JICEC ©
FREEDOM  OF  EXPRESSION

Students possess inalienable rights to develop, believe, and follow personal viewpoints and beliefs to the extent their viewpoints and beliefs do not infringe upon nor denigrate the same rights of others.

The District shall not discriminate against students or parents on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression.  If a student includes in an assignment a viewpoint expression, an evaluation of the student's work shall be based on ordinary standards of substance and relevance to the course curriculum or requirements of the coursework or assignment, and shall not penalize or reward the student on the basis of religious content or viewpoint.

Students are to be permitted to pray or engage in religious activities or expression in the same manner and to the same extent as students are permitted to engage in nonreligious activities or expression, before, during, and after the school day.

To the extent and in the manner that other types of clothing, accessories, and jewelry displaying messages or symbols are permitted, students are permitted to wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display religious messages or symbols.

Acknowledging and permitting the above freedoms is not to be interpreted to mean the District is requiring any person to participate in prayer or other religious activities nor attempting to violate the constitutional rights of any person.

The District does retain its rights to:

A.  Maintain order and discipline on District property in a content and viewpoint neutral manner.

B.  Protect the safety of students, employees, and visitors on District property.

C.  Adopt and enforce policies and regulations concerning student speech while on District property in a manner that does not violate a student's state and federal constitutional rights.

D.  Adopt and enforce policies and regulations that ban student clothing, accessories, and jewelry worn to convey affiliation with a criminal street gang.

A student or a student's parent is barred by statute from initiating legal action to enforce the student rights set out in this policy unless the student or the parent has:

A.  Submitted to the school principal a written complaint containing specific facts of the alleged violation.

B.  The principal shall investigate the complaint and provide a written response within fifteen (15) days of receiving the complaint describing any action taken by the principal to resolve the complaint.

If the principal's actions do not resolve the complaint, the student or the student's parent shall:

A.  Submit written complaint containing specific facts of the alleged violation to the Superintendent or other designated administrator.

B.  The Superintendent or other designated administrator shall investigate the complaint and provide a written response within twenty-five (25) days of receiving the complaint describing any action taken by the Superintendent or other designated administrator to resolve the complaint.

If the action taken by the Superintendent or other designated administrator does not resolve the complaint the student or the student's parent may pursue legal action to enforce this policy.

Adopted:  date of Manual adoption

LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
13-105
15-110
15-341
15-720
15-841
15-843
15-844
20 U.S.C. 4071 et seq., Equal Access Act, (Section 801)

CROSS REF.:
JI - Student Rights and Responsibilities
JII - Student Concerns, Complaints, and Grievances
JJAB - Limited Open/Closed Forum
JK - Student Discipline