Student Freedom of Speech and Expression Rights Policy
The official document
What the district published
This is the source material — exactly as released by RUSD. The plain English translation below is this site's version, written for community members who shouldn't need a budget degree to understand where their school dollars go.
Original PDF coming soon — check reedschools.org for the source document.
In plain English
What this document actually says
This policy establishes students' rights to free speech and expression at Reed Union School District, including using bulletin boards, distributing materials, wearing buttons, and expressing opinions in school publications. Students can express ideas freely unless speech is obscene, libelous, slanderous, discriminatory, harassing, or substantially disrupts school operations. The policy also covers off-campus expression, including social media, which may be subject to discipline if it threatens safety or disrupts education. Staff cannot censor student publications except when content violates policy or law. The policy was originally adopted March 1993 and most recently revised February 2026.
What this means for your family
Your child has the right to express opinions, wear buttons or badges, and distribute materials at school, even if controversial. However, speech that is discriminatory, harassing, or disrupts school can lead to discipline. The district may also discipline students for off-campus social media posts that threaten safety or disrupt learning. Teachers cannot censor student publications unless they violate specific rules.
Summaries are AI-assisted and based on the original district document shown above. Nothing has been editorialized — interpretations are clearly labeled. This site is maintained by Lina Godfrey's campaign as a community resource.