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JICED, Student Expression Rights

JICED, Student Expression Rights

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While students do not shed their constitutional rights when they enter the school or engage in school-related activities, it is the Board of Education's responsibility to adopt rules reasonably necessary to maintain proper discipline among students and create an effective learning environment.

For purposes of this policy, student expression includes expression in any media, including but not limited to written, oral, visual, audio, and electronic media in all classroom and other school-related activities, assignments, and projects, as well as distribution of non-curricular materials on school grounds and at school events.

Students shall not turn in, present, publish or distribute expression that is disruptive to the classroom environment, disruptive to the maintenance of a safe and orderly school, or pervasively vulgar or harmful to students. This restriction includes, but is not limited to expression which is:

  1. Obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit
  2. Libelous, slanderous, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful under state law
  3. Profane or vulgar
  4. False as to any person who is not a public figure or involved in a matter of public concern
  5. Creates a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts, the violation of lawful school regulations, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school
  6. Violates the rights of others to privacy
  7. Threatens violence to property or persons
  8. Attacks any person because of race, color, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, or disability
  9. Tends to create hostility or otherwise disrupt the orderly operation of the educational process
  10. Advocates illegal acts of any kind, including the use of illegal drugs, tobacco or alcohol

Violation of this policy shall result in disciplinary action against the student consistent with district student discipline policies.

Adopted June 18, 2008 (CASB-July 07)

Legal References

C.R.S. 22-1-120 (rights of free expression for public school students)
C.R.S. 22-32-110 (1)(r) (power to exclude materials that are immoral or pernicious)

Cross References

JICDA, Code of Conduct
JICDD*, Violent and Aggressive Behavior
JICEC*, Student Distribution of Noncurricular Materials
JK, Student Discipline