1511 Advertising in the Schools

School facilities, staff, and school children shall not be employed in the schools in any manner for advertising or otherwise promoting on school property any commercial, political, or non-school agency, individual or organization, except as approved by the Superintendent of Schools or his/her designee.  Staff, students and community members are not permitted to promote and/or canvass on behalf of any candidate or political use during school hours or at school sponsored events, i.e. sporting events, concerts, exhibits, etc.

Canvassing, soliciting of funds or selling of any items by any outside agency shall not be permitted on the school premises. School personnel may not participate, during school hours or on school grounds, in the solicitation of orders, the distribution of advertising materials, or the collection of charges. The Superintendent is authorized to issue a list of suggested vendors to meet District-prescribed standards, e.g., for photographs or musical instruments, while allowing parents to make their own arrangements on any terms they wish, where the arrangement does not involve the use of school personnel.

A commercial photographer who is taking school photographs on school premises for a school purpose may advise students, by means of a card, brochure or other appropriate device, that copies may be purchased directly from the photographer. The solicitation of orders for and the sale of class rings on school premises is permissible if authorized by the Board of Education, if all prospective vendors are given full and equal opportunity to compete, and if students are fully involved in the promotion and sale of such rings.

The Superintendent is hereby granted the authority to approve activities, in cooperation with any individual or organization that are of general public interest which promote the education or other best interests of the students. Exhibitions in schools of any books or articles or other educational material shall be judged on the basis of their actual educational values.

In the case of colleges, universities, armed service agencies, corporations, business and public service agencies, it is the policy of the Board of Education that access to schools shall be encouraged to bring career and occupational information to students. The Superintendent shall ensure that such activities are carefully monitored to restrict any commercial advertisement.

Contracts that purport to authorize private individuals or corporations to promote the sale of products and services through commercial advertisements aimed at public school students are expressly prohibited unless authorized by the Superintendent for the purpose of improving the educational program.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed to limit the authority of the Board under law to authorize the broadcast of high school games and other events by radio and TV stations even though the broadcast is commercially sponsored. 

Cross-ref:
Policy #1500 – Use of School Facilities 
Policy #1510 – Public Sales on School Property 

Ref:
New York State Constitution Article 8 §1
Education Law §414
8 NYCRR Part 23
Arts and Cultural Affairs Law §61.09
Matter of Gary Credit Corp., 26 EDR 414 (1987)
Matter of Gary Credit Corp., 25 EDR 385 (1986)
Matter ofTaftegaard, 25 EDR 238 (1986)
Matter ofTaftegaard, 23 EDR 405 (1984)
Matter of Hoyt, 20 EDR 316 (1980)
Matter of Puis, 17 EDR 324 (1978)
Matter of Gordon, 14 EDR 358 (1975)

Approved by the Board of Education: 08/14/14
Revision Approved by the Board of Education: 08/15/19 

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