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Lodi Unified School District

Policy 6145.5 - Student Organizations & Equal Access

Series: 6000 - Instruction

Policy: 6145.5 - Student Organizations & Equal Access

Adopted: 12/08/1998

Last Revised: 09/01/2026

Last Reviewed: 09/01/2026

Download Policy 6145.5 - Student Organizations & Equal Access PDF (English)

Download Rule 6145.5 - Student Organizations & Equal Access PDF (English)

Student Organizations and Equal Access

The Board of Education believes that student groups or clubs reinforce the instructional program, give students experience in civics and government, and provide social and recreational activities.  Student groups also serve to honor outstanding student achievement and enhance school spirit and students’ sense of belonging.  Prior to meeting on school grounds, all student groups shall be authorized by the principal or designee in accordance with the Board policy and rule.
 
The Board encourages students to pursue interests and clubs which may not directly relate to the district’s curriculum and, to that end, has created a limited open forum.
 
All student-initiated groups shall be given equal access to meet on school premises during non-instructional time without regard to their religious, political, philosophical or other speech content.  The Board shall ensure that:
 
  1. The meeting shall be voluntary and student-initiated
     
  2. There shall be no sponsorship of the meeting by the school or staff.  The term sponsorship means that school staff are promoting, leading or participating in a meeting.  The assignment of a teacher, administrator, or other school employee to a meeting for custodial purposes shall not constitute sponsorship of the meeting.
     
  3. Employees of the school shall be present at religious meetings only in a nonparticipatory capacity
     
  4. The meeting shall not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school
     
  5. Nonschool persons shall not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups
All student clubs or groups shall have equal access to the school media to announce meetings, including the public address system, the school newspaper, bulletin boards, and school website.  However, the principal or designee may issue a disclaimer that such activities are not school sponsored.
 
All noncurriculum-related student groups shall be given equal access to meeting space, school equipment, and supplies.
 
No school shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet, or otherwise discriminate against any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, or with any other youth group listed as a patriotic society in Title 36 of the United States Code, for reasons based on the membership or leadership criteria or oath of allegiance to God and country.

Rule 6145.5

School Sponsorship
Because the district has established a limited open forum, the principal or designee shall not deny any student-initiated school group access to school facilities during noninstructional time on the basis of religious, political, philosophical, or any other content of speech to be addressed at such meetings.
 
Such meetings shall not interfere with regular school activities.  The Superintendent or designee shall identify the noninstructional time period(s) set aside for meetings of student groups either before or after actual classroom instruction times.
 
Meetings may also be held during the lunch period.
 
Meetings held within the limited open forum shall entail no expenditure of public funds beyond the incidental cost of providing the meeting space.
 
Students shall leave the meeting place in a clean, orderly, and secure condition after their meetings.  The Superintendent or designee may deny the use of facilities to any group that is believed will materially disrupt the school program or threaten the health and safety of students and staff.
 
Authorization for Student Groups
Any student wishing to create either a curriculum- or noncurriculum-related student group shall first request authorization from the principal or designee.  The group shall provide the principal or designee with the following information:
 
  1. Name of the organization and names of student contacts
     
  2. A statement of the organization’s purpose, objectives, and activities
     
  3. A copy of the proposed bylaws of the student group, including a description of how officers will be selected, as well as the bylaws of any off-campus organization with which the group may be affiliated
     
  4. The name of the proposed faculty advisor, if any
     
  5. The proposed dates, times, and location of meetings
     
  6. Any special equipment to be used
     
  7. If a curriculum-related group, a statement of the relation of the club to the curriculum and/or instructional program
The principal or designee may establish school rules governing the meetings of curriculum-related groups, such as attendance or grade requirements.  Such rules may vary depending on the group, such as whether or not academic credit is given for participation in the group. 
 
Role of Staff Adviser
For any curriculum-related student group, the staff adviser shall provide guidance and teaching to students to ensure that the group’s activities are aligned to the district’s goals and objectives and shall provide supervision and leadership of the group.  The principal shall have final authority in determining the assignment and role of the staff advisor.
 
For noncurriculum-related student groups, a staff advisor may be assigned voluntarily to observe meetings for purposes of maintaining order and protecting student safety.  Staff advisors and other school employees shall not promote, lead, or participate in the meetings.
 
A school employee may refuse to attend a meeting of a student group if the content of the speech at the meeting is contrary to the employee’s beliefs.
 

Legal References

Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Board to enact this policy.  Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
 
STATE
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
5 CCR 350 Fees not permitted
5 CCR 80413.3 Credential requirements; teachers with out-of-state credentials
EDUCATION CODE
200-280 Prohibition of discrimination
37220-37223 Holidays
38130-38139 Civic Center Act
48645.5 Former juvenile court school students; enrollment
48900 Grounds for suspension or expulsion
48907 Exercise of free expression; time, place, and manner rules and regulations
48930-48938 Student organizations
48950 Speech and other communication
49020-49023 Athletic programs; legislative intent, equal opportunity
52 Designation of secondary schools
53 Designation of high schools
PENAL CODE
627-627.10 Access to school premises
FEDERAL
UNITED STATES CODE
20 USC 4071-4074 Equal Access Act
20 USC 7904 School prayer
20 USC 7905 Boy Scouts equal access
36 USC 20101-240112Patriotic organizations
MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
COURT DECISIONS
Board of Education of Westside Community School District v. Mergens By and Through Mergens (1989, 8th Cir.) 867 F.2d 1076
Ceniceros v. Board of Trustees of the San Diego Unified School District (1997) 106 F.3d 878
Culbertson et al. v. Oakridge School District (2002) 258 F.3d 1061
Good News Club et al. v. Milford Central School (2001) 121 S.Ct. 2093
Hartzell v. Connell (1984) 35 Cal. 3d 899
Perumal et al v. Saddleback Valley Unified School District (1988) 198 Cal. App. 3d 64
Prince v. Jacoby (2001) 303 F.3d 1074
Student Coalition for Peace v. Lower Merion School District Board of Directors (1985) 776 F.2d. 431
WEBSITES
CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services https://legalservices.csba.org/#
California Attorney General's Office http://oag.ca.gov/
California Interscholastic Federation http://www.cifstate.org/
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel http://www.csiet.org/
U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/