The Board of Trustees uses a comprehensive process to adopt district instructional materials that is based on selection criteria established by law and Board policy and includes opportunities for the involvement of parents/guardians and community members. Complaints concerning the content or use of instructional materials, including textbooks, supplementary instructional materials, library materials, or other instructional materials and equipment, shall be properly and fairly considered using established complaint procedures.
(cf. 6161.1 - Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials)
(cf. 6161.11 - Supplementary Instructional Materials)
(cf. 6163.1 - Library Media Centers)
Parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss any concerns regarding instructional materials with their child's teacher and/or the school principal. If the situation remains unresolved, a complaint may be filed using the process specified in the administrative regulation.
The district shall accept complaints concerning instructional materials only from staff, district residents, or the parents/guardians of children enrolled in a district school.
When deliberating upon challenged materials, the Superintendent and/or review committee shall consider the educational philosophy of the district, the professional opinions of teachers of the subject and of other competent authorities, reviews of the materials by reputable bodies, the teacher's stated objectives in using the materials, community standards, and the objections of the complainant.
Complainants are encouraged to accept the Superintendent's or review committee's decision. However, if the complainant finds that decision unsatisfactory, he/she may appeal the decision to the Board.
(cf. 9322 - Agenda/Meeting Materials)
The district's decision shall be based on educational suitability of the materials and the criteria established in Board policy and administrative regulation.
(cf. 6144 - