Group of people gathered outdoors on a trail near trees with a view of water and sky in the background.

Teacher Gift Policy

East School is required to follow the policy for Gifts to Public School Teachers and Staff as set forth by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission:

  • A teacher may accept a personal gift, or several gifts during the school year, from public school students and/or their parents and guardians, with an aggregated value of up to $150. (i.e. $75 at the Holidays/$75 at end of the year or $50/$100 whatever Room Parents decide).

  • The personal teacher gift should be identified only as being from the class and the identity of the givers and the individual amounts contributed should not be disclosed.

  • Handled this way, the teacher is not required to disclose this gift to the state ethics commission.

  • A teacher may accept a personal gift from persons who did not participate in the group gift but unlike the group gift, this individual gift (if it has monetary value) must be disclosed.

  • On TOP of a personal gift, a teacher may accept a classroom gift or items for the classroom for which there is no dollar limit. The teacher accepts this classroom gift with the understanding that these items become property of the school district.

  • If families are interested in giving individual gifts, students should be encouraged to offer alternatives to material items. Surveys of teachers have repeatedly reported that after the class gift cards, the most appreciated gift is the hand written thank-you note.


Hingham families have been generous and thoughtful in past years in their attempts to recognize the efforts of the school staff. We provide these guidelines to assist the teachers and staff in their compliance with the state conflict of interest law (Mass General Laws Ch 268A).