Guide Strong Tobacco-Free Schools Policy Communication

Overview

Clear and consistent communication helps ensure that students, staff, families, and the broader community understand what your school district’s Tobacco-Free School (TFS) policy includes, how it is enforced, and why a nicotine-free environment supports student health and academic success.

Schools should have a formal communication plan in place for sharing their Tobacco-Free Schools (TFS) policy, including the health, academic, and behavioral reasons behind it, how the policy is enforced, and how quitting and support resources are shared.

It should also outline:

Key TFS policy messaging.

Target audience.

Communication Tactics.

Timelines.

Roles and responsibilities.

Assess Your School's Communication Plan

A strong communication plan helps schools effectively communicate and increases stakeholders understanding of TFS policies, keep tasks organized, clarify accountability, and ensure goals and timelines stay on track. It also allows schools to assess which communication strategies are effective and where adjustments may be needed.

A strong TFS policy communication plan should include:

Clear and consistent messaging, including:

What is your TFS policy? Why does it matter? Which quitting and support resources will be promoted?

Multiple communication channels

How and where will the policy be communicated (e.g., signage, school websites, social media, written materials, announcements at school events)?

Policy enforcement clarity

How are expectations for enforcing supportive, non-punitive consequence for policy infractions communicated?

School Community Involvement

How will students, staff, and families be engaged in understanding, reinforcing, and modeling the policy?

Ongoing promotion

How often will messaging be shared to ensure continued awareness and understanding?

Tools You Can Use

Tobacco-Free Schools District-Level Policy Communication & School Support Checklist: Evaluates district systems that support policy awareness and consistency.
Tobacco-Free Schools School-Level Policy Communication & Signage Checklist: Assesses visibility and clarity of school-level TFS messaging.

Communication Strategies: Throughout the School

Use multiple, consistent communication strategies across campus to reach students, staff, families, and visitors.

1. Display Prominent Signage

On-campus visibility

Post clear, easy-to-read signage across school campus entrances, athletic fields, parking lots, and high-traffic areas—to communicate that the school is tobacco-free.

Positive messaging

Complement “No Tobacco” signage with signs promoting healthy alternatives and resources like My Life My Quit and IMATTER Colorado.

2. Use Digital Communication

Website and social media presence

Ensure the TFS policy is easy to find on school and district websites, including frequently visited pages (e.g., athletics or activities). Use social media platforms frequented by students, families and staff to reinforce prevention and intervention messages throughout the year.

Link to support resources

Provide direct links to prevention education tools, quitting resources, and mental health supports so students and families can easily access help.

3. Create Event-Based Communication

Verbal announcements

Reinforce the TFS policy at school-sponsored events, such as athletic games, assemblies, concerts, and performances, through brief pre-event announcements.

Printed materials

Include policy reminders in event programs, flyers, and other materials distributed at school gatherings.

Tools You Can Use

Download a free Tobacco-Free Schools sign.

Printing Assistance: For help with printing costs, local public health agencies can contact their Tobacco Prevention Project Officer.

Sample Announcement Language: Customize the announcements to fit your community or school event.

Student Communication Strategies

Use communication strategies that are developmentally appropriate, student-centered, and integrated into everyday school life.

1. Embed the Policy in Student Onboarding

Student handbooks and orientation materials

Include the full tobacco-free policy and a list of support resources in all handbooks and orientation packets.

Verbal policy review

Dedicate time during student orientation sessions, especially for new and transfer students, to explain the policy, expectations, and available supports in clear and student-friendly language.

2. Leverage Peer Influence and Student Voice

Peer-led education

Involve students in co-creating announcements, posters, social media content, or short videos that explain the policy, its purpose, and available resources in their own words.

Youth leadership opportunities

Partner with student councils, clubs, or peer leadership groups to help promote and reinforce tobacco-free norms on campus.

3. Make the Policy Part of Daily School Life

Morning announcements and micro-lessons

Integrate brief, engaging reminders about the policy, prevention messages, and support resources into the regular school day (e.g., during morning announcements or homeroom/advisory periods).

Student clubs and school events

Reinforce policy messaging and resource awareness through student-led clubs and at school events such as dances, assemblies, and athletic activities.

Parent/Caregiver Communication Strategies

Communicate clearly, consistently, and proactively with parents and caregivers.

1. Set the Tone Early in the School Year

Welcome Communications

Send a beginning-of-year letter or email that:

Clearly outlines the tobacco-free policy

Describes the health, academic, and behavioral reasons behind it

Outlines expectations and consequences for infractions.

Invites families to partner in reinforcing the policy at home.

Includes conversation starters and tips for talking with youth about vaping and nicotine use.

2. Integrate the Policy into Key Documents

Student-school agreements and handbooks

Embed the tobacco-free policy and related expectations into student and parent handbooks, contracts, and agreements, especially those connected to athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities, and require parent or caregiver acknowledgment.

3. Use Existing Parent Engagement Opportunities

Parent meetings and gatherings

Share and discuss the tobacco-free policy during PTA/PTO meetings, family nights, and other parent-focused events to encourage dialogue and alignment.

Leverage national awareness events

Use events such as the Great American Smokeout to:

Reinforce TFS policy

Share family-friendly prevention and cessation resources through newsletters, emails, and school websites

Encourage parents and caregivers to initiate health-focused conversations at home

Staff Communication Strategies

Clearly communicate expectations, provide ongoing reminders, and empower staff to model and reinforce a tobacco-free culture.

1. Set Expectations from the Start

Job applications and interviews

Clearly state the district’s tobacco-free policy in all job postings and discuss expectations with candidates during the interview process.

New staff orientation

Review the tobacco-free policy, available support resources (such as the Colorado Quitline), and staff roles in consistent policy enforcement during onboarding for all new hires.

2. Offer Routine Reminders

Staff meetings

Reinforce key policy details, staff responsibilities, and consistent, supportive enforcement practices during routine staff meetings across departments.

3. Use Multiple Communication Channels

Staff newsletters and emails

Post information on staff intranet sites, include reminders in worksite wellness committee updates, and address the policy during insurance, benefits, or wellness meetings.

Staff lounges and offices

Display printed copies of the policy and related resources in visible staff-only areas such as lounges and break rooms.

4. Empower Internal Champions

Peer leadership and modeling

Engage respected staff members as internal champions to model policy adherence, share reminders, encourage consistent enforcement, and help foster a supportive, tobacco-free school culture.

Vendor Communication Strategies

Communicate expectations to vendors, contractors, and external groups that operate on or use school property.

Revise Vendor Contracts

Tobacco-free clauses

Include a clear tobacco- and nicotine-free clause in all vendor and contractor agreements to ensure alignment with district policy while on school property or at school-sponsored events.

Update Facility Use Agreements

External group requirements

Require all external organizations using school facilities to comply with the tobacco-free policy, with expectations clearly outlined in facility use and rental agreements.

Learn More:

Article: Student and Staff Knowledge of School Tobacco Policies and Student E-Cigarette Use, California 2022–2023

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