Board Policy

BP 1325

Community Relations

Advertising And Promotion

Distribution of Noncommercial Materials

The Board of Education desires to promote positive relationships between the schools and community organizations. Just as community organizations can build support for the schools, the schools can cooperate with these groups under certain circumstances by publicizing services, special events and public meetings of interest to students and parents/guardians.

(cf. 6145.5 - Student Organizations and Equal Access)

The Superintendent or designee may approve the distribution to students of materials prepared by organizations which are school sponsored or school related. Materials approved for distribution shall further the district's intended purpose, directly benefit the students, support the basic educational mission of the district or be of intrinsic value to the students. Materials shall not promote any particular religious or political interest except as specified below.

Distribution of Political Materials

The schools shall not distribute campaign materials pertaining to a candidate, party, or ballot measure.

(cf. 1160 - Political Processes)

(cf. 1330 - Use of School Facilities)

(cf. 4119.25/4219.25/4319.25 - Political Activities of Employees)

Distribution of Commercial Materials/Advertising

School-sponsored publications, announcements and other school communications may accept paid advertising except for that prohibited by law and administrative regulation. The Superintendent or designee may prohibit advertisements which are inconsistent with school objectives and do not reasonably relate to the educational purpose of school-sponsored publications. In addition, the Superintendent or designee may allow the distribution of promotional material of a commercial nature within the parameters of law and administrative regulation but also may prohibit the distribution of materials which lack educational value or are not related directly to the school program.

Advertising copy may be solicited and prepared only to the extent that this process furthers the educational well-being of the students involved. Excessive solicitation of the same sources shall be avoided.

Students shall not be exploited to raise money, and time spent securing ads shall not infringe upon the school program.

(cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression: Publications Code)

(cf. 6145.3 - Publications)

Students shall not be required to view commercials during instructional time. Advertisements may be studied, however, as part of the consumer education curriculum.

Products and materials donated by commercial enterprises may be used in the classroom as long as they serve an educational purpose and do not unduly promote any commercial activity or products. Such materials may bear the name or logo of the donor. The use of such materials does not imply district endorsement of any identified commercial products or services.

(cf. 1700 - Relations between Private Industry and the Schools)

(cf. 3290 - Gifts, Grants and Bequests)

(cf. 6161.11 - Supplementary Instructional Materials)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

7050-7058 Political activities of school officers and employees

35160 Authority of Board of Educations

35160.1 Broad authority of school districts

35172 Promotional activities

38130-38138 Civic Center Act

48907 Student exercise of free expression

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE

25664 Advertisements encouraging minors to drink

COURT DECISIONS

Bright v. Los Angeles Unified School District (1976) 134 Cal. Rptr. 639, 556 P.2d 1090, 18 Cal. 3d 450

Lehman v. Shaker Heights (1974) 418 U.S. 298

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: December 11, 2000 Palos Verdes Estates, California