The Board of Education believes student achievement programs and parent/guardian-teacher associations and organizations can advance the educational goals of the Board of Education and confer a benefit to the students of the District. 

It is the purpose of this policy to establish guidelines for the sanctioning of student achievement programs and parent/guardian-teacher associations and organizations that raise money and collect revenues for the benefit of students. Only those student achievement programs and parent/guardian-teacher associations and organizations sanctioned in accordance with this policy will be exempt from the statutory controls over school activity funds found in OS Title 70, Section 5-129.

Sanctioning Procedure for Student Achievement Programs and Parent/Guardian-Teacher Associations and Organizations:

1.  The District may sanction student achievement programs and parent/guardian-teacher associations and organizations that, according to the Board’s determination, advance the educational objectives of the District, are beneficial to students and meet the requirements of this policy.

2. In determining whether a student achievement program or a parent/guardian-teacher association or organization should be sanctioned by the District, the Board of Education may consider: 

a. if the program, association, or organization promotes activities that are an extension, expansion, or application of the District curriculum; 

b. if the program, association, or organization assists student government or activities in carrying out special projects or responsibilities; 

c. if the program, association, or organization assists student clubs, organizations, and other student groups in raising funds to promote activities approved by the Board of Education; and supplemental information provided by the student achievement program or by a parent/guardian-teacher association or organization in support of its application.

3. A written statement by a student achievement program or by a parent/guardian-teacher association or organization to the Board of Education requesting sanctioning shall include the following: a statement of its purpose, goals, organizational structure, and membership requirements; a detailed statement of how the District and its students will benefit if the organization is sanctioned; a statement of non-discrimination consistent with all Oklahoma and federal laws; and a financial audit which has been performed on such program, association, or organizations by an independent accounting firm. The program, association, or organization must be managed or operated by adults, rather than students.

4. The written statement shall be submitted to the Superintendent for preliminary review. After the program, association, or organization’s written statement has been reviewed by the Superintendent, the Superintendent shall make a recommendation to the Board of Education. The Board of Education shall review the written statement and shall sanction or decline to sanction the applicant. The decision of the Board of Education is final and non-appealable.

5. The Board may sanction any student-achievement program, parent/guardian-teacher association, or organization that is organized under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code to maintain bank, financial, and tax-exempt status separate from the school activity fund if that program, association, or organization satisfies and accepts the requirements outlined in this policy and on the application for sanctioning form.

6. All funds raised by the program, association, or organization will be used to achieve the stated purposes and goals of the program, association, or organization. No administrative fees or stipends to officers, school employees, or others will be permitted.

7. Any plan, project, or movement by a sanctioned student achievement program or parent/guardian-teacher association or organization instituted to expand, modernize, renovate, or render maintenance to school-controlled and/or owned properties will be presented to the Board in official session for its consideration, comment, evaluation, approval, and sponsorship. This must be done before any public announcement is made.

8. The Application Form is a part of this policy. Requests for sanctioning will be accepted only on the application form provided by the District. Application form is available in the Finance Office.

9. Completed applications for sanctioning will be submitted to the District before April 30, and notification of sanctioning status will be given by June 15.

10. Any group eligible for sanctioning that does not present an application for sanctioning is automatically in the School Activity Fund and may not maintain an account outside that Fund.

11. Any student achievement program, parent/guardian-teacher association, or organization that is organized for the benefit of the students that is not within the School Activity Fund or has not been sanctioned will not be allowed to use school facilities or students for fund-raising activities nor be allowed to contribute to the support of any District activity.

The Board of Education has the discretion to sanction or decline to sanction any group or organization, and the decision of the Board of Education is final and non-appealable. 

The Board of Education may, at any time, request the records maintained by the group or organization. 

The Board of Education may, at any time it believes it is in the best interest of the District to do so, withdraw sanctioning, and the decision of the Board of Education is final and non-appealable.

Revised by the Board of Education March 1997

Revised May 2010

Revised May 2017