Policy 9030 – School-Sponsored Publications and Productions

Instruction and direction will promote responsible practices that conform to accepted professional standards and ethics in the creation and dissemination of publications and communications.

A student may exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media subject to certain restrictions as outlined in Section III.C. below.

The school system, through the HCPSS administrators, may only disapprove part or all of a school-sponsored publication or production if the content or activity:

The school administrator has the responsibility of providing justification for any action taken to restrict publication of student writing and productions.

Students who express viewpoints in a publication or production that are controversial or critical of HCPSS employees, administration, or HCPSS policies will not be disciplined based solely on their viewpoint.

Every student will have the right to be considered for participation in school-sponsored publications and productions.

Each school-sponsored publication or production will have an advisor/sponsor.

Advisors/sponsors may not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred or otherwise retaliated against for acting to protect a student for exercising freedom of expression or refusing to infringe on conduct that is protected by federal and state law, HCPSS policy, and school system procedures.

Advisors/sponsors may teach professional standards of English and journalism to students but may not use their position to influence a student to promote their position, an official position of the Board, HCPSS, or the school.

Each advisor/sponsor of a school-sponsored publication or production will:

Students will not be pressured or coerced to take or read school-sponsored publications.

Posters and similar materials associated with school-related activities are subject to the approval of the principal and may only be displayed in accordance with school-based procedures. Posters and similar materials that are not related to school-related activities are subject to the provisions of Policy 10010 Distribution and Display of Materials and Announcements.

Advertisements may be published in school-sponsored publications subject to established criteria and procedures as outlined in Section III. of the implementation procedures.

Students who disagree with a decision of an advisor/sponsor or principal related to the content or other aspects of a publication or production have the right to appeal the decision as outlined in Section IV. of the implementation procedures.

The principal will ensure that:

The advisor/sponsor will provide direction and guidance to students in the development of sound practices that conform to accepted professional standards and ethics in the creation of publications and productions.

The advisor/sponsor will determine the inclusion of advertisements.

The student will follow the standards outlined in this policy while engaging in school-sponsored publications and productions.

Advisor/Sponsor – A qualified certificated HCPSS employee or individual designated by the principal to oversee a school-sponsored publication, production, or media.

Defamatory Material – False representations about individuals or identifiable groups which harm the reputations of the subjects by lowering them in the estimation of the community or deterring others from associating or dealing with them. Such materials may be written (libel) or spoken (slander).

Libel – A false written statement that damages a person’s or organization’s reputation.

Obscene – Material that:

Profanity – Vulgar, vile or contemptuous language.

School-Related Activity – Any school system activity, whether held on or off school property, in which a student directly participates (e.g., school field trip, athletic event, or class/graduation activity), or in which the student does not directly participate but represents the school or student body simply by being there (e.g., spectator at a school event).

School-Sponsored – Taking place with the knowledge and approval of school-based administration and including the promotion, leadership, and/or participation of school employees. The assignment of a teacher, administrator, or other school employee to a meeting for custodial purposes does not constitute sponsorship of the meeting.

School-Sponsored Productions – A work created, performed, and/or presented for an audience. (Examples include but are not limited to, plays, talent shows, videos, films, and broadcasts, including electronic productions and streamed live productions, which are school-sponsored).

School-Sponsored Publications –Any material that is prepared, written, published electronically or in print, or broadcast by students; distributed or generally made available to members of the student body and/or community; and prepared under the direction of an advisor/sponsor. (Examples include but are not limited to newspapers, yearbooks, literary magazines, scientific journals, or similar publications, including electronically published documents, web-based programs, and school-sponsored social media platforms).

Slander – A false oral statement that damages a person’s or organization’s reputation.