504.2 Student Organizations
Extracurricular activities and student groups shall be related to the curriculum of the secondary schools in the school district. These secondary school curriculum-related student organizations may use the school facilities for meetings and other purposes before, after, and during the instructional school day.
It shall be the responsibility of the building principal to determine whether a student group is curriculum-related. Any 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?
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the building principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy. The administrative regulations shall include, but not be limited to, stating the process for establishing a curriculum-related student group, assigning a faculty advisor, and obtaining Board approval for each student group. The administrative rules shall also include the purpose of each group and its relationship to the curriculum.
Noncurriculum-Related Organizations
Student-initiated, noncurriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school district facilities.
Only students may attend and participate in meetings of noncurriculum-related groups. 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. Only students may be involved in and attend the noncurriculum group's meetings.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference: Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens, 496 U.S. 226 (1990).
Bender v. Williamsport Area Community School District, 741 F.2d 538 (3d Cir. 1984), vacated and remanded on other grounds, 475 U.S. 534 (1986).
20 U.S.C. §§4071 - 4074 (1988).
Iowa Code §§287.1 - .3, 297.9 (1995).
Cross Reference: Series 503 Student Activities
Adopted: Unknown
Modified: 06/21/21
Reviewed: 06/07/21
- Series 500 Students