Policy No. 4650 Educational Video/DVD/Electronic Media

Educational Video/DVD/Electronic Media 

Video/DVD/Electronic Media Usage Policy 

1. Instructional Use – The primary use of videos/DVDs and other electronic media is for instructional purposes. By law, any program that does not include “public performance rights” must comply with the “fair use” provision of copyright law. This requires that programs are: 
   1. Used with students in “face-to-face” instruction by the classroom teacher
   2. Shown only in segments. unless prior principal approval has been given to display an entire work. 
   3. Shown in a normal classroom instructional setting (not in large group settings such as in an auditorium or gymnasium) 
   4. Not shown for reward, entertainment, fundraising, or the charging of admission 

Video/DVD Ratings and Other Electronic Media Allowances 

1. K-3 may only show “G” rated programs; 4-6 may show "P.G." rated programs with approval of the parent, principal and designated official at the district office (this approval must be written). 
2. Middle Schools 
   1. may show “G” rated programs 
   2. may show “P.G." rated programs with approval of the parent, and principal (this approval must be written). 
   3. may not show programs with more restrictive rating 
3. High Schools 
   1. may show “G” rated programs 
   2. may show “P.G.” rate programs with approval of the parent and principal
   3. may show “P.G.-13” rated programs with approval of the, parent, principal, and a designated official at the district office (this must be written) 
   4. may not show any program with more restrictive ratings (e.g. R, NC-17,X).

D. Segments of video materials that serve a legitimate instructional purpose and that are determined by the educator and school administration to have sensitive content or that are rated by the motion picture association as PG or PG-13, or unrated materials and television programs with a TV-PG or TV-14 rating should be carefully considered before use in a classroom setting. Prior parental consent must be obtained before showing such video/electronic material. Students whose parents opt out of viewing these programs, must be given alternative learning opportunities that allow them to receive the same benefit as other students. 

E. Video and/or film materials that are rated NC-17, R, or X by the motion picture association, and television programming that is rated TV-14 or TV-M by the television industry should not be shown at any time. Educators who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

Program Sources 

1. All videos/DVDs and other electronic media legally purchased by the school media centers may be used for instructional purposes.. However, such material must comply with the ratings allowances outlined above and appropriate permissions should be obtained. 
2. Commercial Television programs may be used for instructional purposes ONCE by individual teachers in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction. A program may be used up to 10 school days after the broadcast. 
3. Commercially rented programs or programs from online streaming providers that carry individual restrictions may not be shown. For example, Netflix and Amazon Prime have end-user license agreements that prohibit the subscribers from using their program in instructional settings unless explicitly listed on their site for use in such settings. 
4. Privately owned or commercially rented programs may be shown, provided they are original copies and they follow the usage criteria in Section I. 

Effective Video/DVD and Other Electronic Media Utilization 

1. All programs must be previewed by the teacher or library media specialist before use. 
2. Intended instructional objectives must be written and filed with the building principal (these may be part of the approved class syllabus). 
3. Sound instructional principles that maximize instructional time should always be employed (e.g., show only relevant clips, inform students of the instructional purpose, stop and start the program to integrate other instructional activities, use pre/post questions, generate discussions, compare media or perspective). 

Legal References: 

Synopsis: 

Approved by the Board of Education: July 1, 1989. Last Revised September 20, 2018. Prior Revised Dates: 01/2002, 08/2012, 11/2012, 09/2018

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