Student Media

While the District recognizes a student’s right of expression under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, school-sponsored media does not provide an open forum for public expression. Student media, as well as the content of student expression in school-sponsored activities, shall be subject to the editorial review of the District’s administration, whose actions shall be reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns and adhere to the following limitations:

1. Advertising may be accepted for media that does not condone or promote products that are inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience or that endorses such things as tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.
2. Media may be regulated to prohibit communications determined by the appropriate teacher, student media advisor, and/or administrator to be ungrammatical; poorly written; inadequately researched; biased or prejudiced; vulgar or profane; or unsuitable for immature audiences.
3. Media may be regulated to prohibit the dissemination of material that may reasonably be perceived to advocate drug or alcohol use; irresponsible sex; conduct that is otherwise inconsistent with the shared values of a civilized social order; or to associate the school with any position other than neutrality on matters of political controversy.
4. Prohibited media includes those that:
   1. Are obscene as to minors;
   2. Are libelous or slanderous, including material containing defamatory falsehoods about public figures or governmental officials, and made with knowledge of their falsity or a reckless disregard of the truth;
   3. Constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy as defined by state law~~,~~;
   4. Suggest or urge the commission of unlawful acts on the school premises;
   5. Suggest or urge the violation of lawful school regulations;
   6. Attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups; or
   7. Harass, threaten, or intimidate a student.

Student Media on School Web Pages

Student media displayed on school web pages shall follow the same guidelines as listed above; and shall also:

1. Not contain any non-educational advertisements;
2. Additionally, student web publications shall adhere to the restrictions regarding use of Directory Information as prescribed in Policy 4.13 including not using a student’s photograph when associated with the student’s name unless written permission has been received from the student’s parent or student if over the age of eighteen (18);
3. State that the views expressed are not necessarily those of the School Board or the employees of the district.

Student Distribution of Non-school Literature, Publications, and Materials

A student or group of students who distribute ten (10) or fewer copies of the same non-school-sponsored literature, publications, or materials, shall do so in a time, place, and manner that does not cause a substantial disruption of the orderly education environment. A student or group of students wishing to distribute more than ten (10) copies of non-school-sponsored materials shall have school authorities review their non-school-sponsored materials at least three (3) school days in advance of their desired time of dissemination. School authorities shall review the non-school-sponsored materials, prior to their distribution and will bar from distribution those non-school-sponsored materials that are obscene, libelous, pervasively indecent, or advertise unlawful products or services. Material may also be barred from distribution if there is evidence that reasonably supports a forecast that a substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment will likely result from the distribution. Concerns related to any denial of distribution by the principal shall be heard by the superintendent, whose decision shall be final.

The school principal or designee shall establish reasonable regulations governing the time, place, and manner of student distribution of non-school-sponsored materials.

The regulations shall:

1. Be narrowly drawn to promote orderly administration of school activities by preventing disruption and may not be designed to stifle expression;
2. Be uniformly applied to all forms of non-school-sponsored materials;
3. Allow no interference with classes or school activities;
4. Specify times, places, and manner where distribution may and may not occur; and
5. Not inhibit a person’s right to accept or reject any literature distributed in accordance with the regulations.