551 Student Organizations

Secondary and/or student-initiated curriculum-related organizations and secondary and/or student-initiated non-curriculum-related organizations are encouraged.

Curriculum-Related Organizations

It will be the responsibility of the principal to determine whether a student group is curriculum-related. One or more of the following questions will be answered affirmatively if the group is curriculum-related:

  •  Is the subject matter of the group actually taught in a regularly offered course?
  •  Will the subject matter of the group soon be taught in a regularly offered course?
  •  Does the subject matter of the group concern the body of courses as a whole?
  •  Is participation in the group required for a particular course?
  •  Does participation in the group result in academic credit?

Secondary and/or student-initiated curriculum-related student organizations, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use the school District facilities for meetings and other purposes during non-instructional time.

Non-instructional time will mean any time before the first period of the day and after the last period of the day in which any student attends class. Meetings will not interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school District operations. It is within the discretion of the principal to determine whether the meetings will interfere with the orderly conduct of the education program or other school District operations. Activities relating to any part of the education program will have priority over the activities of another organization.

Employees are assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with curriculum-related organizations.

Non-Curriculum-Related Organizations

Secondary and/or student-initiated non-curriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school District facilities. Only students may attend and participate in meetings of non-curriculum-related organizations.  Such attendance is strictly voluntary and student-initiated. As a means of determining whether a student’s attendance is voluntary, the principal may require parental consent for the student to attend the meetings.

Employees will be assigned to monitor approved meetings. Employees will not participate in the meeting or assist in planning, criticizing, or encouraging attendance.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.