SUBJECT:  SOLICITATION OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN  (#3270)

            Direct solicitation of charitable donations from children in the District schools on school property during regular school hours shall not be permitted.  It will be a violation of District policy to ask District school children directly to contribute money or goods for the benefit of a charity during the hours in which District students are compelled to be on school premises.

            However, this policy does not prevent the following types of fund raising activities:

a)  Fund raising activities which take place off school premises, or outside of regular school hours during before-school or after-school extracurricular periods;

b)  Arms-length transactions, where the purchaser receives a consideration for his/her donation.  For example, the sale of goods or tickets for concerts or social events, where the proceeds go to charity, shall not be prohibited as the purchaser will receive consideration - the concert or social event - for the funds expended;

c)  Indirect forms of charitable solicitation on school premises that do not involve coercion, such as placing a bin or collection box in a hallway or other common area for the donation of food, clothing, other goods or money.  However, collection of charitable contributions of food, clothing, other goods or funds from students in the classroom or homeroom is prohibited.