Instructional Materials Selection

Transcription

1 CROOK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 1. Selection of Instructional Materials Instructional Materials Selection A. Responsibility for Selection of Materials (1) The responsibility for the selection of instructional materials is delegated to the superintendent. For the purposes of this regulation the term instructional materials includes print and non-print materials, including digital content of software in a format such as electronic and Internet or web-based materials or media (not equipment), whether considered classroom materials or media materials. (2) The responsibility for coordinating the distribution of instructional materials to classes will rest with the superintendent. Instructional materials includes any organized system which constitutes the major instructional vehicle for a given course of study or any major part of the course. B. Procedure for Selection (1) Library (Media) a. Recommendations for library purchases will be solicited from staff and students. b. Each year library specialist will provide a proposed list of purchases to the building principal for review. The list shall include title, author and recommended grade level. c. Gift materials shall be judged by the district s instructional materials objectives and selection criteria and shall be accepted or rejected by those criteria. d. Selection is an ongoing process which will include the removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of lost and worn materials still of educational value. (2) Supplemental Materials Code: IIA-AR Adopted: 05/11/09 Revised: 03/29/10 Revised: 10/10/11 Revised: 10/21/13 (a) (b) (c) (d) The individual building teachers are the professional personnel involved in the selection procedure of supplemental classroom reading materials. The principal or his/her designee, acting as an agent of the Board, approves all purchases. In purchasing these materials, staff under the supervision of the principal will evaluate existing collections and curriculum needs. Staff will consult reputable, professionally prepared selection aids and other appropriate sources. Staff will complete a Request For Using Supplementary Curriculum and submit it to the principal for approval. Staff will ensure that supplemental reading material will be posted on class syllabi. Gift materials shall be judged by the district s instructional materials objectives and selection criteria and shall be accepted or rejected by those criteria. Selection is an ongoing process which will include the removal of materials no longer appropriate and the replacement of lost and worn materials still of educational value. (3) Core Curriculum Materials POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 1-13

2 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) Instructional materials committees will be appointed by the administration at the time that adoption areas are determined. Appropriate subject area and instruction level will be included in each committee. The selection criteria (IIA: Instruction Materials Selection) for materials shall be followed by the committees. The district appointed selection committee will review state approved materials. The district appointed selection committee members along with building teams will review selections and make recommendations. The Board-appointed review committee will review materials. The committee will consist of at least 5 community members selected from school volunteer lists. Chosen materials will be available for public review. The district appointed selection committee under the direction of the district curriculum coordinator shall present its recommendation(s) to the superintendent. The superintendent shall submit the committee s recommendation(s) to the Board. 2. Communication of Materials Used in the Classroom A. A list of core and supplemental curriculum will be available in the curriculum office for review. B. To the extent possible, a list of core and supplemental instructional materials used in each building will be made available to the public, Board, and parents/guardians. C. A core and supplemental instructional materials list with a brief explanation of content will be provided to the parents/guardians after the beginning of each semester by the school principal or designee. This list will include a notification of student and parent rights to request an alternative assignment. 3. Objections to Instructional Materials Any resident of the district may raise objection to instructional materials used in the district s educational program despite the fact that the individuals selecting such materials were duly qualified to make the selection and followed the proper procedure and observed the criteria for selecting such material. The first step in expressing objection to materials is consultation with the classroom teacher or library staff and providing a written complaint. The district official or staff member initially receiving a complaint shall explain to the complainant the district s selection procedure, criteria and qualifications of those persons selecting the material. A classroom teacher receiving a complaint regarding instructional materials shall try to resolve the issue informally through the discussion of the original assignment or the opportunity for an alternative assignment. The materials shall remain in use unless removed through the procedure in section 4. F. (2) of this regulation. The teacher or library staff receiving the initial complaint shall advise the principal of the initial contact within 24 hours, 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 and sent to the superintendent s office. In the event that the person making an objection to material is not satisfied with the initial explanation or an alternative assignment, the person raising the questions will meet with a building administrator who will provide a Request for Reconsideration form. 4. Request for Reconsideration A. Any resident or employee of the district may formally challenge the appropriateness of instructional materials used in the district s educational program. This procedure is to provide a forum for those persons in the schools and the community who are not directly involved in the selection process. POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 2-13

