Policy 7:310
Restrictions on Publications
School-Sponsored Publications and Web Sites
School-sponsored publications, productions, and web sites are part of the curriculum
and are not a public forum for general student use. School authorities may edit or
delete material that is inconsistent with the District’s educational mission.
All school-sponsored communications shall comply with the ethics and rules of
responsible journalism. Text that is libelous, obscene, vulgar, lewd, invades the privacy
of others, conflicts with the basic educational mission of the school, is socially
inappropriate, is inappropriate due to the maturity of the students, or is materially
disruptive to the educational process will not be tolerated.
The author’s name will accompany personal opinions and editorial statements. An
opportunity for the expression of differing opinions from those published/produced will
be provided within the same media.
Non-School Sponsored Publications Accessed or Distributed On-Campus
For purposes of this section and the following section, a publication includes, without
limitation: (1) written or electronic print material, and (2) audio-visual material, on any
medium including electromagnetic media (e.g. images, MP3 files, flash memory, etc.), or
combinations of these whether off-line (e.g., a printed book, CD-ROM, etc.) or on-line
(e.g., any website, social networking site, database for information retrieval, etc.) or (3)
information or material on electronic devices (e.g., data or voice messages delivered by
phones, cell phones, tablets, and other hand-held devices).
Creating, distributing and/or accessing non-school sponsored publications shall occur
at a time and place and in a manner that will not cause disruption, be coercive, or result
in the perception that the distribution or the publication is endorsed by the School
District.
Students are prohibited from creating, distributing and/or accessing at school any
publication that:
- Will cause substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities;
- Violates the rights of others, including but not limited to material
that is libelous, invades the privacy of others, or infringes on a
copyright;
- Is socially inappropriate or inappropriate due to maturity level of
the students, including but not limited to material that is obscene,
pornographic, or pervasively lewd and vulgar, contains indecent and
vulgar language, or sexting as defined by Board Policy 7:190 Student Discipline and Student/Parent
Handbooks;
- Is reasonably viewed as promoting illegal drug use; or
- Is distributed in kindergarten through eighth grade and is primarily prepared
by non-students, unless it is being used for school purposes. Nothing herein shall
be interpreted to prevent the inclusion of material from outside sources or the
citation to such sources as long as the material to be distributed or accessed is
primarily prepared by students.
Accessing or distributing “on-campus” includes accessing or distributing on school
property or at school-related activities. A student engages in gross disobedience and
misconduct and may be disciplined for: (1) accessing or distributing forbidden
material, or (2) for writing, creating, or publishing such material intending for it to be
accessed or distributed at school.
Non-School Sponsored Publications Accessed or Distributed Off-Campus
A student engages in gross disobedience and misconduct and may be disciplined for
creating and/or distributing a publication that: (1) causes a substantial disruption or a
foreseeable risk of a substantial disruption to school operations, or (2) interferes with
the rights of other students or staff members.
Bullying and Cyberbullying
The Superintendent or designee shall treat behavior that is bullying and/or
cyberbullying according to Board Policy 7:180, Preventing Bullying and Other Aggressive
Behaviors, in accordance with that policy in addition to any response required by this
policy.
Adopted: January 23, 2012
Revised: May 22, 2017