STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Policy Title: Student Publications Code No. 504.3
Students may produce official school publications as part of the curriculum under the supervision of a faculty advisor and the principal. Official school publications include material produced in the journalism, newspaper, yearbook, or writing classes and distributed to the student body either free or for a fee.
Any expression made by the students, including student expression in official school publications, is not an expression of official school policy. The School District, the Board, and the employees or officials are not liable in any civil or criminal action for any student expression made or published by students unless the employees or officials have interfered with or altered the content of the student speech or expression. The liability, if any, is only to the extent of the interference or alteration of the speech or expression.
Official school publications are free from prior restraint by employees or officials except as provided by law. A faculty advisor will supervise student writers to maintain professional standards of English and journalism and to comply with the law including, but not limited to, the restrictions against unlawful speech. The production of official school publications is guided by the law and by the ethical standards adopted by professional associations or societies of journalism.
Persons, other than students, who believe they have been aggrieved by student expression in a student-produced official school publication will follow the grievance procedure outlined in board policy 214.1. Students who believe their freedom of expression in a student-produced official school publication has been restricted will follow the grievance procedure outlined in board policy 502.6.
The Superintendent is responsible for developing a student publications code. This code will include, but not be limited to, reasonable rules including time, place, and manner of restrictions. The Superintendent will also be responsible for distributing this policy and the student publications code to the students and their parents.
Approved: September 17, 1991
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised: March 25, 2003
Legal Reference: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988); Bystrom v. Fridley High School, 822 F.2d 747 (8th Cir. 1987); Iowa Code § 280.22.
Cross Reference: 307 Communication Channels; 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities; 504 Student Activities; 903.5 Distribution of Materials
STUDENT PERSONNEL
Series 500
Administrative Regulation: Student Publications Code Code No. 504.3R1
An “official school publication” is material produced by students in the journalism, newspaper, yearbook, or writing classes and distributed to students either free or for a fee.
Faculty advisors will supervise student writers to maintain professional standards of English and journalism and to comply with the law including, but not limited to, the restrictions against unlawful speech.
Student expression in an official school publication will not be deemed to be an expression of the school district. The school district, the board, and the employees or officials are not liable in any civil or criminal action for any student expression made or published by students unless the employees or officials have interfered with or altered the content of the student expression. The liability, if any, is only to the extent of interference or alteration of the speech or expression.
Approved: March 25, 2004
Reviewed: July 16, 2019
Revised:
Legal Reference: