5722 School-Sponsored Publications and Productions
5722 - SCHOOL-SPONSORED STUDENT PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTIONS
In general, the objectives of school-sponsored student publications and productions are to:
A. communicate to those who are actively interested in the school – i.e., students, teachers, parents, administration, alumni, and other members of the school community;
B. provide vehicles for the expression of student thought and action and to act as catalysts for helping students realize goals and objectives;
C. create a wholesome school spirit and to support the best traditions of the school;
In general, the objectives of school-sponsored student publications and productions are to:
A. communicate to those who are actively interested in the school – i.e., students, teachers, parents, administration, alumni, and other members of the school community;
B. provide vehicles for the expression of student thought and action and to act as catalysts for helping students realize goals and objectives;
C. create a wholesome school spirit and to support the best traditions of the school;
D. promote and encourage school-sponsored activities;
E. provide training in useful and purposeful writing, speaking, artwork, photography, and layout;
F. create a desire for the best forms of journalism or theatrical production, both in and out of school;
G. record in permanent form the history of the school;
H. promote cooperation among taxpayers, parents, the school, and its students.
In implementing Board of Education Policy 5722, the following guidelines are applicable:
A. Under those circumstances when the school-sponsored student media is subject to prior review and restraint, the Class/Activity Advisor is designated to conduct the prior review/restraint.
Prior review involves the practice of a school official reading or previewing a student publication/production prior to its publication/performance. Prior restraint involves the practice of a school official – after reading or previewing the material – taking action to modify, inhibit, ban or restrain some or all of the style and/or content of the student publication/production prior to its scheduled publication/performance.
The reviewing school official shall either approve the publication/production or notify the affected students at least five (5) school days before the scheduled publication/performance if there are any problems with the style and/or content of the publication/production.
The reviewing school official may regulate the style and/or restrict the content of the student publication/production for legitimate pedagogical, school-related reasons. Any such prior review and restraint shall be conducted in a reasonable manner that is neutral as to the viewpoint of the speaker.
If an article/publication/production is published/performed without being reviewed in advance and approved, the students involved in the unauthorized publication/performance may be disciplined.
Appeal: If the staff of the student publication/production disagrees with the reviewing official's determination, the staff may appeal the decision to the District Administrator who retains the final authority to determine whether a school-sponsored student media will be published/performed.
B. Students who work on school-sponsored student publications/productions shall:
F. create a desire for the best forms of journalism or theatrical production, both in and out of school;
G. record in permanent form the history of the school;
H. promote cooperation among taxpayers, parents, the school, and its students.
In implementing Board of Education Policy 5722, the following guidelines are applicable:
A. Under those circumstances when the school-sponsored student media is subject to prior review and restraint, the Class/Activity Advisor is designated to conduct the prior review/restraint.
Prior review involves the practice of a school official reading or previewing a student publication/production prior to its publication/performance. Prior restraint involves the practice of a school official – after reading or previewing the material – taking action to modify, inhibit, ban or restrain some or all of the style and/or content of the student publication/production prior to its scheduled publication/performance.
The reviewing school official shall either approve the publication/production or notify the affected students at least five (5) school days before the scheduled publication/performance if there are any problems with the style and/or content of the publication/production.
The reviewing school official may regulate the style and/or restrict the content of the student publication/production for legitimate pedagogical, school-related reasons. Any such prior review and restraint shall be conducted in a reasonable manner that is neutral as to the viewpoint of the speaker.
If an article/publication/production is published/performed without being reviewed in advance and approved, the students involved in the unauthorized publication/performance may be disciplined.
Appeal: If the staff of the student publication/production disagrees with the reviewing official's determination, the staff may appeal the decision to the District Administrator who retains the final authority to determine whether a school-sponsored student media will be published/performed.
B. Students who work on school-sponsored student publications/productions shall:
1. endeavor to produce media based upon professional standards of accuracy, objectivity and fairness;
2. review and edit material to improve sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation;
3. check and verify all facts and verify the accuracy of all quotations;
4. comply with all State and Federal laws;
5. determine the content of the student publication/production (if the publication/production has been identified as a limited-purpose public forum);
6. if the student publication/production has been identified as a limited-purpose public forum, in the case of editorials or letters to the editor concerning controversial issues, determine the need for rebuttal comments and opinions and provide space for such comments and opinions;
2. review and edit material to improve sentence structure, grammar, spelling and punctuation;
3. check and verify all facts and verify the accuracy of all quotations;
4. comply with all State and Federal laws;
5. determine the content of the student publication/production (if the publication/production has been identified as a limited-purpose public forum);
6. if the student publication/production has been identified as a limited-purpose public forum, in the case of editorials or letters to the editor concerning controversial issues, determine the need for rebuttal comments and opinions and provide space for such comments and opinions;
© Neola 2011
5722 - SCHOOL-SPONSORED PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTIONS
The Board of Education 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. "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, websites, web logs ("blogs"), video or audio clips, and newsletters or announcements transmitted by e-mail, wireless broadcast or other similar distribution/dissemination). "Student productions" shall include vocal and theatrical performances, impromptu dramatic presentations, or any electronic media (including, but not limited to, radio and television programs, podcasts, and other video or audio productions that are recorded for re-broadcast or broadcast in real time using any available broadcast technology). Further, the term "publication" shall include distribution and dissemination of a student publication; and the term "performance" shall include presentation and broadcast of a student production.
