PROCEDURES FOR DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION BY NON-SCHOOL, NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

The information below is provided to assist local community non-profit, non-school organizations with procedures they can take advantage of to distribute information about services and functions they offer to the local community.Ý Bona-fide non-profit organizations can provide information by having displays at Back to School Night, through flier distribution at designated times per year, and by providing information that goes into a folder (or on a bulletin board) the school maintains for community information.

The school may need to confirm non-profit status (501-C-3), and local community presence, from organizations that are unfamiliar to our community.Ý Please, if you are not known to the school, be prepared to confirm non-profit status and a local community presence (a chapter or other local organizational unit consistent with the by-laws and 501-C-3 status of the organization is established in Fairfax County).

Material or statements advocating or representing violent, illegal or obscene activities, or that will substantially disrupt school activities, endanger the health or safety of students, or constitute libel or slander; or that is not age appropriate or related to the schoolsí educational mission, will not be distributed or displayed.Ý Consistent with FCPS School Board Policy, distribution of partisan political material or statements, and of charitable solicitations is prohibited.

Community Night

Local non-profit groups not affiliated with the school may set up a table or display for distribution of information in the (front lobby) on Back To School Night, on a space available basis.

Between July 1 and August 25, the school will notify the community of the date of Back to School Night, the space to be made available, and the method and required content of request to set up a table or display.
The school may provide notice through letter to parents, posting on the school website, newsletter item, flier on the school bulletin board, community service announcement, or other means.
Space will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis to those qualifying organizations who make requests consistent with conditions included in the announcement, after the date of the announcement and up to five working days before Back to School Night.Ý Requests received outside these dates cannot be considered.

Distribution of Fliers in Student Backpacks

Elementary aged students may not engage in direct distribution of fliers in school buildings or on school grounds during school hours, including bus arrival and departure times.Ý No person may distribute fliers directly to students in school buildings or on school grounds during school hours.

Local non-profit organizations may request that fliers be made available to students to take home.Ý The school will distribute fliers provided by local non-profit organizations five times per year.Ý The following procedures and limitations apply.

Fliers requested for backpack distribution are to be printed on 8 ½î x 11î or smaller paper.
Fliers are to be bundled in classroom groups, according to directions that will be provided by school office staff.
Fliers must be received for placement in teacher mailboxes at least two school days prior to the date of distribution.
Fliers will be offered to children; children will not be required to accept fliers.
Fliers will be distributed as follows:

The second week of school

The last week of October

The last week of school in December

The last week of school in February

The first week of school in April

Disclaimer Required on Fliers

To ensure that the school does not appear to approve or disapprove any particular viewpoint or activity, all materials made available through the school, including fliers distributed to students, must have the following disclaimer statement either prominently displayed on or attached to the material.Ý It is the responsibility of the non-profit organization to include the disclaimer statement.

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by

the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or this school

Maintenance of Materials from Local Non-Profit Organizations

From one week before the first day of school until the last day of school, the school will maintain (either a bulletin board or a folder of) literature from local non-profit organizations.Ý This (bulletin board or folder) will be made available to members of the school community who wish to see literature from local non-profit organizations.Ý The folder or bulletin board will not be maintained during summer break.

The folder is maintained in the schoolís lobby.

The school cannot be responsible for copying materials in the folder, and cannot accept responsibility if materials are removed or damaged by parents or community members as they use the folder.