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3015 -SELECTION AND RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
I. Media coordinators, teachers and other school system employees responsible for selecting textbooks, library books, and other instructional materials should do so with the aim of implementing, enriching and supporting the school system's educational program. The following objectives should be considered:
1. To provide materials to enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the pupils served.
2. To provide materials to stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards.
3. To provide a background of information to enable students to make intelligent judgments and to sharpen their critical evaluation skills.
4. To provide materials representing various points of view so that young citizens may develop critical analysis skills.
5. To provide material representative of the many religious, ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to our American heritage.
6. To place principle above personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of material of the highest quality.
II. Media Advisory Committee
Each principal shall form a school Media Advisory Committee. This committee shall consist of teachers, media coordinators, other professionals, students in middle and high schools) and parent representatives. The function of the media committee is to determine needs and to assist the principal and media coordinator in making selection decisions for materials to be placed in the school library.
Final decisions for purchase rest with the professional media personnel with the approval of the school principal.
III. Media Selection Process
In selecting instructional materials, the school Media Advisory Committee will:
1. Evaluate the existing collection;
2. Assess curricular needs;
3. Examine materials;
4. Consult reputable, professionally prepared selection aids;
5. Make a recommendation to the principal advising purchases of new instructional material, applying the objectives listed in Section I of this policy.; and
6. Provide a list upon request (subject to deletions and additions) of supplementary materials to be used in classrooms.
IV. Challenged Materials 1. Parents/guardians may bring complaints about instructional materials to the school principal. Such complaints should be evaluated in light of the Board's support of principles of intellectual freedom inherent in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and expressed in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association and the Students' Right to Read of the National Council of Teachers of English.
2. Filing a Complaint
If the complaint cannot be resolved informally between the parent/guardian, the principal, and the teacher, the following formal steps will be taken:
a. The parent/guardian will be sent a letter by the principal that acknowledges the complaint and provides the complainant a copy of this policy and a formal complaint form, the "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Material."
b. To initiate a complaint, the parent/guardian must return the completed "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Material" to the principal. 3. Procedure for School Personnel
a. Upon receiving a completed "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Material" form, the principal shall inform the Superintendent that a formal complaint has been received.
b. If the parent/guardian seeks to excuse only his/her child from use of the challenged material, the Superintendent or designee shall make a decision based on consideration of the basis of the parent's/guardian's objection, the availability of curriculum alternatives, and the degree to which the requested change would significantly disrupt the educational program or place a substantial burden on instructional staff. The Superintendent's decision may be appealed to the Board of Education.
c. If the parent/guardian seeks to remove the challenged material from school use, the Superintendent or designee shall form an ad hoc Media Challenge Committee to review the complaint. The committee shall include at least one teacher, one media specialist from outside the school from which the complaint arose, and other persons, if appropriate.
d. The principal shall keep challenged material in use during the review period and no material shall be withdrawn or made unavailable to students whose parents/guardians do not object as a result of any such request unless:
(1) The Superintendent or designee makes a preliminary determination that the material is obscene as defined by the United States Supreme Court or clearly inappropriate given the age, grade level and maturity of the student audience; or
(2) The principal determines that the material is likely to cause serious disruption of the educational process and alternative means of avoiding disruption would not be effective.
e. The Media Challenge Committee will take the following steps after receiving the notice of a challenge:
(1) Read, view or listen to the material in its entirety;
(2) Check general acceptance of the material by reading reviews and consulting recommended lists;
(3) Record and consider any statement or explanation requested of the complainant;
(4) Determine whether the material is appropriate for school use; and
(5) Provide a statement of its finding in writing.f. The principal will notify the parent/guardian in writing of the Media Challenge Committee's decision.
V. Appeal to Board of Education 1. If the parent/guardian is not satisfied with the committee's decision, he/she may appeal in writing to the Board of Education through the Superintendent within 15 days.
2. Upon receiving such an appeal, the Superintendent will notify the Board of Education Chairman who will form a committee of the Board to review the challenged material and the recommendation of the Media Challenge Committee. The committee will then make a recommendation to the full Board in official session. The Board will determine whether to continue using the challenged material based upon the considerations outlined in this policy, the statement of findings by the Media Challenge Committee, and other legitimate educational factors.
Adopted Effective: October 28, 1992
Revised: March 10, 1993
Revised Effective: July 1, 1999
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