FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

The purpose of Policy 7-4.4 is to provide students, educators, parents, and other school constituents with procedures governing instances in which the right of students to express themselves in the school setting may be restricted, and to assist school administrators in their decision-making process with regards to student expression.

Montgomery County Public School students have the right, consistent with applicable law, to exercise freedom of expression.  The Montgomery County School Board supports the rights guaranteed to its students by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and believes that such rights are consistent with the School Board’s mission to provide educational opportunity.  Along with their right to express themselves, students have a corresponding responsibility to see that their rights do not substantially interfere with the educational program of the Montgomery County Public Schools.

The School Board supports the rights of students to express themselves in a fashion consistent with the law and the school division’s educational mission.  Student expression may be abridged in order to prevent the proposed student expression or student material (proposed for distribution) from substantially interfering with or disrupting school operations.