Secondary school student-initiated curriculum-related groups, upon receiving permission from the principal, may use school facilities for group meetings during non-instructional time. All student groups must have adult supervision.
Non-instructional time will mean any time before the first period of the day, but after beginning contract time for teachers and after the last period of the day in which any student attends class, but not longer than the contract day for teachers. 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 and part of the education program will have priority over the activities of another organization.
Curriculum-Related Organizations
It will also 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 school curriculum-related student organizations may use the school district facilities for meetings and other purposes before and after the instructional school day. Employees are assigned to monitor approved meetings and may interact with curriculum-related organizations.
Non-curriculum-Related Organizations
Student-initiated, non-curriculum-related organizations are provided access to meeting space and school district facilities, as per equal access guidelines. All student initiated non-curricular groups must have adult supervision.
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
Iowa Code §§ 287; 297.9.
Cross Reference: 502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
504 Student Activities
Approved: 11/01/2004
Reviewed: 10/27/2008, 02/17/2014, 03/18/2019
Revised: 10/11/2010, 05/20/2024
