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ABBE-AP: Displays of Religious and Political Objects or Documents

Administration shall use the protocols outlined in both the Instructional Materials Selection policy and the Review and Complaints of Instructional and Resource Material policy in determining whether or not a religious or political object or document may be included in a display within a school facility or on the school campus. These procedures shall also be used when a requestor wishes to appeal an administrative decision related to religious or political displays.

Any such display shall meet the following criteria:

  1. The display is to be used as an illustration for purposes of the curriculum,
  2. It is not a permanent display,
  3. The educational purpose of the display is clearly articulated in the request and the request outlines the manner in which this purpose will be relayed to students,
  4. The cultural, legal, or historical significance of the religious or political document or object is clearly articulated in the request, and the request outlines the manner in which this significance will be relayed to students,
  5. The influence that the religious or political document or object has had on the legal and governmental systems of the country or culture being studied is clearly articulated in the request, and the request outlines the manner in which the document/object’s influence will be relayed to students,
  6. If a religious or political object or document is part of a larger display, it shall be displayed in the same manner and appearance as other objects or documents in the display, and
  7. Nothing in the display shall call attention to the religious or political object or document apart from other objects or documents in the display.

This policy does not govern nor will it infringe upon the rights of students and staff to wear religious or political symbols so long as doing so does not substantially disrupt the educational environment nor interfere with the rights of others.

This policy does not apply to secular displays of seasonal objects or items with historic significance, provided they are displayed in a balanced manner.

Adopted: 11/24/03
Reviewed: 03/25/10
Revised:    09/19/17
07/07/20