Commercial Advertising in Schools
As school districts across the country grapple with slashed state education budgets, many are seeking alternative revenue streams. Lured by corporations eager to target an attractive youth market and ad agencies interested in profiting off of the commercialization of our education system, schools are increasingly allowing commercial advertising on their campuses.
These advertising programs often pitch unhealthy products to impressionable students, while promoting market rather than civic values.
Allowing advertising in schools promotes the exploitation of children and hinders schools from achieving their educational and child development mission. Corporate advertisers advance values that run counter to those schools stand for. Education should empower students to think critically and independently and to develop intellectual curiosity.
More Information
News Releases
Report: Cash-Strapped Schools Raise Only Minimal Revenues Through In-School Advertising
Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | February 2nd, 2012
Commercial Alert to Kentucky Senate: School Bus Advertising Is the Wrong Way to Raise Revenue
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | January 31st, 2012
Don't Allow Commercial Advertising in Schools, Commercial Alert Urges Rochester Public School Board
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | December 19th, 2011
Don't Allow Commercial Advertising in Schools, Commercial Alert Urges Flagler County Schools
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | December 7th, 2011
Commercial Alert Urges Lodi Unified School District not to Allow Commercial Advertising in Schools
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | December 5th, 2011
Don't Allow Commercial Advertising in Schools, Commercial Alert Urges Douglas County School System
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | November 17th, 2011
Don't Increase Commercial Advertising in Schools, Commercial Alert tells Miami-Dade School District
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | November 14th, 2011
Commercial Alert Urges Broward County School District not to Proceed with Advertising Plans
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | November 14th, 2011
Reject Dept. of Education’s School Advertising Plans, Commercial Alert tells Hawaii School Board
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | November 14th, 2011
Commercial Alert Urges Upper Moreland School Board to Reconsider Selling Naming Rights
Robert Weissman and Elizabeth Ben-Ishai | November 14th, 2011
Related Articles and Links
Related Articles
WCASD Discusses Advertising
Jake Speicher | West Chester Patch | February 22nd, 2012
District approves ads for school bus interior
Emily Thiel | WFMZ News | February 22nd, 2012
How Far Should School Facility Advertising Go in Brick?
Daniel Nee | Brick Patch | February 21st, 2012
New Guidelines Planned on School Vending Machines
RON NIXON | The New York Times | February 21st, 2012
West York schools might partner in advertising
WENDY L. GARMAN | The York Dispatch | February 20th, 2012
Athletic programs eye new options for ad space
Eric Stock | WJBC | February 20th, 2012
Seeking Money, Texas Schools Turn to Advertisements
Morgan Smith | The New York Times | February 17th, 2012
Jordan School District moves closer to selling school bus ads
Rosemary Winters | The Salt Lake Tribune | February 16th, 2012
Ads could help fund new artificial turf fields at Glenbrook schools
Jeff Danna | TribLocal | February 10th, 2012
Your High School's Football Field Just Became Ad Space
Bob Cook | Forbes | February 10th, 2012
Dearborn Schools Evaluate District Advertising Policy
Molly Tippen | Dearborn Patch | February 7th, 2012
Parents, educators at odds over school bus ads
Jason Hibbs | Local WPSD | February 7th, 2012
Manatee school board to explore corporate sponsors
CHRISTINE HAWES | Bradenton Herald | February 7th, 2012
New Missouri Bill Would Allow Advertisements On School Buses
CBS St. Louis | February 6th, 2012
DN Editorial: Your ad here?
Editorial | Philadelphia Daily News | February 6th, 2012
Is advertising coming to Philly school buses?
