While the District recognizes a student’s right of expression under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, school-sponsored media does not provide an open public forum for public expression. Student media, as well as the content of student expression in school-sponsored activities, shall be subject to the editorial review of the District’s administration, whose actions shall be reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns and adhere to the following limitations:

1. Advertising may be accepted for media that does not condone or promote products that are inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience or that endorses such things as tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.

2. Media may be regulated to prohibit communications determined by the appropriate teacher, student media advisor, and/or administrator to be ungrammatical, poorly written,  inadequately researched,; biased or prejudiced,; vulgar or profane,; or unsuitable for immature audiences.

3. Media may be regulated to prohibit the dissemination of material that may reasonably be perceived to advocate drug or alcohol use,; irresponsible sex,; conduct that is otherwise inconsistent with the shared values of a civilized social order,; or to associate the school with any position other than neutrality on matters of political controversy.

4. Prohibited media includes those that:

   • Are obscene as to minors;

   • Are libelous or slanderous, including material containing defamatory falsehoods about public figures or governmental officials, and made with knowledge of their falsity or a reckless disregard of the truth;

   • Constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy as defined by state law;

   • Suggest or urge the commission of unlawful acts on the school premises;

   • Suggest or urge the violation of lawful school regulations;

   • Attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups.; or

   • Harass, threaten, or intimidate a student.

Student Media on School Web Pages

Student media displayed on school web pages shall follow the same guidelines as listed above and shall also:

1. Not contain any non-educational advertisements.

2. Adhere to the restrictions regarding use of Directory Information as prescribed in Policy 4.13 including not using a student’s photograph when associated with the student’s name unless written permission has been received from the student’s parent or student if over the age of 18.

3. State that the views expressed are not necessarily those of the School Board or the employees of the district.

A student or group of students, who distribute ten (10) or fewer copies of the same non-school literature, publications, or materials, shall do so in a time, place, and manner that does not cause a substantial disruption of the orderly education environment. A student or group of students wishing to distribute more than ten (10) copies of non-school sponsored materials shall have school authorities review their non-school materials at least three (3) school days in advance of their desired time of dissemination. School authorities shall review the non-school materials, prior to their distribution and will bar from distribution those non-school materials that are obscene, libelous, pervasively indecent, or advertise unlawful products or services. Material may also be barred from distribution if there is evidence that reasonably supports a forecast that a substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment will likely result from the distribution. Concerns related to any denial of distribution by the principal shall be heard by the superintendent, whose decision shall be final.

The school principal or designee shall establish reasonable regulations governing the time, place, and manner of student distribution of non-educational advertisements.

The regulations shall:

1. Be narrowly drawn to promote orderly administration of school activities by preventing disruption and may not be designed to stifle expression;

2. Be uniformly applied to all forms of non-school sponsored materials;

3. Allow no interference with classes or school activities;

4. Specify times, places, and manner where distribution may and may not occur5; and

5. Not inhibit a person’s right to accept or reject any literature distributed in accordance with the regulations.6

6. Students shall be responsible for the removal of excess literature that is left at the distribution point for more than 5 days.

Student Publications 

All publications that are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities, or are produced in conjunction with a class shall be considered school-sponsored publications. School publications do not provide a forum for public expression. Such publications, as well as the content of student expression in school-sponsored activities, shall be subject to the editorial control of the District’s administration, whose actions shall be reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns and adhere to the following limitations 

1. 1. Advertising may be accepted for publications that do not condone or promote products that are inappropriate for the age and maturity of the audience or that endorses such things as tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.

2. Publications may be regulated to prohibit writings, which are, in the opinion of the appropriate teacher and/or administrator, ungrammatical, poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced, vulgar or profane, or unsuitable for immature audiences.

3. Publications may be regulated to refuse to publish material, which might reasonably be perceived to advocate drug or alcohol use, irresponsible sex, or conduct otherwise inconsistent with the shared values of a civilized social order, or to associate the school with any position other than neutrality on matters of political controversy.

4. Prohibited publications include: 

   1. Those that are obscene as to minors;

   2. Those that are libelous or slanderous, including material containing defamatory falsehoods about public figures or governmental officials, which are made with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard of the truth;

   3. Those that constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy as defined by state law,

   4. Publications that suggest or urge the commission of unlawful acts on the school premises;

   5. Publications, which suggest or urge the violation of lawful school regulations;

   6. Hate literature that scurrilously attacks ethnic, religious, or racial groups.

Student Publications on School Web Pages

Student publications that are displayed on school web pages shall follow the same guidelines as listed above; plus, they shall:

1. 1. Not contain any non-educational advertisements. Additionally, student web publications shall;

2. Adhere to the restrictions regarding use of Directory Information as prescribed in Policy 4.13 including not using a student’s photograph when associated with the student’s name unless written permission has been received from the student’s parent or student if over the age of 18.

