5722 - SCHOOL-SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTIONS
The Board sponsors student publications and productions as means by which students learn, under adult direction/supervision, the rights and responsibilities inherent when engaging in the public expression of ideas and information in our democratic society.
For purposes of this policy, school-sponsored student media shall include both student publications and productions. School-sponsored student media does not include student expression related to classes that are not directly associated with student publications/productions. The term publication shall include distribution, transmission, and dissemination of a student publication regardless of its medium. Student publications shall include any written materials, (including, but not limited to, banners, flyers, posters, pamphlets, notices, newspapers, playbills, yearbooks, literary journals, books, and t-shirts and other school-sponsored clothing), as well as material in electronic or on-line form (including, but not limited to, apps and services (as defined in Bylaw 0100, webpages/sites, web logs ('Blogs), video or audio clips, (postings of social media (as defined in Bylaw 0100), and newsletters of announcements transmitted by e-mail, text, wireless broadcast, or other similar distribution/dissemination).
The term performance shall include presentation and broadcast of a student production. Student productions shall include vocal, musical, and/or theatrical performance, impromptu dramatic presentation, or any electronic media (including, but not limited to, radio and television programs, videoblogs (vlogs), and podcasts).
The following speech is unprotected and prohibited in all school-sponsored student publications and productions: speech that is defamatory, libelous, obscene, or harmful to minors (as that term is defined in Children's Internet Protection Action (CIPA)); speech that is reasonably likely to cause substantial disruption of or material interference with school activities or the educational process; speech that infringes upon the privacy or rights of others; speech that violates copyright law; speech that promotes activities, products or services that are unlawful (illegal) as to minors as defined by State or Federal law; and speech that otherwise violates school policy and/or State or Federal law. The Board authorizes the administration to engage in prior review and restraint of school-sponsored publications and productions to prevent the publication or performance of unprotected speech.
Student expression relates to classrooms or educational settings not otherwise directly associated with school-sponsored student publications/productions are nonpublic forums. As nonpublic forums, the content of such student expression can be regulated for legitimate pedagogical school-related reasons. School officials shall routinely and systematically review and, if necessary, restrict the content of these student expressions prior to publication/performance in a reasonable manner that is neutral as to the viewpoint of the speaker.
Nonpublic forum student expression may be published/performed outside the school community (i.e., to the general public). See Board Policy 9160 – Public Attendance at School Events.
The Board designates all school-sponsored student media as limited-purpose public forums where students can address matters of concern and/or interest to their readers/viewers. All school-sponsored student media may be published/performed outside the school community. The student journalists, content-creators and/or performers involved in these publications/productions have the right to determine the content of the student media.
All school-sponsored student media shall contain a notice to the reader/viewer that the material, while school-sponsored, is student-directed and not subject to prior review. Given all student publications and/or productions have been designated as limited-purpose public forums, the school assumes no liability for their content. With editorial control comes responsibility. Student journalists, content-creators, and performers are expected to establish and enforce standards, for their publications/productions that are consistent with professional journalism/artistic/theatrical/broadcast standards.
Students will monitor comments posted to social media platforms/sites that have been approved under Policy 7544 for use as school-sponsored student media. Comments will be monitored to verify the age-appropriateness of the material, whether unprotected speech is involved, and whether there is compliance with posted rules for use of the forum and the platform/site's applicable terms of service. Comments that are not age-appropriate for the student-audience for the school-sponsored publication, constitute unprotected speech, and/or violate the posting rules for the use of the forum and/or the platform/site's applicable terms of service will be removed. The review of posted comments will be conducted in a viewpoint neutral manner, and consistent with State and Federal law.
Students shall not be disciplined and/or retaliated against for exercising and/or asserting their free speech rights as defined in this policy. Nothing in this policy, however, restricts the Board's ability to impose post-publication/performance discipline related to a student engaging in the impermissible publication/performance of unprotected speech.
Advertising is permitted in all school-sponsored student media.
Any advertisements must be consistent with Policy 9700.01 and AG 9700B.
Advertisements submitted for publication or inclusion in a production shall be reviewed by the class/activity advisor for a determination that they are appropriate for juveniles. The District Administrator retains the final authority to determine whether an advertisement is appropriate and will be included in a publication/production. Advertisements may be rejected for legitimate pedagogical school-related reasons unrelated to the viewpoint of the advertiser (e.g., the advertisement encourages action that would endanger the health and safety of students).
General Prohibitions
Regardless of their status as non-public or limited-purpose public forums, the Board prohibits publications, productions, and advertisements that:
- promote, favor, or oppose any candidate for election or the adoption of any bond issue, proposal, or question submitted at any election;
- fail to identify the student or organization responsible for the publication/performance.
© Neola 2023