3 B. All school offices will keep on hand and make available Reconsideration Request Forms. All formal objections to instructional materials must be made on this form. C. The Reconsideration Request Form shall be signed by the complainant and filed with the superintendent. D. Generally, access to challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process. In unusual circumstances the material may be removed temporarily by following the provisions of Section 4. f. (3) of this regulation. E. Within 30 business days of the filing of the form, the superintendent or person so designated by the superintendent shall appoint a Reconsideration Committee and file the material in question with the Reconsideration Committee. The committee shall recommend disposition to the superintendent. F. The Reconsideration Committee: (1) The reconsideration committee shall be made up of eight (8) voting members: (a) Two teachers appointed by the superintendent; (b) One library representative appointed by the superintendent; (c) One member of the administrative staff appointed by the superintendent; (d) Four members from the community appointed by the Board; (e) One non-voting facilitator appointed by the superintendent. (2) Special meetings may be called by the superintendent to consider temporary removal of materials in unusual circumstances. Temporary removal shall require a majority vote of the committee. (3) The committee shall receive all Reconsideration Request Forms from the superintendent or person designated by the superintendent. (4) The procedure for the first meeting following receipt of a Reconsideration Request Form is as follows: (a) (b) (c) (d) Distribute copies of written request form; Give complainant or a group spokesman as well as the teacher or librarian an opportunity for reasonable conversation and elaboration on the request form; Distribute copies of challenged material; Assign each committee member to read material entirely. (5) The committee may request that individuals with special knowledge be present to provide information. (6) The complainant shall be kept informed by the superintendent concerning the status of the complaint (7) The committee shall make its decision within three weeks after its appointment. The committee s final decision will be: (a) (b) (c) To retain without restriction; To retain with appropriate restriction; or To not retain. (8) The final decision for recommendation shall be determined by majority vote of the committee. The committee s written recommendation and its justification shall be forwarded to the superintendent for decision. A copy of the committee s recommendation and justification as well as the superintendent s decision will then be forwarded to the complainant. POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 3-13

4 (9) Requests to reconsider materials which have previously been before the committee must receive approval of a majority of the committee members before the materials will again be considered. Every Reconsideration Request Form shall be acted upon by the committee. (10) If any party involved in the complaint is not satisfied with the decision, a request may be made that the matter be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, in accordance with Board agenda rules. (11) The decision of the Board shall be final, and the Board shall give reason for its decision. POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 4-13

5 Request for Using Supplementary Curriculum Prior to using supplementary print materials, teachers must have approval with building administration. Supplementary materials include all reading materials not adopted by the school district during the district s core curriculum adoption process. Before discussing the appropriateness of supplementary reading materials, the teacher must research the materials and answer specific questions. When the research is completed, the building administrator will review the request or ask a building level committee to review the material. The following is a list of some top websites for book reviews: Questions: Title Author Publisher 1. Have you (teacher) read the entire book? Yes No 2. What is the reading level of the material? 3. What is the publisher s age recommendation for this material? 4. What, if any, are the social or religious issues in the material? 5. Is there violence or scariness in the materials? Describe it. 6. Is there sexuality in the materials? Describe it. 7. Do the materials contain language that some may see as inappropriateness? Describe it. 8. If anything, what do parents need to know about the material? Teacher Recommendation [ ] Teach without restriction [ ] Teach with restriction (state the restriction, i.e. letter home to parents) Signature Date Administrator Recommendation [ ] Use without restriction [ ] Use with restriction (state the restriction, i.e. letter home to parent) [ ] Do not use Signature Date Committee Recommendation (if requested) [ ] Use without restriction [ ] Use with restriction (state the restriction, i.e. letter home to parent) [ ] Do not use Signature of Chair Date POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 5-13

6 Reconsideration Request Form for Reevaluation of Instructional Material (Submit to superintendent) Type of Material (Circle) Textbook Novel Digital Media Magazine Web Site Other Author/Producer Title Publisher Date of pub. Request initiated by Telephone Address City Zip Person making the request represents: self group or organization Name of Group or Organization: 1. To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific, cite pages, frames, etc.) 2. In your opinion what harmful effects upon students might result from use of this material? 3. Do you perceive any instructional value in the use of this material? 4. Did you review the entire piece? If not, what sections did you review? 5. Should the opinion of any additional experts in the field be considered? Yes No Please list suggestions if any: 6. What would you like the school to do about this material? Do not use it with my student Withdraw it from use with all students Send it back to the selector or selectors for evaluation Other (Explain) 7. In place of this item would you care to recommend other material which you consider to be of equal or superior quality for the purpose intended? 8. Do you wish to make an oral presentation to the Review Committee? Yes No If yes, please call the superintendent s office at. Signature: Date: POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 6-13