3. State that the views expressed are not necessarily those of the School Board or the employees of the district.

Student Distribution of None School Literature, Publications, and Materials

A student or group of students who distribute ten (10) or fewer copies of the same non-school literature, publications, or materials (hereinafter “non-school materials”), shall do so in a time, place, and manner that does not cause a substantial disruption of the orderly education environment. A student or group of students wishing to distribute more than ten (10) copies of non-school materials shall have school authorities review their non-school materials at least three (3) school days in advance of their desired time of dissemination. School authorities shall review the non-school materials, prior to their distribution and will bar from distribution those non-school materials that are obscene, libelous, pervasively indecent, or advertise unlawful products or services. Material may also be barred from distribution if there is evidence that reasonably supports a forecast that a substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment will likely result from the distribution. Concerns related to any denial of distribution by the principal shall be heard by the superintendent, whose decision shall be final.

The school principal or designee shall establish reasonable regulations governing the time, place, and manner of student distribution of non-school materials. 

The regulations shall:

1. Be narrowly drawn to promote orderly administration of school activities by preventing disruption and may not be designed to stifle expression;

2. Be uniformly applied to all forms of non-school materials;

3. Allow no interference with classes or school activities 

4. Specify times, places, and manner where distribution may and may not occur; and

5. Not inhibit a person’s right to accept or reject any literature distributed in accordance with the regulations.

6. Students shall be responsible for the removal of excess literature that is left at the distribution point for more than 5 days.

Except when a court order regarding a student has been presented to the district to the contrary, all students’ education records are available for inspection and copying by the parent of his/her student who is under the age of eighteen (18). At the age of eighteen (18), the right to inspect and copy a student’s records transfers to the student. A student’s parent or the student, if over the age of 18, requesting to review the student’s education records will be allowed to do so within no more than forty-five (45) days of the request. The district forwards education records, including disciplinary records, to schools that have requested them and in which the student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student's enrollment or transfer.

The district shall receive written permission before releasing education records to any agency or individual not authorized by law to receive and/or view the education records without prior parental permission. The District shall maintain a record of requests by such agencies or individuals for access to, and each disclosure of, personally identifiable information (PII) from the education records of each student. Disclosure of education records is authorized by law to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A personal record kept by a school staff member is not considered an education record if it meets the following tests:

• it is in the sole possession of the individual who made it,

• it is used only as a personal memory aid; and

• information contained in it has never been revealed or made available to any other person, except the maker’s temporary substitute.

For the purposes of this policy a school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

For the purposes of this policy, a school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility, contracted duty, or duty of elected office.

In addition to releasing PII to school officials without permission, the District may disclose PII from the education records of students in foster care placement to the student’s caseworker or to the caseworker’s representative without getting prior consent of the parent (or the student if the student is over eighteen (18)). For the District to release the student’s PII without getting permission:

• The student must be in foster care;

• The individual to whom the PII will be released must have legal access to the student’s case plan; and

• The Arkansas Department of Human Services, or a sub-agency of the Department, must be legally responsible for the care and protection of the student.

The District discloses PII from an education record to appropriate parties, including parents, in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. The superintendent or designee shall determine who will have access to and the responsibility for disclosing information in emergency situations.

When deciding whether to release PII in a health or safety emergency, the District may take into account the totality of the circumstances pertaining to a threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals. If the District determines that there is an articulable and significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals, it may disclose information from education records to any person whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals 

For purposes of this policy, the Little Rock School District does not distinguish between a custodial and noncustodial parent, or a non-parent such as a person acting in loco parentis or a foster parent with respect to gaining access to a student’s records. Unless a court order restricting such access has been presented to the district to the contrary, the fact of a person’s status as parent or guardian, alone, enables that parent or guardian to review and copy his child’s records.

If there exists a court order which directs that a parent not have access to a student or his/her records, the parent, guardian, person acting in loco parentis, or an agent of the Department of Human Services must present a file-marked copy of such order to the building principal and the superintendent. The school will make good-faith efforts to act in accordance with such court order, but the failure to do so does not impose legal liability upon the school. The actual responsibility for enforcement of such court orders rests with the parents or guardians, their attorneys and the court which issued the order.

A parent or guardian does not have the right to remove any material from a student’s records, but such parent or guardian may challenge the accuracy of a record. The right to challenge the accuracy of a record does not include the right to dispute a grade, disciplinary rulings, disability placements, or other such determinations, which must be done only through the appropriate teacher and/or administrator, the decision of whom is final. A challenge to the accuracy of material contained in a student’s file must be initiated with the building principal, with an appeal available to the Superintendent or his/her designee. The challenge shall clearly identify the part of the student’s record the parent wants changed and specify why he/she believes it is inaccurate or misleading. If the school determines not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the requesting parent or student of the decision and inform them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amending the record. The parent or eligible student will be provided information regarding the hearing procedure when notified of the right to a hearing.

Unless the parent or guardian of a student (or student, if above the age of eighteen (18)) objects, "directory information" about a student may be made available to the public, military recruiters, post-secondary educational institutions, prospective employers of those students, as well as school publications such as annual yearbooks and graduation announcements. “Directory information” includes, but is not limited to, a student’s name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, photograph, date and place of birth, dates of attendance, his/her placement on the honor roll (or the receipt of other types of honors), as well as his/her participation in school clubs and extracurricular activities, among others. If the student participates in inherently public activities (for example, basketball, football, or other interscholastic activities), the publication of such information will be beyond the control of the District. "Directory information" also includes a student identification (ID) number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used by a student for purposes of accessing or communicating in electronic systems and a student ID number or other unique personal identifier that is displayed on a student's ID badge, provided the ID cannot be used to gain access to education records except when used in conjunction with one or more factors that authenticate the user's identity, such as a personal identification number (PIN), password or other factor known or possessed only by the authorized user.

A student’s name and photograph will only be displayed on the district or school’s web page(s) after receiving the written permission from the student’s parent or student if over the age of 18.

The form for objecting to making directory information available is located in the back of the student handbook and must be completed and signed by the parent or age-eligible student and filed with the building principal’s office no later than ten (10) school days after the beginning of each school year or the date the student is enrolled for school. Failure to file an objection by that time is considered a specific grant of permission. The district is required to continue to honor any signed-opt out form for any student no longer in attendance at the district.

The right to opt out of the disclosure of directory information under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not prevent the District from disclosing or requiring a student to disclose the student's name, identifier, or institutional email address in a class in which the student is enrolled.

Parents and students over the age of 18 who believe the district has failed to comply with the requirements for the lawful release of student records may file a complaint with the

 U.S. Department of Education (DOE) at:

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Elementary K-5 Cell Phone Policy

Elementary age students are permitted to have cell phones on all LRSD campuses. The cell phone must remain in the off position when not being used, unless given supervised permission by LRSD staff/teacher for personal calls and/or instructional purposes.

Failure to follow reasonable directives could result in;

First Offense – loss of cell phone privileges for (3) days.

Second Offense- loss of cell phone privileges for (5) days.

Third Offense- loss of cell phone privileges for (10) days.

After the third offense the student can be sanctioned for repeat violation of  Category 2, which could result in a suspension.( See Rule: 33)

Note: Cell phones and/or electronic devices may be confiscated by LRSD administration and/or LRPD when involved in a formal investigation or discipline matter.

Secondary 6-12 Cell Phone Policy

Secondary age students are permitted to have cell phones on all LRSD campuses. The cell phone must remain in the off position when not being used, unless given supervised permission by LRSD staff/teacher for personal calls and/or instructional purposes.

Failure to the cell phone policy could result in;

1st  Violation- Warning and documentation by staff

2nd Violation- Parent Notification/Compliance letter to parent

3rd Violation- Subject to LRSD Policy (Rule 33) Repeated violation of Cat.2 Offense.

Note: Cell phones and/or electronic devices may be confiscated by LRSD administration and/or LRPD when involved in a formal investigation or discipline matter.

 Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that respects the rights of others. Possession and use of any electronic device, whether district or student owned, that interferes with a positive, orderly classroom environment does not respect the rights of others and is expressly forbidden.

To protect the security of statewide assessments, no electronic device, as defined in this policy, shall be accessible by a student at any time during assessment administration unless specifically permitted by a student's individualized education program (IEP) or individual health plan;1 this means that when a student is taking an AESAA assessment, the student shall not have his/her electronic device in his/her possession. Any student violating this provision shall be subject to this policy's disciplinary provisions.

 As used in this policy, “electronic devices” means anything that can be used to transmit or capture images, sound, or data.