The following speech is unprotected and prohibited in all school-sponsored student publications and productions: speech that is defamatory, libelous, obscene or harmful to juveniles; 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 authorized the administration to engage in prior review and restraint of school-sponsored publications and productions to prevent the publication or performance of unprotected speech.
All school-sponsored student publications and productions are nonpublic forums. While students may address matters of interest or concern to their readers/viewers, as nonpublic forums, the style and content of the 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 style and/or content of all school-sponsored student publications and productions prior to publication/performance in a reasonable manner that is neutral as to the viewpoint of the speaker. Legitimate pedagogical concerns are not confined to academic issues, but include the teaching by example of the shared values of a civilized social order, which consists of not only independence of thought and frankness of expression but also discipline, courtesy/civility, and respect for authority. School officials may further prohibit speech that is grammatically incorrect, poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced, vulgar or profane, or unsuitable for immature audiences.
School-sponsored student media may not be published/performed outside the school community (i.e. publication/performance is limited to students, staff and parents/family members) except with prior written approval of the District Administrator.
The District Administrator shall designate one or more professional staff members to serve as advisors for the purpose of establishing guidelines for appropriate subject matter for publication and with responsibility for compliance with established guidelines. The staff member shall review proposed content and promptly notify the student writers whether their proposed article will or will not be published.
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 publications/productions including Middle School Newspaper.
Advertisements submitted for publication or inclusion in a production shall be reviewed by the class/activity advisor and the District Administrator 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:
The Board of Education 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. "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, websites, web logs ("blogs"), video or audio clips, and newsletters or announcements transmitted by e-mail, wireless broadcast or other similar distribution/dissemination). "Student productions" shall include vocal and theatrical performances, impromptu dramatic presentations, or any electronic media (including, but not limited to, radio and television programs, podcasts, and other video or audio productions that are recorded for re-broadcast or broadcast in real time using any available broadcast technology). Further, the term "publication" shall include distribution and dissemination of a student publication; and the term "performance" shall include presentation and broadcast of a student production.
The following speech is unprotected and prohibited in all school-sponsored student publications and productions: speech that is defamatory, libelous, obscene or harmful to juveniles; 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 authorized the administration to engage in prior review and restraint of school-sponsored publications and productions to prevent the publication or performance of unprotected speech.
All school-sponsored student publications and productions are nonpublic forums. While students may address matters of interest or concern to their readers/viewers, as nonpublic forums, the style and content of the 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 style and/or content of all school-sponsored student publications and productions prior to publication/performance in a reasonable manner that is neutral as to the viewpoint of the speaker. Legitimate pedagogical concerns are not confined to academic issues, but include the teaching by example of the shared values of a civilized social order, which consists of not only independence of thought and frankness of expression but also discipline, courtesy/civility, and respect for authority. School officials may further prohibit speech that is grammatically incorrect, poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced, vulgar or profane, or unsuitable for immature audiences.
School-sponsored student media may not be published/performed outside the school community (i.e. publication/performance is limited to students, staff and parents/family members) except with prior written approval of the District Administrator.
The District Administrator shall designate one or more professional staff members to serve as advisors for the purpose of establishing guidelines for appropriate subject matter for publication and with responsibility for compliance with established guidelines. The staff member shall review proposed content and promptly notify the student writers whether their proposed article will or will not be published.
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 publications/productions including Middle School Newspaper.
Advertisements submitted for publication or inclusion in a production shall be reviewed by the class/activity advisor and the District Administrator 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:
A. promote, favor, or oppose any candidate for election or the adoption of any bond issue, proposal, or question submitted at any election;
B. fail to identify the student or organization responsible for the publication/performance;
C. solicit funds for nonschool organizations or institutions when such solicitations have not been approved by the Board.
Revised 1/6/14
© Neola 2012