7 TEXTBOOK EVALUATION FORM SCHOOL Type of Material (Circle) Textbook Novel Digital Media Magazine Web Site Other Author Author s Background and Qualifications Publisher Subject Field Copyright Date List Price Secondary Course Title or Elementary Grade Level Yes No 1. Is the author s viewpoint consistent with the Board of Education s Statement of Educational Philosophy? 2. Is the author s viewpoint consistent with the teaching and learning objectives for the subject? 3. Does the book substantially meet these 10 criteria for selection? a. Is the material needed by the school, department or course? b. Is it among the best of its kind available for the use intended? c. Does it help to implement the course of study? d. Are its contents, vocabulary and format generally suitable for the students? e. Does it have literary merit and interest appeal? f. Have any available reviews been examined? g. Have staff members read and examined the material and recommended the title for purchase? h. Has the area specialist or department chair reviewed the material? i. Does it contribute to a balanced presentation of the subject matter? j. Does it fairly portray an individual s national origin, religion, disability, age, marital status or sex? POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 7-13

8 4. Appropriateness of material for student learning: a. Interesting and challenging at level of student comprehension b. Correct and up-to-date c. Logical organization of content d. Pertinence of pictures and graphic presentations e. Discussion topics, questions, student activities f. Student references and bibliographies g. Tables of content, indexes, glossaries, appendixes, annotations h. Summaries i. Suggested student activities j. Student manuals and workbooks k. Student self-tests 5. Appropriateness of material for instruction: Excellent Good Unsatisfactory None a. Teacher s guide or manual b. Teacher references and bibliography c. Suggested supplementary materials and aids d. Suggested instructional methods e. Separately published achievement tests f. Separately published diagnostic tests g. Provision for teaching different ability groups h. Content generally free of material that may be considered offensive according to accepted community standards Excellent Good Unsatisfactory None POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 8-13

9 6. Physical characteristics: Excellent Good Unsatisfactory None a. Cover design and use of color throughout book b. Style and size of type c. Layout of pages d. Clear pictures and graphic illustrations e. Binding, quality of paper and size of book Approved Department Chair/Curriculum Committee Chair Date: POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 9-13

10 Recommendation for Adoption Title Author Publisher Price Type of Material (Circle) Textbook Novel Digital Media Magazine Web Site Other Reason for Recommendation: Requester: Other Comments: Approved by Curriculum Director Date POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 10-13

11 Reconsideration Committee Responses Material: Complainant: Date of Complaint: Date of Response: 1. To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific, cite pages, frames, etc.) Committee Comment Committee Recommendation 2. In your opinion what harmful effects upon students might result from use of this material? Committee Comment Committee Recommendation 3. Do you perceive any instructional value in the use of this material? Committee Comment Committee Recommendation 4. Did you review the entire piece? If not, what sections did you review? Committee Comment Committee Recommendation 5. What would you like the school to do about this material? Committee Comment Do not use it with my student Withdraw it from use with all students Send it back to the selector or selectors for evaluation Other (Explain) Committee Recommendation POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 11-13

12 6. In place of this item would you care to recommend other material which you consider to be of equal or superior quality for the purpose intended? Committee Comment Committee Recommendation Committee Recommendation to the Superintendent: By a vote of the Request for Reconsideration Committee recommends: Comment: To retain without restriction; To retain with appropriate restriction; or To not retain. Signature of Committee Facilitator POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 12-13

13 History of Complaint Type of Material (Circle) Textbook Novel Digital Media Magazine Web Site Other Author/Producer: Title: Reason for Complaint: Complainant: Initial Contact person: Date: Summary of Informal Resolution: Building Administrator: Date: Summary of Informal Resolution: Request for Consideration Committee Recommendation Date: To retain without restriction; To retain with appropriate restriction; or To not retain. Superintendent or Board Action: Date: POLICY # IIA-AR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 13-13