The District will balance student speech and expression rights with its responsibility to provide a safe, orderly learning environment.

Students may not engage in speech or expressive conduct that would materially and substantially interfere with or disrupt school operations, including school activities and educational programming. An actual disruption is not required before school officials may regulate student speech or impose discipline if they can reasonably forecast a substantial and material disruption or interference with school operations.

Students may be disciplined for speech or expressive conduct that: is materially and substantially disruptive or that school officials can reasonably forecast will create a substantial disruption; is obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd; promotes the use of or advertises illegal substances; incites violence; contains “fighting words” or constitutes a true threat of violence; involves a student walkout; urges a violation of law, Board Policy, or rule; or is not constitutionally protected. Administrators will evaluate student speech on a case-by-case basis, including the location, context, and nexus to the school, before imposing discipline.

Student activism is subject to the above standards.

As used in this Policy, “fighting words” are words that tend to provoke a violent response amounting to a breach of the peace.

Legal authority: U.S. CONST. amend. I; Const 1963, art I, § 5; Tinker v Des Moines

Indep Community Sch Dist, 393 US 503 (1969)

Date adopted: 08/09/2021

Date revised: 06/19/2023