- J
- Students
Adopted: December 17, 1984
Revised: June 27, 1991, February 11, 2003, December 17, 2024
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
(SECONDARY SCHOOLS)
It is the policy of the School District to encourage the organization and operation of student organizations in the secondary schools and to permit such organizations to meet on school premises during noninstructional time. In high schools, student organizations may be student‐initiated and led consistent with this Policy.
All student organizations are required to open membership to all interested and/or eligible students on a nondiscriminatory and equitable basis.
Fraternities, sororities and/or secret societies shall not receive recognition in any manner. All forms of hazing and any conduct that could be degrading to students shall be prohibited in any student
organization.
In accordance with the School District’s budgeting practices, the Superintendent or School leaders shall determine on an equitable basis whether and the extent to which School District resources beyond
meeting space, such as facilities, equipment and materials, will be made available for various organizations’ use.
This policy shall not be construed to require the School District to sponsor/recognize particular activities or to otherwise limit the School District’s discretion to allocate its resources to further the School
District’s educational mission.
School‐Sponsored Activities
School‐sponsored activities in which students participate may be established at the discretion of the School and are not required to request recognition when operating under the direction of the principal. Activities considered part of the school program include, but are not limited to: yearbook, newspaper, choir, band/orchestra/music ensemble, forensics, theater, athletics, intramurals, student council,
career and technical student organizations, honor societies, grade level class organizations, substance abuse and substance counseling groups, outdoor and environmental education programs, academic
competitions, and other activities and organizations.
School‐Sponsored Academic Organization
A student academic organization may be considered for school‐sponsored status if one or more members of the school faculty submit an annual written application to the Principal. Principals may approve organizations that are determined to directly relate to the curriculum by satisfying one or more of the following criteria:
1. The subject matter of the group actually is taught in a regularly- offered course (e.g. French Club).
2. The subject matter of the group concerns the body of courses as a whole (e.g. Future Business Leaders of America, Distributive Education Clubs of America, Technology Student Association, Robotics).
3. Participation in the group is required for a particular course.
4. Academic credit or extra credit is given for participation in the group.
If an academic organization is approved for school‐sponsored status, one or more faculty members shall be authorized to supervise the organization. Such faculty members shall teach in the core academic area relating to the subject matter of the organization, shall supervise or serve as advisor for the planning and direction of the organization, and shall attend all such meetings and activities. Nonschool persons may not direct, conduct, control or regularly attend the meetings or activities of school‐ sponsored academic organizations.
Student‐Initiated and Led Organizations
1. High school students shall be permitted to establish student‐initiated and led organizations at their school upon the prior approval of the school’s principal. Such approval shall be conditioned on one or more students submitting an annual written application that complies with all governing laws, school rules, and the terms of this policy.
2. The Principal shall review the application and such other information as the Principal considers appropriate and shall approve or disapprove the recognition of the organization within 15 school
days. The Principal’s decision shall be in writing and if the application is disapproved, the reasons for disapproval shall be stated.
3. Neither the School District nor any of its high schools shall deny equal access to school facilities for meetings of student‐initiated and led organizations, or otherwise discriminate against such organizations or their student members, for any nonpermissible reason as established in Board Policy AC including on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech of such
organizations.
4. Membership in student‐initiated and led organizations shall be voluntary and student initiated, and shall be open to students currently enrolled at the school.
5. Student‐initiated and led organizations may conduct meetings on school premises (using regular classrooms unless otherwise assigned) as designated by the building principal, but only during non‐instructional time. “Non‐ instructional time” means time designated by the principal before actual classroom instruction begins or after actual classroom instruction ends. The principal of each school shall develop rules concerning the scheduling of times and facilities that are available for such meetings and activities.
6. Student‐initiated and led organizations will have reasonable opportunities to share club information and notice of meetings. Each school administration may determine the appropriate methods, so long as such access, if given, is made available to all such groups.
The decision as to whether student‐initiated and led organizations will be formally recognized in the school yearbook lies within the discretion of the yearbook staff and faculty advisor so long as recognition, if given, is made available to all such groups.
7. The meetings of student‐initiated and led organizations shall not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school and shall not be directed, conducted, controlled or regularly attended by nonschool persons. Each organization shall be responsible for
adequate supervision by school staff to the satisfaction of the school principal. School employees may be present at religious meetings only in a nonparticipatory capacity.
8. Student‐initiated and led organizations shall not be deemed to be sponsored or endorsed by the School District or any school in the School District. The fact that such organizations are permitted to conduct meetings on school premises and to access school facilities under this policy shall not constitute an expression of School District or school support for the purposes of such organizations or the views expressed at any of their meetings.
9. Student‐initiated and led organizations shall not engage in any activity that is contrary to law or school rules; that disrupts or clearly threatens to disrupt the orderly operation of the school; or that would adversely affect the health, safety or welfare of any student or school employee. Failure to comply with these provisions shall be grounds for revocation of the right to continue meeting under this policy.
10. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to require the School District to expend public funds beyond the incidental cost of providing space for student‐initiated meetings. To the extent that school resources are available, they shall be available on a basis that does not discriminate against any organization on the basis of the content of the speech of the meeting. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to authorize any school official to influence the form or content of any prayer or religious activity, to require any person to participate in prayer or religious activity, to compel any school employee to attend any meeting if the meeting is contrary to the beliefs of the employee, or to sanction meetings that are otherwise unlawful.
The principal or designee's decisions under this Policy may be appealed in accordance with Board Policy KE - Complaints and Concerns.