Policies
Middletown Public Schools No. 1326A
PROCEDURES OF STUDENT FUNDRAISING AND PARTICIPATION
PROCEDURES OF STUDENT FUNDRAISING AND PARTICIPATION
The purpose of this policy is to protect the rights of students pursuant to Rhode Island General Law, Section 16-38-6 and related laws which prohibit the involvement of students in commercial activities. By design, such laws address the potential harm of subjecting students to influential advertisement campaigns or presenting an expectation that a student must participate in some financial or personal way in an activity that does not directly relate to the district instructional goals.
Fundraising is deemed appropriate when it supports school goals and organizations, enhances classroom and school activities, or engages students in community service. To that end, this policy provides an authorized student group the latitude which is necessary for it to raise money to support the activities which it sponsors. However, no individual, group or organization for whatever purpose shall solicit, exact or receive from any pupil in any school any contribution or gift of money or article of value except under the conditions within this policy.
Given the interest in supporting school organizations and the educational value of engaging students in community service, the following guidelines should direct any fund raising event authorized in the school district.
∙ The request for fundraising must be approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee prior to the proposed activity.
∙ The request must be approved by the school administrator prior to submission to the Superintendent.
∙ Fundraising events must not interfere with the instructional day as defined by the Regulations of the R.I. Board of Regents.
∙ Fundraising activities must be consistent with the District Wellness Policy (Middletown Nutrition & Physical Activity Policy).
∙ The fundraising activities must:
✔ support the organizational goals for the requesting group and/or
✔ demonstrate educational value for the instructional program, and/or
✔ engage students in appropriate, school-authorized service-learning.
∙ Student participation must be voluntary.
∙ Students are prohibited from selling door-to-door.
∙ No prizes or incentives shall be offered to increase competition among students.
∙ All approved fundraising must be for the purpose(s) of raising funds for the Middletown Public Schools or charitable organizations authorized by law.
∙ All raffles will conform to RI State Police Rules and Regulations Governing Games of Chance (Raffles).
∙ No students shall sell raffle tickets which include alcoholic beverages or tobacco in the prize. ∙ All fundraising activities will conform to RIGL, Section 16-38-6.
∙ The authorized school group is responsible for all recordkeeping, collection of monies, planning and implementation. Records must be made available upon request.
∙ No organization or individual shall enter into a contract without the prior authorization of the Superintendent/designee.
Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the following sales:
* School lunches * School photographs
* School publications * Accident Insurance
* Class rings * Books/media as incentives for reading * Tickets to school-sponsored events * Tickets to interscholastic sporting events * Products developed in technical classes * School Department authorized sales
If anything contained within this policy is deemed to be in conflict with State or Federal law, the applicable State or Federal law, as the case may be, shall prevail, provided however, that the remainder of this policy shall remain in full force and effect.
1st Reading – May 19, 2011 (Replaces Policy #1326)
2nd Reading – June 16, 2011
Revised – November 16, 2017
Revised - August 21, 2025
3 Year Review Due - August 2028