Student Expression - Rights and Responsibilities
(Board Policy 7-130)

Overview

All students are entitled to enjoy the rights protected by the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions and laws for persons of their age and maturity in a school setting. Students are encouraged and are free to express individual or collective opinions in ways that are lawful, consistent with the rights of others, and not disruptive to the school’s educational process. The school administration provides varied and meaningful channels of communication to facilitate student expression. Determination of the appropriateness of specific actions remains a responsibility of the school administration.

Students may, during the school day, during non-instructional time, voluntarily engage in individually or collectively initiated, non-disruptive prayer or religious-based meetings that, consistent with the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions, are not sponsored, promoted, or endorsed in any manner by the school or any school employee. Non-instructional time means time set aside by a school before actual classroom instruction begins or after actual classroom instruction ends.

Freedom of expression should be consistent with the legal responsibility of this Board of Education to provide education for all eligible students in this school district. Students who violate the rights of others or violate District policies or rules will be subject to disciplinary measures.