San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 1325
Advertising and Promotion
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Board of Education desires to promote positive relationships between schools and the community in order to enhance community support and involvement in district schools. The Superintendent or designee may approve:
- Distribution of materials that publicize services, special events, public meetings or other items of interest to students or parents/guardians.
The district will only distribute materials for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or district contractors. In addition to the general approval criteria described below, the Superintendent shall develop administrative regulations to describe the specific criteria and process for approval of distributed materials.
- Paid advertisements in school-sponsored publications, such as yearbooks, newspapers, or programs.
District schools may accept commercial and/or noncommercial paid advertisements in school-sponsored hard-copy publications. Commercial advertisements shall not be permitted in electronic publications/websites. School-sponsored publications that include paid advertisements shall include a general disclaimer stating that the school does not sponsor or endorse any of the advertised products or services.
- Products and materials donated by commercial enterprises, as long as they serve an educational purpose and do not unduly promote any commercial activity or products.
The express or implied endorsement of a commercial product or service is prohibited in the schools. Products or materials donated by a commercial entity shall not bear the name and/or logo of the commercial enterprise, unless the name/logo is part of the preexisting design of the product or service. The district reserves the right to refuse donated products or materials that contain a conspicuous and/or obtrusive name or logo that could imply district endorsement or advertising. The district will not display banners, signs or plaques with the name or logo of a commercial entity, unless specifically approved by the Board. Corporate sponsorship for on-going school activities such as athletic teams and clubs will be subject to Board approval.
The District will buy no curriculum materials that contain identifiable brand names in the content of the curriculum. District teachers will not use identifiable brand names in their instruction unless they are found to be necessary to the lesson taught. No district students will be required to wear the logo of any manufacturer for any school activity. District students may not be used as agents for any district-wide vendors.
General Criteria for Approval of Distributions, Advertisements and Donations
The Superintendent, principal or designee shall not approve the distribution of any materials or advertisements or accept donations that:
- Are obscene, libelous or slanderous. (Education Code 48907)
- Incite students to commit unlawful acts, violate school rules or disrupt the orderly operation of the schools. (Education Code 48907)
- Promotes any particular political interest, candidate, party or ballot measure, unless such materials are being distributed at a forum in which candidates or advocates from all sides are presenting their views to the students during school hours or during events scheduled pursuant to the Civic Center Act.
- Discriminate against, attack or denigrate any group on account of any unlawful consideration.
- Contain prayer or proselytizing language.
- Promote the use or sale of materials or services that are illegal or inconsistent with school objectives, including but not limited to materials or advertisements for tobacco, intoxicants, and movies or products unsuitable for children.
- Solicit funds or recruit students or employees, with the exception of solicitations or recruitment activities specifically authorized in Board policy. (BP 1321)
- Distribute unsolicited merchandise for which an ensuing payment is requested.
- Promote during the school day any food or beverage that does not comply with state nutritional standards pursuant to Education Code sections 49430-49434, including corporate incentive program that offers free or discounted foods or beverages that do not meet nutritional standards as rewards for students who reach certain academic goals. This prohibition does not include advertising on clothing with brand images worn on school grounds, advertising contained in product packaging, or advertising of infrequent school fundraising events involving food or beverages that do not meet the nutritional standards. (Education Code section 49431.9)
The Superintendent or designee also may consider the educational value of the materials, advertisements, or donations; the age or maturity of students in the intended audience; and whether the materials, advertisements or donations support the basic educational mission of the district, directly benefit the students or are of intrinsic value to the students or their parents/guardians.
Schools may establish additional criteria pertaining to the content of advertisements in school sponsored publications and yearbooks. For example, such criteria may limit advertisements to those that contain congratulatory or commemorative messages, curriculum-related content, advertisements for products or services of interest to students, and/or other content deemed appropriate by the school publication staff and adviser in accordance with law and Board policy.
The Superintendent, principal or designee may selectively approve or disapprove distribution of materials or publishing of copy based on the criteria listed above, but may not disapprove materials or copy in an arbitrary or capricious manner or in a way that discriminates against a particular viewpoint on a subject that would otherwise be allowed.
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.