 Misuse of electronic devices includes, but is not limited to:

1. Using electronic devices during class time in any manner other than specifically permitted by the classroom instructor;

2. Permitting any audible sound to come from the device when not being used for reason #1 above;

3. Engaging in academic dishonesty, including cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, wrongfully giving or receiving help during an academic examination, or wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores;

4. Using the device to record audio or video or to take photographs in areas where a general expectation of personal privacy exists, including but not limited to locker rooms and bathrooms;

5. Creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing an indecent visual depiction of oneself or another person. 

Use of an electronic device is permitted to the extent it is approved in a student’s IEP or it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals.

 Before school, during lunch, and after normal school hours, possession of electronic devices is permitted on the school campus. The use of such devices at school-sponsored functions outside the regular school day is permitted to the extent and within the limitations allowed by the event or activity the student is attending.

 A parent shall obtain approval from the student’s building principal before operating a student-tracking safety device at school or at a school-sponsored event if the device has recording or listen-in capability. The District requires the device’s recording and listen-in technology to be disabled while the device is on the campus or at the school-sponsored event because of student privacy concerns. The District prohibits unauthorized audio or visual recordings or transmission of audio or images of other students. The student’s parent shall agree in writing to the requirement for the device’s recording and listening-in technology to be disabled and that the District may prohibit future use of the device on campus or at a school-sponsored activity if it is determined that the device’s recording or listening-in capabilities were used in violation of this policy before the student safety tracking device may be on campus or at a school-sponsored event.

 The student and/or the student’s parents or guardians expressly assume any risk associated with students owning or possessing electronic devices. Students have no right of privacy as to the content contained on any electronic devices that shall meet the reasonable individualized suspicion requirements of Policy 4.32—SEARCH, SEIZURE, AND INTERROGATIONS.

Students who use school issued cell phones and/or computers for non-school purposes, except as permitted by the district’s Internet/computer use policy, shall be subject to discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion. Students are forbidden from using school issued cell phones while driving any vehicle at any time. Violation may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

 No student shall use any wireless communication device for the purposes of browsing the internet; composing or reading emails and text messages; or making or answering phone calls while driving a motor vehicle that is in motion and on school property. Violation may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension.

  Possession and Use of Cell Phone and Other Electronic Devices

Cell phones and other electronic devices may serve as an outstanding instructional tool and learning resource, if used appropriately. Staff members and students are encouraged to use electronic devices to supplement instruction and learning. In order to preserve the teaching and learning environment with cell phones and other electronic devices, the following apply:

• Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used for educational purposes in the classroom setting at the discretion of the teacher.

• Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used for non-educational purposes in the morning before the tardy bell, during lunch and after school.

• Cell phones must be turned off at the sound of the tardy bell.

• Cell Phones and other electronic devices must be stored in a location that is not visible by staff, other students (purse, backpack, and locker).

• If the cell phone or other electronic device rings, vibrates, is visible during instruction time or class changes, or if caught using a cell phone, a staff member has the right to turn the device off immediately when requested.

• The use of a cell phone or other electronic device to photograph or video other students or employees is forbidden on campus and could result in a consequence up to and including expulsion.

• If assigned to the In School Suspension Program, the ISSP teacher will require all cell phones and electronic devices to be powered off during the school day.

Any student in possession of a cell phone or other electronic devices that violates the rules or exhibits other inappropriate behavior, the student will receive a disciplinary sanction according to the Student Handbook. An adult listed on the Pupil Information Form or designated by the parent, may pick up the cell phone or electronic device by the end of the school day. The adult must present identification, and a copy of the ID will remain on file in the main office

 Definition

For the purposes of this policy, “electronic device” means anything that can be used to transmit or capture images, sound, or data.

 The District makes electronic device(s) and/or electronic device Internet access available to students, to permit students to perform research and to allow students to learn how to use electronic device technology. Use of district electronic devices is for educational and/or instructional purposes only. Student use of electronic device(s) shall only be as directed or assigned by staff or teachers; students are advised that they enjoy no expectation of privacy in any aspect of their electronic device use, including email, and that monitoring of student electronic device use is continuous.

 No student will be granted Internet access until and unless an Internet and electronic device -use agreement, signed by both the student and the parent or legal guardian (if the student is under the age of eighteen [18]) is on file. The current version of the Internet and Electronic Device use agreement is incorporated by reference into board policy and is considered part of the student handbook.

