with vulgarities, fat jokes and, to the question "what did you do on your last birthday?" the response: "too drunk to remember."

Layshock created the parody on his grandmother's computer, but the district maintained the site caused disruptions in school. The ACLU said Layshock had been disciplined by his parents and that the school didn't have the right to punish him for his actions outside of school.

Under Wednesday's agreement, Layshock will begin taking regular classes Monday but will still be in the alternative program. He will be completely back in regular classes Feb. 20.

The ACLU is also seeking to have Layshock's record expunged.