Academic Freedom

Code No.: 606.7
ACADEMIC FREEDOM
The board believes students should have an opportunity to reach their own decisions and beliefs about
conflicting points of view. Academic freedom is the opportunity of licensed employees and students to
study, investigate, present, interpret, and discuss facts and ideas relevant to the subject matter of the
classroom and appropriate to and in good taste with the maturity and intellectual and emotional
capacities of the students.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to refrain from advocating partisan causes, sectarian religious
views, or biased positions in the classroom or through teaching methods. Teachers are not discouraged
from expressing personal opinions as long as students are aware it is a personal opinion and students are
allowed to reach their own conclusions independently.
It is the responsibility of the principal to ensure academic freedom is allowed but not abused in the
classroom.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3, .6 (2013).
Approved
Reviewed 11/15/99
Reviewed 2/16/04
Reviewed 1/5/09
Revised 3/7/16