Certificated Handbook - Chula Vista Elementary School District

Use of Rented Movies & Home Record Cable/Broadcast Programs
The side use of rented movies or home recorded cable and broadcast programming has created a potential
area of concern. The use of non-approved videotapes in the classroom opens many avenues for parental
complaints or possible lawsuits.
Since the law of recorded television programming or rental movies could result in embarrassment of pupils,
complaints of parents, or possible lawsuits, the following guidelines are suggested.
1. Instructional material not presently owned by the district should be approved by the school site
administrator. Every effort should be made to protect students from the use of inappropriate
instructional material.
2. The utmost care should be taken in use of instructional material. Consideration should be given to
whether the materials enhance the curriculum, and whether the employee is knowledgeable about the
materials and their potential effect on students.
3. Students must not be exposed to PG13, PG, R, or X-rated films or video recordings.
4. Fair use guidelines allow teachers to record broadcast television programs that are relevant to teaching
objectives. The program may be used once within 10 consecutive school days of recording date and
then erased.
5. Rented videos cannot be shown for recreation or entertainment. Rented videos can only be used as
part of face-to-face teaching activities.
6. Staff cannot use recorded programs that have been aired on subscription/pay channels (i.e., HBO,
ShowTime, Disney, etc) unless authorization has been received in writing from the subscribing agency.
7. Staff needs to conform to the United States copyright laws and guidelines and district policies regarding
the use of copyrighted materials.
8. Staff needs to conform to present policies, education codes, and federal guidelines when utilizing family
life materials.
9. Teachers may use purchased or rented videotapes (e.g., feature films) as part of a systematic course
of instruction. Such use shall be face-to-face instruction and must take place in a classroom or similar
area devoted to instruction. Only lawfully made videotapes may be used. Teachers cannot use rented
or purchased videotapes where a written contract specifically prohibits such use in a classroom or faceto-face
teaching situation.
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