“Classroom” is defined as any location designated for providing and/or facilitating: student instruction; student education; achievement of curricular objectives; achievement of state-mandated learning requirements; school-sponsored extracurricular activities; and/or school-sponsored programming for students. In addition to traditional classrooms, the term “Classroom” includes, but is not limited to, school campus gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias, hallways, and outdoor facilities.

“Distribution” means circulation of any Materials, as defined herein.

“Materials” are defined as writings, items, objects, articles or other materials.

“School Hours” are defined as the operational hours for a particular facility when students are receiving educational instruction, participating in or attending extracurricular activities, or otherwise being involved in educational / curricular programming for students.

Elementary, middle and secondary campuses have different distribution policies/guidelines due to age/maturity of students and the highly structured learning environment of elementary campuses. “Elementary” campuses are defined as campuses designated for students up to fifth (5th) grade. “Middle” and “secondary” campuses are defined as campuses designated for students from sixth (6th) grade through twelfth (12th) grade.

Elementary campuses have restrictions that are narrowly tailored to meet the District’s legitimate concerns regarding providing instruction, providing education, maintaining discipline, and/or achieving curricular objectives and/or state mandated learning requirements. The following regulations apply to distribution of Materials between elementary school students while on the elementary school campus, subject to the restrictions identified in LIMITATIONS ON CONTENT herein.

a. Students may distribute Materials thirty (30) minutes before School Hours and thirty (30) minutes after School Hours at any entrance or exit to the school and at any “gathering area(s)” approved by the principal, the location of distribution in each of these areas to be designated by the principal.

b. Distribution of Materials is not permitted in the Classrooms during School Hours, with the exception of the three (3) annual parties designated by the District.

c. District elementary school hallways during School Hours are provided for the limited purpose of facilitating the safe, organized, and structured movement of students between classes and allowing access to assigned lockers and for providing and/or facilitating: student instruction; student education; achievement of curricular objectives; achievement of state-mandated learning requirements; school-sponsored extracurricular activities; and/or school-sponsored programming for students. Due to this limited purpose and the financial costs and safety/security concerns associated with litter and/or trash in the hallways, students may not distribute Materials in elementary school hallways during School Hours.

d. District elementary school cafeterias, during designated meal periods, are provided for the limited purpose of: providing students meals and/or other nutrition; and for delivering instruction to students with regard to nutrition, time management, manners, responsibility, and group discipline. Due to this limited purpose and the financial costs and safety/security concerns associated with litter and/or trash in the cafeteria, students may not distribute Materials in elementary school cafeterias during designated meal periods.

e. Students may distribute Materials during designated recess periods.

f. Students may leave Materials on the “distribution table” and/or any other such designated area so that others may obtain a copy. Each school campus principal shall designate an area where Materials may be made available or distributed.

g. Students may distribute Materials during the three (3) annual parties designated by the District.

h. Campus principals may develop other reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions regarding the distribution of Materials at areas designated by the principal.

i. Students may distribute Materials in areas not addressed by this policy, subject to the reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions developed by the campus principal and the guidelines outlined herein.

Students are expected to comply with all applicable District and/or campus behavior rules and/or policies and all educational/curricular goals when distributing Materials on District property. Copies of applicable District and campus rules and/or policies are available at each campus.

Students who distribute Materials on District property at any time shall be responsible for cleaning up such Materials left on District property.

Students violating any provision of this Policy may be subject to discipline including, but not limited to, prohibition of further distribution under this Policy.

Materials shall not be distributed if:

1. The Materials are obscene, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience.

2. The Materials endorse actions endangering the health or safety of students.

3. The Materials advocate violation of school rules and fall within the standard described at LIMITATIONS ON EXPRESSION at FNAA (LEGAL).

4. The Materials advocate imminent lawless or disruptive action and are likely to incite or produce such action.

5. The Materials include hate literature that scurrilously attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups, and similar publications aimed at creating hostility and violence if they fall within the standard described at LIMITATIONS ON EXPRESSION at FNAA(LEGAL).

6. There is reasonable cause to believe that distribution of the Materials would result in material and substantial interference with any school educational and/or curricular related activity or that blocks or impedes the safe flow of traffic within hallways and entrance or exit ways of the school.