Technology Protection Measures

 The District is dedicated to protecting students from materials on the Internet or world wide web that are inappropriate, obscene, or otherwise harmful to minors1; therefore, it is the policy of the District to protect each electronic device with Internet filtering software that is designed to prevent students from accessing such materials. For purposes of this policy, “harmful to minors'' means any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:

(A) taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;

(B) depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals; and

(C) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors. 

Internet Use and Safety

The opportunity to use the District’s technology to access the Internet is a privilege and not a right. Students who misuse electronic devices or Internet access in any way will face disciplinary action, as specified in the student handbook and/or internet safety and electronic agreement. Misuse of the Internet includes:

• The disabling or by passing of security procedures, compromising, attempting to compromise, or defeating the district’s technology network security or Internet filtering software

LRSD respects every student's age-appropriate rights to free expression -- including expression of ethnic culture, gender identity, or religious affiliation -- insofar as this expression is not profane, unsafe, distracting, or otherwise non-conducive to a learning environment.  The dress code is indiscriminate: every guideline must be applied equally without regard to sex, and no rule shall be applied or interpreted as gender-specific.

The following guidelines are to be used in determining appropriate dress and grooming in the school environment:

• Dress and grooming is to be in keeping with health, safety, and sanitary practices.

•  Students may not wear clothing or hairstyles that can be hazardous in educational activities such as lab, shop, physical education or art classes.

• Shoes must be worn as required by law. Slippers, heels (skate shoes) and similar footwear are inappropriate for school and are not to be worn.

• Clothing and accessories are not to substantially disrupt the education process.

• Students are not to wear clothing, buttons, patches, jewelry or any other items with words, phrases, symbols, pictures or signs that are indecent, profane, suggestive, inflammatory or that have negative overtones that appear to be derogatory or discriminatory.

• Students are not to wear suggestive or revealing clothing that diverts attention from the learning process.

• Students are not to wear sunglasses, caps, coats or hats in the building.  Coats may be worn in breezeway or open areas of the building during inclement weather.  Students are not to wear clothing, outerwear, pins, symbols or insignia of prohibited organizations or street gangs while at school or at any school-related activity.

•  

  Students are prohibited from wearing the following while on the grounds of a public school during the regular school day and at school sponsored activities and events:

  • No tank tops, visible underwear including bra straps, string or "spagetti straps", inappropriate necklines, or anything excessively revealing or suggestive -- including exposure of any area of the buttocks or private parts.

  • No pajamas;

  • No clothing with negative overtones that appear to be derogatory or discriminatory;

  • No clothing or accessories that are profane, suggestive or inflammatory;

  • No shirts or blouses tied at the midriff, clothing with bare midriff, or not properly fastened;

  • No clothing or accessories of prohibited organizations or street gangs:

  • No pants that fall/sag below the waistline;

  • No bandanas, Do-Rags or hair bonnets

  • No head coverings (unless for religious reasons); and/or for the purposes of cultural/ethnic celebrations;

It is suggested that students not wear expensive jewelry or other expensive accessories to school.  It is difficult to recover such items when they are lost.  The local school and/or the Little Rock School District are not responsible for replacing lost or stolen property.

ID Badges (Secondary 6-12)

It is the district’s obligation to put systems in place to be proactive in keeping our students and staff safe. The ability to quickly and accurately distinguish a Little Rock School District student/staff from non-student/intruder is the single most important factor in providing a safe environment.

All students and staff are required to wear an ID badge throughout the school day. The student's name and photo should be visible, and the ID should be worn around their neck and outside of their clothing. Students are required to wear a grade appropriate lanyard with their ID. Students will be given their initial IDs and lanyards at the beginning of the school year. Students should make every effort to keep up with their ID badge and are expected to wear it every day.

• ID badges are a part of the student Dress Code and ID badge Policy.

• ID badges are to be worn only with lanyards around the neck in front of the upper body.

• Students will receive an ID badge at the beginning of the school year. If a replacement ID is needed, students will pay $5.00.

• As teachers take attendance at the beginning of class, they will also verify that students are in compliance with wearing of their ID badges.

• Students who are in violation of wearing an ID badge will be allowed to call the parent/guardian to have the badge brought to school. If a parent cannot be reached, the school will supply the student with a temporary badge and follow the consequences as listed below.

Students who have lost his/her badge or cannot retrieve the badge must purchase a replacement. 

Consequences For Not Displaying/Possessing School ID

1st Violation- Warning and documentation by staff

2nd Violation- Parent Notification/Compliance letter to parent

3rd Violation- Subject to LRSD Policy (Rule 33) Repeated violation of Cat.2 Offense.