JJA - Student Organizations

File: JJA

 

Student Organizations
 
Student organizations in the District shall be encouraged when they meet the criteria of reinforcement of positive student development and should operate within the framework of state statutes, School Committee policies, and administrative procedures.
 
Each building Principal shall develop general guidelines for the establishment and operation of student organizations within the particular school.  Among other provisions, such guidelines shall require the approval of the Principal prior to the formation of any club or organization in the school and the assignment of at least one faculty or designated adult advisor to each approved student organization.  Within such guidelines will be provisions for a periodic review of all student organizations.  The School Committee shall annually approve a list of all student activity accounts including specific funding sources and the objective/mission for each activity.
 

All student organizations shall be required to open membership to all interested and/or eligible students.  Disruptive groups, secret societies, and/or gangs shall not receive recognition in any manner under this policy.


All forms of bullying or hazing in initiations shall be prohibited in a student organization.  No initiation shall be held for a student organization which will bring criticism to the school system or be degrading to the student.


The faculty or designated adult advisor must attend every meeting of the student organization whether conducted on school premises or at another location.


The Principal is authorized to deny requests by unauthorized student organization desiring to meet or form in a particular school, the Principal shall inform the group of the reasons for the denial.  The students and/or group may submit a written request to the Superintendent or his/her designee for review of the Principal's decision.

LEGAL REFS.:     603 CMR 26.06

CROSS REFS.:    JICF, Gang Activity/Secret Societies
                             JICFA, Hazing
                             JICFB, Bullying

 

Reviewed, revised 3/3/12
Reviewed, revised 8/4/16