1332

Policy

Community Relations

Equal Access to Secondary School Facilities

Equal Access to Student Groups.  In the event any of the secondary schools (grades 6-12) have a limited open forum as defined in the Equal Access Act, such school(s) shall not deny equal access or a fair opportunity to, or discriminate against, any students who wish to conduct a meeting within that limited open forum on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings.

In accordance with federal legislation related to limited open forums, non-curriculum related student groups may, with the written permission of the principal or the principal's designee, meet on the school premises at such times and places determined by the principal or the principal's designee, subject to the following:

1.         The meeting will be held during non-instructional time.

2.         Facilities are available to accommodate the meeting without interfering with other school activities.

3.         The meeting is voluntary and student-initiated.

4.         There is no sponsorship of the meeting by the school district or its employees or by any other governmental body or its employees.

5.         Employees of the school district will be present only in a nonparticipating capacity.

6.         The meeting will not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school.

7.         Persons who are not regularly enrolled students or employees of the district will not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend meetings held on the school premises.

For purposes of this policy:

1.         "Limited Open Forum" means: the opportunity in secondary schools for non-curriculum related student groups to meet on school premises during the school day.

2.         "Curriculum Related Student Groups" means: Any group approved by the board and sponsored by the district or by the individual school or to which the principal assigns a staff member as sponsor on either a payor non-pay basis. A curriculum related student group will not include any student group which has a religious or political affiliation or purpose.

3.         "Non-Curriculum Related Students Groups" will mean: Any student group which is not approved by the board and is not a curriculum related student group.

Equal Access to Boy Scouts.  If the District provides an opportunity for one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after school hours, the District shall not deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. The same principles apply to any other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a “patriotic society.”  The administration shall in all respects maintain the District in compliance with the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

The use of school facilities for student meetings and Boy Scouts as provided above shall be subject to the same provisions as other community, non-school groups and may be required to complete a community use application as and to the same extent as other noncurriculum related student groups (in the case of student meetings) and other outside youth or community groups (in the case of the Boy Scouts).

Adopted: November 20, 1989

Revised:  August 3, 2009

Legal Reference:            20 U.S.C. §§ 4071-4074 (Equal Access Act)

20 U.S.C. § 7905 (Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act) & 34 CFR Part 108