Classroom Rate Publications
Updated March 2001
PS-278 (707.10.4.2)
This Customer Support Ruling
discusses the factors used to determine if a publication qualifies
for classroom rates.
Under the provisions of Domestic
Mail Manual (DMM) 707.10.4.2, the Periodicals Classroom rates
apply only to educational, religious, or scientific publications
designed for use in school classrooms or religious instruction
classes. Indicators of Classroom rate publications include:
-
Copies of the
publication are purchased in bulk for distribution in the
classroom.
-
Copies are
purchased through schools.
-
The
publication is used in classrooms by teachers and students. A
teacher’s syllabus may be published in addition to the student’s
copy.
-
Publications
are marketed to teachers and through schools. The promotional
material illustrates and informs how the publication is designed
for use in classrooms.
-
Entries in
periodical directories support that the publication is produced
for use in classrooms (e.g., Ulrich’s International
Periodicals Directory, Gale Directory of Publications, The
Working Press of the Nation).
-
Mailed copies
are sent to the school’s address (as opposed to copies sent to
individuals at their residences).
-
Publications
have lower subscription rates than other commercial publications
and carry little or no advertising.
-
Terms for
subscriptions to the publication correspond to the academic
calendar of schools.
The strongest factor in determining
whether a publication qualifies for the Classroom rate is evidence
that the publication is specifically designed for use in classrooms
and copies are sold and distributed to students. Thus, evidence
showing that all subscriptions are purchased by or through schools
for use in classrooms would be a strong indicator that the
publication qualifies for the Classroom rate.
On the other hand, publications
purchased for use in classrooms and also sold to individual
subscribers outside the classroom, would not necessarily qualify for
the Classroom rate. The publisher must establish the publication is
specifically designed for use in classrooms. This could be
substantiated by providing both of the following:
-
Promotional materials that
outline design features or editorial policy which demonstrates
the publication is specifically designed for use in classrooms,
through entries in periodical directories as explained
previously, or by other information.
-
Additional evidence showing that
the primary distribution (more than 50%) of the publication is
to subscribers for use in classrooms (e.g., copies are purchased
in bulk through schools for distribution in the classroom).
Publications with less than 50%
distribution to subscribers for use in classrooms and which fail to
provide evidence that they are specifically designed for use in
classrooms would not qualify for the Periodicals Classroom rates.
(Signed) Sherry Suggs Manager
Mailing Standards
United States Postal Service Washington DC 20260-3436 |