5722 - SCHOOL-SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTIONS

The Board sponsors student publications and productions as a 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 online form (including, but not limited to, apps and services (as defined in Bylaw 0100), webpages/sites, web logs ('Blogs), and video or audio clips.

The term "performance" shall include the 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), podcasts, social media (as defined in Bylaw 0100), and other video or audio productions that are recorded for re-broadcast or broadcast in real-time using any available broadcast technology).

Only District-approved social media (as defined in Bylaw 0100) may be used to host school-sponsored student media, in accordance with Policy 7544. School-sponsored student media must also comply with Policy 7540.02.

For purposes of this policy, "school community" is defined to include students, Board employees (i.e., administrators and professional and support staff), parent/family members, and other individuals who are invited, authorized, or otherwise permitted by the District Administrator to view a performance or receive directly from the District a publication, and those who have been issued credentials to access the District's secure portal.

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.

While ordinarily nonpublic forum student expression may only be published/performed to members of the school community, the District Administrator may authorize specific nonpublic forum student expression to be published/performed outside the school community (i.e., to the general public). A teacher, student, or group of students who wish to have nonpublic forum student expression published/performed outside the school community must submit to the District Administrator a request for prior written approval for such publication/performance.

The Board designates the following official, school-sponsored student media to be limited-purpose public forums:

1. Literacy Magazines
2. School Newspaper
3. In-School TV/Radio Programming
4. Yearbooks
5. Social Media Sites

As limited-purpose public forums, the student journalists, content-creators, or performers associated with the above-listed publications and/or productions may address matters of concern and/or interest to their readers/viewers. The student journalists, content-creators, and/or performers involved in the above-listed publications/productions have the right to determine the content of this student media.

The content may address general matters of public concern and is open to the public-at-large for comment at the discretion of the student journalists/content-creators/performers.

School officials will not routinely and systematically restrict the content of the publications and/or productions listed above prior to their publication/performance, except with respect to unprotected speech.

Each medium should provide a full opportunity for students to inquire, question, and exchange ideas.

Content should reflect all areas of student interest and may include topics about which there may be dissent and/or controversy.

The above-listed publications and/or productions shall contain a notice to the reader/viewer that the material, while school-sponsored, is student-directed and not subject to prior review. Given the listed 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.

All other school-sponsored student media including classroom and/or other curricular, co-curricular, or extra-curricular/club-related publications and/or productions are nonpublic forums. As nonpublic forums, the content of these other student publications and productions can be regulated for legitimate pedagogical school-related reasons. School officials shall routinely and systematically review, and if necessary, restrict the content of all school-sponsored student media except for those publications/productions listed above, prior to publication/performance in a reasonable manner that is neutral as to the viewpoint of the speaker.

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's/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's/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.

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 and building principal for a determination that they are appropriate for juveniles. The District Administrator and/or Board 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:

1.  promote, favor, or oppose any candidate for election or the adoption of any bond issue, proposal, or question submitted at any election;
2.  fail to identify the student or organization responsible for the publication/performance;
3. solicit funds for non-school organizations or institutions when such solicitation has not been approved by the Board.

© Neola 2021