News Release
August 20, 2004
Superintendent Spells Out Flag Displays In Schools
Given confusion this week around the proper display of United States and foreign flags in public schools, Superintendent Jerry Wartgow today issued the following guidelines to principals and assistant principals:
"Displays of the United States flag are governed by federal law. While covering the opening of the school year earlier this week, a local newspaper photograph showed an inadvertent violation of this law in one classroom. The violation was corrected immediately.
"Schools also must comply with federal and state laws that specifically describe and, in some cases, limit the display of foreign flags.
"Only the United States or Colorado flags (or the flags of state subsidiaries) may be displayed permanently in schools. Temporary flag displays that are instructional or historic in nature or student work products used as part of a lesson are permitted.
"DPS Board policy also says that each academic classroom should prominently display a United States flag when classes are in session. (DPS accepts donations of United States flags to ensure that we have enough for display in academic classrooms throughout the district.) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the blue field should be uppermost and to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed with the blue field to the left of the observer in the street."
For more information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.