Section 2554-A. Powers of boards of education to ban fraternities, sororities and other secret societies  


Latest version.
  • 1. In its discretion, the  board  of education of each school district, may adopt rules and regulations to
      abolish and/or prohibit any fraternity, sorority or other secret society
      in any secondary school under its jurisdiction.
        2.  Prior  to the adoption and promulgation of a rule or regulation in
      accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this section by any
      board of education of a school district, the board of education  of  the
      school  district  must  find  that  the  fraternity,  sorority or secret
      society group has by virtue  of  its  activities  caused  or  created  a
      disruption  of  or  interference  with  the  academic  processes  of any
      secondary school within  its  jurisdiction  or  caused  or  created  any
      interference  with  or  disruption  of  the  academic  progress  of  any
      individual student or  students  in  any  secondary  school  within  its
      jurisdiction.
        3.  For  the purposes of this chapter a fraternity, sorority or secret
      society shall mean any organization composed wholly or in part of pupils
      enrolled in public secondary schools which exists or seeks to perpetuate
      itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in  such
      schools  on  the  decision  of  the membership rather than upon the free
      choice of any pupil in such school but shall not be construed to include
      organizations institutionally sponsored by agencies of  public  welfare,
      the  Boy  Scouts  of  America,  the Girl Scouts of America, the Campfire
      Girls,  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  Young  Women's  Christian
      Association,  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  Young  Women's  Hebrew
      Association, Catholic Youth Organization, Kiwanis International, Hi-Y or
      other similar organizations without limitation to the foregoing.
        4. Upon  and  after  the  adoption  and  promulgation  of  a  rule  or
      regulation  in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this
      section by the board of education of  any  such  school  district,  such
      board  of  education  may in any secondary school under its jurisdiction
      discipline any pupil who shall promise to join, or shall become a member
      of, or shall remain a member of, or shall solicit other persons to  join
      any such fraternity, sorority or secret society.