Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools unveiled a draft student free speech policy at its May 12 board meeting. The board will vote on it this summer.
The policy would cover student speech at school, at school-sponsored events, or in school programs. It might also address online speech or social media posts that contain threats, bullying, harassment of other students, or violations of school security devices.
Board Vice Chair Dee Rankin chairs the policy committee. He told The Charlotte Observer that no single event sparked the policy’s creation, but last fall’s controversies revealed a gap in district rules…