Guidelines for the Sanctioning of Student Achievement Programs, Policy No. 546

Printable PDF Board Policy 546

The board of education of the technology center believes that student achievement programs (curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular) can advance the educational goals of the board of education and confer a benefit to the students of the technology center. It is the purpose of this policy to establish guidelines for the sanctioning of student achievement programs that raise money and collect revenues for the benefit of students. Only those student achievement programs sanctioned in accordance with this policy will be exempt from the statutory controls over school activity funds found in the Oklahoma School Code, OKLA. STAT. tit. 70 § 5-129.

Sanctioning Procedure for Student Achievement Programs

The technology center may sanction student achievement programs that, according to the board's determination, advance the educational objectives of the technology center, are beneficial to students, and meet the requirements of this policy.

In determining whether a student achievement program should be sanctioned by the technology center, the board of education may consider: (1) if the program promotes activities that are an extension, expansion, or application of the technology center curriculum; (2) if the program assists student government or activities in carrying out special projects or responsibilities; (3) if the program assists student clubs, organizations, and other student groups in raising funds to promote activities approved by the board of education; and (4) supplemental information provided by the student achievement program in support of its application.

A written statement by a student achievement program to the board of education requesting sanctioning shall include the following: (1) a statement of its purpose, goals, organizational structure, and membership requirements; (2) a detailed statement of how the technology center and its students will benefit if the organization is sanctioned; (3) a statement of nondiscrimination consistent with all Oklahoma and federal laws; and (4) financial and performance audits, if any, which have been performed on such program by an independent accounting firm.

The written statement shall be submitted to the superintendent for preliminary review. After the program’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 nonappealable.

In order to maintain the status of a sanctioned program in accordance with this policy, the superintendent of schools or the board of education may require from any such program, on an annual basis, that financial and performance audits be performed on the program by an independent accounting firm. If required by the superintendent of schools or the board of education, the audits shall be submitted to the superintendent within ninety (90) days of the superintendent's request. The board of education shall review any audits submitted and determine if the program is entitled to continue to be sanctioned in accordance with this policy and if its funds should continue to be exempt from the statutory controls over student activity funds found in the Oklahoma School Code, OKLA. STAT. tit. 70 § 5-129.

The superintendent or the board of education may, at any time they deem warranted, request copies of any and all records maintained by the program. Copies of records must be promptly provided upon the request of the board or superintendent.

The board may, at its discretion, withdraw sanctioning at any time it deems it in the best interest of the technology center. Any decision of the board of education to withdraw sanctioning is final and non-appealable.

No program sanctioned under this policy shall publish or otherwise publicly indicate in any manner that it has been sanctioned by the technology center under this policy.

Reference: OKLA. STAT. tit. 70 § 5-129