John Rawlins | 6abc.com | February 3rd, 2012
Lawmakers may approve advertising on school buses
WFTV | February 2nd, 2012
Advertising inches forward in Dearborn Schools
Katie Hetrick | Press & Guide | January 31st, 2012
Thumb down: Florida lawmakers should reject proposal to sell naming rights for school cafeterias, ad
Editorial | TCPalm | January 30th, 2012
Kaneland schools to consider stadium advertising banners as revenue source
Linda Girardi | The Beacon-News | January 30th, 2012
Missouri: Area District Considers School Bus Ads
KMBC | January 27th, 2012
School bus ads traveling through House
Dara Kam | The Palm Beach Post | January 26th, 2012
Phillipsburg School District to display corporate advertisements in schools
David Foster | Lehigh Valley Live | January 24th, 2012
South San latest to allow ads on buses
Francisco Vara-Orta | My SA | January 23rd, 2012
School Bus Ads Could Help Struggling Districts
abc RTV6 | January 23rd, 2012
New Trier to discuss naming rights, advertising
John P. Huston | Trib Local | January 19th, 2012
Ky. House OKs Advertising On School Buses
Associated Press | WLWT | January 19th, 2012
Plan for ads on Parkland buses stalls
Marion Callahan | The Parkland News | January 18th, 2012
Parkland looks to allow advertising on school buses
Marion Callahan | The Parkland News | January 17th, 2012
Superintendents are skeptical of proposed school bus ads bill
ANGIE HATTON | Murray Ledger & Times | January 17th, 2012
Get-rich schemes not schools' funding key
Editorial | Orlando Sentinel | January 17th, 2012
School bus ads talk alive again in Frankfort
Connie Leonard | Wave 3 | January 11th, 2012
Fla. school bus ad bill narrowly gets panel's nod
Associated Press | Miami Herald | January 9th, 2012
Selling naming rights to a public school cafeteria, a good idea?
Isabel Mascarenas | 10 News Tampa | January 9th, 2012
Florida Lawmakers Considering Allowing Advertisements on School Buses
Associated Press | December 23rd, 2011
Mendon, Upton look into ads to help budget woes Read more: Mendon, Upton look into ads to help budg
Morgan Rousseau | WickedLocal.com | December 21st, 2011
Palm Beach County schools may sell ads for revenue
Marc Freeman | Orlando Sentinel | December 19th, 2011
School board loosens the reins on advertising
Matthew Stolle | December 14th, 2011
Junk food may be returning to school vending machines in Seattle
Brian M. Rosenthal | Seattle Times | December 12th, 2011
School Board to Consider Corporate Advertising in Schools
Stan Zimmerman | Bradenton Patch | December 12th, 2011
Students sell bus ads to fund classroom technology
Jennifer Eastot | The Tennessean | December 9th, 2011
Task Force Presents Findings
Jake Speicher | West Chester Patch | December 8th, 2011
LCUSD board approves naming policy for school facilities based on financial gifts
Megan O’Neil | La Cañada Valley Sun | December 8th, 2011
Keep permanance, dignity with naming schools
Editorial | Austin Post-Bulletin | December 8th, 2011
Flagler weighs ad sales on district website, fields to recoup school funding
Annie Martin | The Dayton Beach News-Journal | December 7th, 2011
Flagler school officials may seek help from ad sales
ANNIE MARTIN | The Dayton Beach News-Journal | December 5th, 2011
South Redford district considers advertising partnership
Larry Ruehlen | Observer and Eccentric | December 5th, 2011
The NEW three "R's" - reading, writing and ad revenues
The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann | December 5th, 2011
Bill Allowing School Bus Advertising Will Be Reintroduced
Mark Schieldrop | Cranston Patch | December 2nd, 2011
Should schools, cities and landmarks be selling ad space?
Patt Morrison Show | KPCC | December 2nd, 2011
Brooklyn School Is Contest Finalist, But Experts Question Corporate Motives
Lindsey Christ | NY1 | December 2nd, 2011
Revere school board approves contract for website ads
Kathleen Folkerth | Akron.com | December 2nd, 2011
St. Mary’s high schools may allow advertising signs on athletic fields
JESSE YEATMAN | South Maryland News Online | December 1st, 2011
City Supports Selling Ads on School Buses
Mark Schieldrop | Cranston Patch | November 29th, 2011
Students Hawk Goods on Campus as Officials Weigh Their Response
Lacey Johnson | The Chronicle of Higher Education | November 29th, 2011
Ga. school district looks at ads to make money
DORIE TURNER | Atlanta Journal-Constitution | November 28th, 2011
Get Schooled: Should schools sell advertising space and sponsorships to raise money?
Maureen Downey | AJC Get Schooled Blog | November 28th, 2011
Consumer group criticizes Miami-Dade advertising plan for schools
Laura Isensee | Miami Herald | November 28th, 2011
Scoreboard gives Tigard High School a way to make money
Geoff Pursinger | The Tigard Times | November 17th, 2011
Is school districts giving property naming rights to businesses a new trend?
