Religious, Political, and Advocacy Student Clubs (Non-Curriculum Related)

Religious, political, and advocacy student clubs have the same rights and responsibilities as non-curriculum related clubs with the exception of those associated with the faculty advisor. As per federal law and APS Board policy, religious, political, and advocacy clubs will have monitors.

A non-curriculum related club is one which is not tied to the educational function of the school. That includes clubs that are not associated with a course or activity offered or about to be offered for credit at the school. Such organizations will have faculty advisors. Activities such as chess clubs are non-curriculum related.

Establishment of A Non-Curriculum Related Club or Organization

Students wishing to form a club or organization must submit a petition signed by at least 10 students of the school expressing interest in participating in the club and receive approval of intent to organize from the principal or designee.
After receiving approval to organize, they must place on file in the administration/activities office a copy of their constitution. The proposed constitution must be filed within 30 days of their first organizational meeting. The constitution will be approved only if it has been initiated and developed by students at the school and if it is in compliance with APS and individual school policies and procedures.
Membership and all activities of the club must be open to all students without regard to race, gender, religion, or national origin.
Each student club will have a faculty advisor, with the exception of religious, political and advocacy clubs, which will have monitors. The faculty advisor or monitor will be appointed by the principal after consultation with the student group, provided that no appointment will be made without the consent of the faculty member involved. In the rare case that no faculty member is willing to accept appointment as advisor or monitor, the lack of such appointment will be cause to deny recognition to an organization.
The principal may rescind the charter of any club or organization that does not operate within the guidelines below or any other regulations or laws governing their activities.
Students wishing to form a club or organization must submit a petition signed by at least 10 students of the school expressing interest in participating in the club and receive approval of intent to organize from the principal or designee.
After receiving approval to organize, they must place on file in the administration/activities office a copy of their constitution. The proposed constitution must be filed within 30 days of their first organizational meeting. The constitution will be approved only if it has been initiated and developed by students at the school and if it is in compliance with APS and individual school policies and procedures.
Membership and all activities of the club must be open to all students without regard to race, gender, religion, or national origin.
Each student club will have a faculty advisor, with the exception of religious, political and advocacy clubs, which will have monitors. The faculty advisor or monitor will be appointed by the principal after consultation with the student group, provided that no appointment will be made without the consent of the faculty member involved. In the rare case that no faculty member is willing to accept appointment as advisor or monitor, the lack of such appointment will be cause to deny recognition to an organization.
The principal may rescind the charter of any club or organization that does not operate within the guidelines below or any other regulations or laws governing their activities.

Operation of a Non-Curriculum Related Club or Organization

All clubs must comply with applicable state and federal laws, APS Board Policies, and administrative regulations and guidelines. Organizations governed by the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) must also comply with their guidelines.
Clubs may have formal and informal induction ceremonies for members, but hazing is prohibited.
All school clubs/organization, with the exception of religious, political, and advocacy clubs must be advised by an APS faculty/staff employee, assigned to the school, who will be supervised by the principal or designee. Club faculty advisors will provide leadership and assistance to the club using the following guidelines:
1. the club faculty advisor will assure that all district and other relevant requirements for the club establishment and operations are met.
2. the club faculty advisor and principal or designee must approve in advance all club activities, including all fundraising, club announcements, and printed materials.
3. the club faculty advisor must follow APS purchasing procedures for all financial transactions and will be fiscally responsible for the accounts.
4. the club faculty advisor must be present at all club meetings and club activities.
5. the club faculty advisor must schedule in advance the use of school facilities.
6. the club faculty advisor must ensure that all APS procedures are followed for any student activity trips.
All activities of the club must be conducted during non-instructional time. "Non-instructional time" means time set aside by the school district before actual classroom instruction begins, after actual classroom instruction ends or during time built into the schedule for club activities.
The school may deny use of facilities to students on the basis that the activity or meeting interferes with the instructional program.
As required of all visitors to the school, visitors to club meetings or activities from out of the school must report to the principal’s office.
All clubs must comply with applicable state and federal laws, APS Board Policies, and administrative regulations and guidelines. Organizations governed by the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) must also comply with their guidelines.
Clubs may have formal and informal induction ceremonies for members, but hazing is prohibited.
All school clubs/organization, with the exception of religious, political, and advocacy clubs must be advised by an APS faculty/staff employee, assigned to the school, who will be supervised by the principal or designee. Club faculty advisors will provide leadership and assistance to the club using the following guidelines:
1. the club faculty advisor will assure that all district and other relevant requirements for the club establishment and operations are met.
2. the club faculty advisor and principal or designee must approve in advance all club activities, including all fund raising, club announcements, and printed materials.
3. the club faculty advisor must follow APS purchasing procedures for all financial transactions and will be fiscally responsible for the accounts.
4. the club faculty advisor must be present at all club meetings and club activities.
5. the club faculty advisor must schedule in advance the use of school facilities.
6. the club faculty advisor must ensure that all APS procedures are followed for any student activity trips.
All activities of the club must be conducted during non-instructional time. "Non-instructional time" means time set aside by the school district before actual classroom instruction begins, after actual classroom instruction ends or during time built into the schedule for club activities.
The school may deny use of facilities to students on the basis that the activity or meeting interferes with the instructional program.
As required of all visitors to the school, visitors to club meetings or activities from out of the school must report to the principal’s office.

Establishment of a Student Religious, Political or Advocacy Club

When a group of students desires to form a religious, political, or advocacy club/organization they may do so as long as they meet the requirements outlined in section titled "Establishment of a Non-curriculum Related Club or Organization" of this directive and the initiative to form the club comes from students at the school. All sections of this directive, with the exception of Section C.1.-6. above apply to such clubs.

Operation of a Student Religious, Political, or Advocacy Club

In addition to the requirements outlined above in "Operation of a Non-Curriculum Related Club or Organization" above, the following will apply to student religious, political, and advocacy clubs/organizations.

All activities of the club, once formed, must be led by student members of the club.
The club may not be sponsored or devised by a teacher or any other employee of the Albuquerque Public Schools. A district employee assigned to the school and supervised by the principal or his/her designee will, however, be a monitor of the activities of the club using the following guidelines:
1. the primary purpose of the monitor is to be an observer of student activities and to safeguard the students and property of the Albuquerque Public Schools.
2. the monitor must not lead, participate in any activity, or establish the agenda of any religious club activity.
3. the monitor may not participate in any decisions related to the club, including fund raising activities. The monitor may, however, monitor the collection of funds raised in the club and deposit them with the school bookkeeper.
4. no public resources may be used for the operation of the club.
5. the monitor must be a district employee assigned to the location where the club is chartered.
6. the monitor must be present at all club meetings and club activities.
The club’s meetings may not be conducted or controlled by people from outside the school such as pastors, parents, or representatives of other outside groups. Such persons may attend student meetings from time to time, but not on a regular basis. As with all visitors to any APS school, they must report to the principal’s office before attending any club meeting or activity.
The club may not be advertised as a school-sponsored activity. All announcements and printed material must include a disclaimer of school sponsorship or endorsement.

Cross Ref.:

Board Policy I.04
Board Policy J.11
APS Student Behavior Handbook
The Equal Access Act and the Public Schools (booklet)
APS Extracurricular Activities Handbook
APS Activity Fund Manual

NSBA/NEPN Classification: JJK

Revised: May 1995
Revised: April 1996
Revised: May 1997