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Selection of Instructional Materials

BOARD POLICY

Educational Program

Series 600

Code 603.3

Selection of Materials for Instruction and                                                     

Fine Arts Presentations

The district is committed to maintaining a positive learning environment, and encouraging intellectual freedom by providing a wide range of educationally appropriate materials for both instruction and fine arts presentations.  Materials will reflect diversity of appeal and different points of view.  Further, the district is committed to providing a process for review of those materials alleged to be inappropriate.

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION

Educational Program

Series 600

            Code 603.3

Selection of Materials for Instruction and                                                  

Fine Arts Presentation

The responsibility for the selection of instructional materials and materials used in fine arts presentations is delegated to the certificated staff employed by the school district. While the selection process  involves the gathering of necessary and appropriate input from involved staff, the responsibility for monitoring and/or coordinating the selection process and making recommendation for purchase rests with the building administrator. For the purpose of this regulation materials for instruction and fine arts presentations includes materials used to implement, support and enrich the curriculum.

The criteria to be used in selection of materials are:

1. Materials shall support and be consistent with the educational goals and objectives of the district.

2. Materials shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation.

3. Materials shall be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, ability level, emotional and social development of the students for whom the materials are selected.

4. Materials shall have aesthetic, literary, or social value.

5. Materials shall be by competent and qualified authors and producers.

6. Selection of web sites and links shall receive the same careful thought and care as given to selection of other instructional materials. Teacher-developed web sites and links for use by students must be located on district servers and linked from within the building webpage. District staff shall not refer students to personally developed web sites located on non-district servers.

7. Materials shall be chosen where appropriate to help students gain an awareness of and to foster respect for diversity. Materials shall be designed to motivate students and staff to examine their own attitudes and behaviors and to comprehend their own duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges as participating citizens in a pluralistic, nonsexist, democratic society.  Materials which portray the important role religion has had in shaping every age and culture shall be included with emphasis on objectivity and balance.

8. Materials shall be selected for their strengths rather than rejected for their weaknesses.

9. Biased or slanted materials may be provided to meet specific curricular objectives.

10. The selection of materials on controversial issues will be directed toward maintaining a balanced collection representing various views.

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Procedure for Selection

1. In selecting materials the school media specialist or the teacher will evaluate the existing collection, and the curricular needs and will consult reputable, professionally prepared selection aids and other appropriate sources.

2. Recommendations for purchase will be solicited from faculty and students.

3. Gift material shall be judged by the same criteria as purchased materials and shall be accepted or rejected by those criteria.

4. Selection is an ongoing process which shall include the removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of lost and worn materials still of educational value.

5. The same thought and care given to selection of materials will be exercised in the ongoing review of materials so that the collection will remain useful to its clientele.

6. The principal shall review the selection policy and procedures with the staff annually.

Objection

Any resident or employee of the school district may raise an objection to instructional and fine arts materials used in the district's educational program on the basis of its educational appropriateness.  The procedure is outlined as follows:    

1. The staff member receiving a complaint regarding instructional materials shall try to resolve the issue informally. The materials shall remain in use. The staff member initially receiving the complaint shall:

a. explain to the complainant the school's selection policy, procedure, and criteria.

b. explain the particular place the material occupies in the educational program, its intended educational use, or refer the complainant to someone who can identify and explain use of the material.

2. In the event that the objection to material is not satisfied informally, the person raising the question should be referred to someone designated by the principal to handle such complaints or to the school media specialist for that attendance center. If the complainant desires to file a formal complaint, the person will be given a Reconsideration Request Form.

3. The individual receiving the initial complaint shall advise the school principal of the initial contact no later than the end of the following school day, whether or not the complainant has apparently been satisfied by the initial contact. A written record of the contact shall be maintained by the principal.

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Request for Reconsideration

Each school and the central administration office will keep on hand and make available Reconsideration Request Forms. All formal objections to instructional materials shall be made on this form.

The Reconsideration Request Form shall be signed by the complainant and filed with the Superintendent or designee.

Within five (5) school days from receipt of the "Request for Reconsideration" in the superintendent's office, the Reconsideration Committee will be convened to deal with the issues raised. The following will constitute this Committee:

a. Superintendent's designee

b. One building administrator designated annually by the Superintendent

c. The library media coordinator

d. One teacher designated annually by ICEA

e. One school library media specialist, designated annually by the Superintendent

f. Two representatives designated annually by the Equity Advisory Committee  

g. Two representatives designated annually by the Districtwide Parent Organization

h. One high school student, designated annually within an three-year rotation among the high schools

The superintendent's designee will chair the Committee and be a nonvoting member.  A secretary will be appointed to keep minutes of record to be used in the development of the written decision.

The Committee shall first meet each year before the end of September. At the first meeting, the Committee will be instructed on the selection policy and process and issues related to intellectual freedom. Subsequent meetings will be called as needed.

The Committee shall receive all Reconsideration Request Forms from the Superintendent or person designated by the Superintendent.

The procedure for the first meeting following receipt of a Reconsideration Request form is as follows:

1. Distribute copies of written request form.

2. Give complainant an opportunity to talk about and expand on the request form.

3. Distribute reputable, professionally prepared reviews of the material when available.

4. Distribute copies of challenged material as available.

The Committee shall consider testimony from the complainant, professionally prepared reviews of the materials when available, and input from others with special knowledge as may be requested by the Committee.

Within twenty (20) school days from receipt of the "Request for Reconsideration", the Committee shall arrive at a decision by consensus and forward  that written decision to  the Superintendent, to the complainant, and to the appropriate attendance centers.   The Committee’s final decision will be :

a. to not remove the challenged materials,

b. to remove all or part of the challenged materials, or

c. to limit the use of the challenged materials.

Committee members directly associated with the selection, use, or challenge of the materials shall be excused from the Committee during the deliberation on such materials. The Superintendent may appoint a temporary replacement for the excused Committee member, but such replacement shall be of the same general qualifications of that person excused.

If not satisfied with the decision, any person may request that the matter be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board.

Any person dissatisfied with the decision of the board may appeal to the State Board of Education pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 290.

Form: Adm. Reg. 603.3 (Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials)

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This page was last updated on May 10, 2011.