Middle school and secondary school campuses have restrictions that are narrowly tailored to meet the District’s legitimate concerns regarding providing instruction, providing education, maintaining discipline, and/or achieving curricular objectives and/or state mandated learning requirements. The following regulations apply to distribution of Materials between middle and secondary school students while on middle and secondary school campuses, subject to the restrictions identified in LIMITATIONS ON CONTENT herein.

a. Subject to the restrictions herein, students may distribute Materials thirty (30) minutes before School Hours and thirty (30) minutes after School Hours at any entrance or exit to the school and at any “gathering area(s)” approved by the principal, the location of distribution in each of these areas to be designated by the principal.

b. Distribution of Materials is not permitted in the Classrooms during School Hours.

c. Middle and secondary school students may distribute Materials in middle and secondary school hallways, during non-instructional times during School Hours.

d. Middle and secondary school students may distribute Materials in middle and secondary campus cafeterias during designated lunch periods and non-instructional time.

e. Students may leave Materials on the “distribution table” and/or any other such designated area so that others may obtain a copy. Each school campus principal shall designate an area where Materials that have been approved for distribution by students in accordance with this policy may be made available or distributed.

f. Campus principals may develop other reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions regarding the distribution of Materials at areas designated by the principal.

g. Students may distribute Materials in areas not addressed by this policy, subject to the reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions developed by the campus principal and the guidelines outlined herein.

Students are expected to comply with all applicable District and/or campus behavior rules and/or policies and all educational/curricular goals when distributing Materials on District property. Copies of applicable District and campus rules and/or policies are available at each campus.

Students who distribute Materials on District property at any time shall be responsible for cleaning up such Materials left on District property.

Students violating any provision of this Policy may be subject to discipline including, but not limited to, prohibition of further distribution under this Policy.

Materials shall not be distributed if:

1. The Materials are obscene, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience.

2. The Materials endorse actions endangering the health or safety of students.

3. The Materials advocate violation of school rules and fall within the standard described at LIMITATIONS ON EXPRESSION at FNAA (LEGAL).

4. The Materials advocate imminent lawless or disruptive action and are likely to incite or produce such action.

5. The Materials include hate literature that scurrilously attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups, and similar publications aimed at creating hostility and violence if they fall within the standard described at LIMITATIONS ON EXPRESSION at FNAA(LEGAL).

6. There is reasonable cause to believe that distribution of the Materials would result in material and substantial interference with any school educational and/or curricular related activity or that blocks or impedes the safe flow of traffic within hallways and entrance or exit ways of the school.

The District's classrooms during the school day are provided for the limited purpose of delivering instruction to students in the courses and subjects in which they are enrolled. Hallways in school buildings are provided for the limited purpose of facilitating the movement of students between classes and allowing access to assigned lockers. Classrooms and hallways shall not be used for the distribution of any materials over which the school does not exercise control.

Each school campus shall designate an area where materials that have been approved for distribution by students in accordance with this policy may be made available or distributed. Campus principals may develop reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions regarding the distribution of materials at designated areas.

1. In order to be considered for distribution, materials shall include the name of the organization or individual sponsoring the distribution.
2. Using the standards below at LIMITATIONS ON CONTENT, the principal or designee shall approve or reject submitted material within three school days of the time the material is received.
3. The student may appeal the principal's decision in accordance with FNG(LOCAL), beginning at Level Two.

Students who fail to follow these procedures may be disciplined in accordance with the FO series and the Student Code of Conduct.

1. The materials are obscene, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience.
2. The materials endorse actions endangering the health or safety of students.
3. The distribution of such materials would violate the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights of another person.
4. The materials contain defamatory statements about public figures or others.
5. The materials criticize Board members or school officials or advocate violation of school rules and fall within the standard described at LIMITATIONS ON EXPRESSION at FNAA (LEGAL).
6. The materials advocate imminent lawless or disruptive action and are likely to incite or produce such action.
7. The materials include hate literature that scurrilously attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups, and similar publications aimed at creating hostility and violence if they fall within the standard described at LIMITATIONS ON EXPRESSION at FNAA(LEGAL).

For distribution of nonschool literature by nonstudents, see GKD.

This online presentation of your district's policy is an electronic representation of TASB's record of the district's currently adopted policy manual. It does not reflect updating activities in progress. The official, authoritative manual is available for inspection in the office of the Superintendent. [See BF (LOCAL) for further information.]