I can only say that this news item should be filed under “bizarre”: The Prince George’s County Board of Education is considering a proposal that says the District owns the rights to all student work created at school AND all work created by teachers used at school, even if it was created during the teacher’s own time at home. Here’s what the proposal says:

“Works created by employees and/or students specifically for use by the Prince George’s County Public Schools or a specific school or department within PGCPS, are properties of the Board of Education even if created on the employee’s or student’s time and with the use of their materials,” the policy reads. “Further, works created during school/work hours, with the use of school system materials, and within the scope of an employee’s position or student’s classroom work assignment(s) are the properties of the Board of Education.”

Read all about it in The Washington Post at Prince George’s considers copyright policy that takes ownership of students’ work.