Model School Tobacco Policy
You may not know exactly what to say when writing a new Tobacco-Free policy for your school. This model policy will give you a starting point and help you in the development of your own policy.
You can print out this policy, or download a copy of the policy in Microsoft Word format so that you'll have a 'clean' copy, which you can modify if need be, to create your own policy. To download the policy, either click on the link above, or click on it with your right mouse button and choose the "save as" option to save it to your hard drive.
A Model 100% Tobacco-Free School Policy
For North Carolina School Districts
The (name of school district) School Board recognizes that the use of tobacco products is a health, safety, and environmental hazard for students, employees, visitors, and school facilities. The Board acknowledges that adult employees and visitors serve as role models for students and that the Board’s acceptance of any use of tobacco products implies school approval, if not endorsement, of such use. In addition, the Board recognizes that it has an obligation to promote positive role models in schools and promote a healthy learning and working environment, free from unwanted smoke, for the students, employees, and visitors to the school campus. Finally, the board recognizes that it has a legal authority and obligation pursuant to G.S. 115C-407 Policy prohibiting Tobacco Use in School Buildings as well as the federal Pro-Children's Act, Title X of Public Law 103-227 and the No Child Left Behind Act.
Tobacco Use Prohibited
No student, staff member or school visitor is permitted to use any tobacco product at any time, including non-school hours:
- in any building, facility, or vehicle owned, leased, rented or chartered by the (Name of School District) Schools;
- on any school grounds and property – including athletic fields and parking lots – owned leased, rented or chartered by (Name of School District) Schools; or
- at any school-sponsored or school-related event on-campus or off-campus.
In addition, no student is permitted to possess a tobacco product.
The policy may permit tobacco products to be included in instructional or research activities in public school buildings if the activity is conducted or supervised by the faculty member overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not include smoking, chewing, or otherwise ingesting the tobacco product.
Definition of School Grounds and Property
School grounds and property means and includes land and school facilities used for the provision of academic, extracurricular programs and administration by the district. School grounds include playgrounds and recreational places. School grounds include that portion of land, school facilities and other facilities owned by municipalities, private entities or other individuals during those times when the school district has exclusive use of a portion of such land, school facilities, or other facilities for the provision of extracurricular programs.
Definition of Tobacco Products and Tobacco Use
For the purposes of this policy, “tobacco product” is defined to include cigarettes, cigars, blunts, bidis, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and any other items containing or reasonably resembling tobacco or tobacco products. “Tobacco use” includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any other use of tobacco products.
Signage
Signs declaring all school grounds and property as tobacco-free will be posted in all school buildings and vehicles. Signs will be posted at all vehicular entrances to school grounds and building entrances, and in all indoor and outdoor athletic facilities.
Enforcement for Students
Consequences for students engaging in the prohibited behavior will be provided in accordance with the school’s behavior management plan. Students who violate the school districts tobacco use policy will be referred to the guidance counselor, school nurse, or other health or counseling services for all offenses for screening, information, counseling and referral. All student violators will have access to an Alternative to Suspension (ATS) program. The ATS program will provide up-to-date information on the many consequences of tobacco use, offer techniques that students can use to stop tobacco use at school, and provide referrals to local youth tobacco cessation programs. Parents/guardians will be notified of all violations and actions taken by the school. School may also use community service as part of the consequences. Suspension will only be used after a student has several prior violations or refused to participate in other outlined measures.
Enforcement for Staff and Visitors
Consequences for employees who violate the tobacco use policy will be in accordance with personnel policies and may include verbal warning, written reprimand, or termination. Visitors using tobacco products will be asked to refrain while on school property or leave the premises. If they refuse, law enforcement officers will be contacted to escort the person off the premises or cite the person for trespassing in case the person refuses to leave the school property.
Opportunities for Cessation
The administration will identify and offer programs and services for students who are ready to quit tobacco use. The administration will identify and offer programs and services for school staff who use tobacco products to support them in complying with the policy that prohibits tobacco use on school grounds and during school-related events and assisting those staff who are ready to quit smoking or other tobacco use.
Prevention Education
The administration will identify programs or opportunities for students to gain a greater understanding of the health hazards of tobacco use and the impact of tobacco use as it relates to providing a safe, orderly, clean and inviting school environment.
Procedures for Implementation
The policy will go into effect (date policy will go into effect). The administration will develop a plan for communicating the policy that will include information in student and employee handbooks, announcements at school-sponsored or school-related events, and appropriate signage (as mentioned above) in buildings and around campus. Other methods will be identified for notifying students, employees and parents about this policy. An enforcement plan, which identifies consequences for students, staff and visitors who violate the policy, will be created and communicated to all students, staff and parents.