Community Relations
Administrative Regulation No. 1114
Regulation approved: September 12, 2017
Updated: May 7, 2025
DISTRICT-SPONSORED SOCIAL MEDIA
Definitions
Social media means any online platform for collaboration, interaction, or active participation, or that allows users to post content, including, but not limited to, social networking sites such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X/Twitter, SnapChat, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
An official district social media account is an account on a social media platform authorized by the Superintendent or
designee.
An account that contains content related to the district or comments about district operations but that has not been created based on authorization or direction from the Superintendent or designee, such as an account created by a
parent-teacher organization, booster club, or other school-connected organization or a student's or employee's personal account, is not an official district social media account.
School-level employees such as teachers and coaches shall obtain authorization from the school principal before creating an official social media account.
Guidelines for Content
Each official district social media account shall contain content that is useful and appropriate for all audiences.
District employees or agents in charge of posting or adding information to an official district social media account shall ensure that copyright laws are not violated in the use of material on official district social media accounts.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that official district social media accounts are regularly monitored. Staff members responsible for monitoring content may remove posts or even suspend users from interacting with the
account only based on viewpoint-neutral considerations, such as lack of relation to the account's purpose or violation of board policies or administrative regulations.
Each official district social media account shall, as appropriate, prominently display a link to this regulation or a statement that includes Items #1-10, below:
1. The purpose(s) of the account, such as providing information to a class, school community, athletic team, or student club; engaging with the public regarding district decisions and Governing Board meetings; and sharing information regarding employment opportunities with the district
2. Users shall use the site only for those intended purposes
3. The account is regularly monitored and any inappropriate interaction will be promptly removed, blocked, orsimilarly addressed. Inappropriate interactions include, but are not limited to, interactions that:
a. Are obscene, libelous, or so incite students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on district premises, violation of district or school rules, or substantial disruption to the
district or school's orderly operation
b. Are not related to the stated purpose of the account, including, but not limited to, threats, comments of a commercial nature, political activity, and comments prohibited by board policies and administrative
regulations
4. Users are expected to communicate in a respectful, courteous, and professional manner and are personally responsible for their use of the account
5. The district is not responsible for the content posted by other users or how other users interact with the account
6. The views and comments expressed by other users on the account belong to those users and do not necessarily reflect the views of the district
7. Any user's reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by the district
8. The individual(s) to contact regarding violation of district guidelines on the use of official district social media accounts
9. Violations may be reported to the appropriate social media platform, law enforcement, or other third parties, as appropriate
10. A user may be suspended from interacting with the account for one month upon three prior violations and for six months upon two prior one-month suspensions
Appropriate Use by District Employees
District employees who participate in official district social media accounts shall adhere to all applicable board policies and administrative regulations, including, but not limited to, professional standards related to interactions with students.
When appropriate, employees posting, replying, or otherwise interacting with the public outside of their professional duties or responsibilities on official district social media accounts shall identify themselves by name and district title
and include a disclaimer stating that the views and opinions expressed in their post are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent those of the district or school.
All staff shall receive information about appropriate use of the official district social media accounts.
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 References Description
Ed. Code 32260-32262 Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985
Ed. Code 35182.5 Contracts for advertising
Ed. Code 48900 Grounds for suspension or expulsion
Ed. Code 48907 Exercise of free expression; time, place, and manner rules and regulations
Ed. Code 48950 Speech and other communication
Ed. Code 49061 Definitions; directory information
Ed. Code 49073 Release of directory information
Ed. Code 60048 Commercial brand names, contracts or logos
Gov. Code 3307.5 Publishing identity of public safety officers
Gov. Code 54952.2 Brown Act; definition of meeting
Gov. Code 7920.000-7930.215 California Public Records Act
Federal References, Description
17 USC 101-1101 Federal copyright law
20 USC 1232g Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974
29 USC 157 Employee rights to engage in concerted, protected activity
29 USC 794 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 504
34 CFR 99.1-99.67 Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Management Resources References, Description
Court Decision Lindke v. Freed (2024) 601 U.S. 187
Court Decision Aaris v. Las Virgenes Unified School District (1998) 64 Cal.App.4th 1112
Court Decision Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District, et.al. v. Pico (1982) 457 U.S. 853
Court Decision Page v. Lexington County School District (2008, 4th Cir.) 531 F.3d 275
Court Decision Perry Education Association v. Perry Local Educators' Association (1983) 460 U.S. 37
Court Decision Downs v. Los Angeles Unified School District (9th Cir. 2000) 228 F.3d 1003
Facebook Publication Facebook for Educators Guide, 2013
National Labor Relations Board Decision 18-CA- 1908 Sears Holdings, December 4, 2009
Website Meta in Education
Website CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services
Website Facebook, privacy resources
Website California School Public Relations Association
Website CSBA
Cross References Description
0000 Vision
0410 Nondiscrimination In District Programs And Activities
0440 District Technology Plan
0440 District Technology Plan
0510 School Accountability Report Card
0510 School Accountability Report Card
1100 Communication With The Public
1112 Media Relations
1113 District And School Websites
1113 District And School Websites
1113-E(1) District And School Websites
1160 Political Processes
1230 School-Connected Organizations
1230 School-Connected Organizations
1260 Educational Foundation
1312.3 Uniform Complaint Procedures
1312.3 Uniform Complaint Procedures
1312.3-E(1) Uniform Complaint Procedures
1312.3-E(2) Uniform Complaint Procedures
1325 Advertising And Promotion
3515.7 Firearms On School Grounds
3516 Emergencies And Disaster Preparedness Plan
3516 Emergencies And Disaster Preparedness Plan
4030 Nondiscrimination In Employment
4030 Nondiscrimination In Employment
4040 Employee Use Of Technology
Cross References Description
4040-E(1) Employee Use Of Technology
4118 Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action
4118 Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action
4119.21 Professional Standards
4119.21-E(1) Professional Standards
4119.23 Unauthorized Release Of Confidential/Privileged Information
4131 Staff Development
4132 Publication Or Creation Of Materials
4218 Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action
4218 Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action
4219.21 Professional Standards
4219.21-E(1) Professional Standards
4219.23 Unauthorized Release Of Confidential/Privileged Information
4231 Staff Development
4232 Publication Or Creation Of Materials
4319.21 Professional Standards
4319.21-E(1) Professional Standards
4319.23 Unauthorized Release Of Confidential/Privileged Information
4331 Staff Development
4332 Publication Or Creation Of Materials
5022 Student And Family Privacy Rights
5022 Student And Family Privacy Rights
5125 Student Records
5125 Student Records
5125.1 Release Of Directory Information
5125.1 Release Of Directory Information
5125.1-E(1) Release Of Directory Information
5131 Conduct
5142.2 Safe Routes To School Program
5142.2 Safe Routes To School Program
5144 Discipline
5144 Discipline
5144.1 Suspension And Expulsion/Due Process
5144.1 Suspension And Expulsion/Due Process
5145.2 Freedom Of Speech/Expression
5145.2 Freedom Of Speech/Expression
5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment
5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment
5145.7 Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment
5145.7 Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment
6020 Parent Involvement
6020 Parent Involvement
6145.5 Student Organizations And Equal Access
6145.5 Student Organizations And Equal Access
6162.6 Use Of Copyrighted Materials
6162.6 Use Of Copyrighted Materials
6163.4 Student Use Of Technology
6163.4-E(1) Student Use Of Technology
9010 Public Statements
9012 Board Member Electronic Communications