Jenni Joyce | CBS21 News | November 17th, 2011
Ads look good to Lodi Unified
Keith Reid | Recordnet.com | November 16th, 2011
Troy looks into alternative funding sources
ERIC HRIN | thedailyreview.com | November 16th, 2011
Advertisements on report cards? Unfortunately, yes
Valerie Strauss | Washington Post | November 15th, 2011
Australia: State schools aim at quick buck by slipping advertising leaflets to students
Kathleen Donaghey | The Sunday Mail | November 14th, 2011
District to place ad on report cards
Lori Obert | 9news | November 14th, 2011
Fate Of Scoreboard And Other Schools Ads Unclear
Ellyn Santiago | Stonington-Mystic Patch Bree Shirvell | November 14th, 2011
Douglas Schools Eyeing Advertising, Sponsorships
Ethan Fowler | Powder Springs-Lithia Springs Patch | November 9th, 2011
Schools could begin putting ads on their websites
MARK RANZENBERGER | Morning Sun | November 9th, 2011
Schools no place for product placement
Editorial | Honolulu Star Advertiser | November 8th, 2011
Corporate sponsorship in schools can harm students, experts say
Joanna Lin | California Watch | November 8th, 2011
Soda Bans in Schools Have Limited Impact
ANAHAD O'CONNOR | The New York Times | November 8th, 2011
The Educational Cost of Schoolhouse Commercialism
Alex Molnar, Faith Boninger, Joseph Fogarty | National Education Policy Center | November 7th, 2011
Superintendent's View: Funding Extracurricular Activities
Chris Belcher | Columbia Business Times | November 3rd, 2011
Cash-strapped schools look to fund arts programs through online competitions
DIANE D’AMICO | Press of Atlantic City | November 3rd, 2011
Ads in Rochester schools would be a disservice to our children
Paul Scott | Post Bulletin | November 2nd, 2011
Officials talking about in-school advertising
Jennifer Hetrick | readingeagle.com | November 2nd, 2011
Flagler officials ponder selling ads on school property
Annie Sims | The Dayton Beach News-Journal | November 1st, 2011
District Selling In-School and Online Ad Space
Deena DiBacco | Collingswood Patch | October 27th, 2011
Barbara Clark: Advertising isn't answer to budget woes
Barbara Clark | RGJ.com | October 26th, 2011
Tight budgets make advertising sales a more tempting option for schools
Helmut Schmidt | Inforum | October 24th, 2011
Utah school district first to sell bus ads
JOSH LOFTIN | The Washington Examiner | October 24th, 2011
Slippery slope
Editorial | Miami Herald | October 21st, 2011
Parkland Considers Placing Ads Inside School Buses
Mary Ellen Alu | Upper Macungie Patch | October 21st, 2011
Miami-Dade school district close to major advertising program
LAURA ISENSEE | Miami Herald | October 20th, 2011
MHS Store? Advertising? Rental Of Gyms? School Board Ponders Revenue Generation Ideas
Shelley Emling | Montclair Patch | October 18th, 2011
To balance budgets, schools allow ads
Dan Hardy | Philadelphia Inquirer | October 17th, 2011
Metro gyms, fields may see commercial ads
Julie Hubbard | The Tennessean | October 14th, 2011
Glenbard Dist. 87 considers ads on high school scoreboards
Christopher Placek | Daily Herald | October 13th, 2011
School Districts Across the Southeast US Region Look to School Sports Media, LLC to Save High School
MarketWatch | October 12th, 2011
Washoe schools vote to seek proposals for advertising revenue
Michael Martinez | RGJ.com | October 12th, 2011
Channel One Promotes "Not Safe For School" Pics in Schools
Josh Golin | Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood | October 8th, 2011
Your (Corporate) Name Goes Here: School Board Sell Outs are on the Rise
Elizabeth Ben-Ishai, Commercial Alert | Citizen Vox Blog | October 7th, 2011
Paid Advertisements Coming To School Web Sites
George Morse | EastBayRI.com | October 7th, 2011
Gloucester sells stadium’s name
Akilah Johnson | boston.com | October 3rd, 2011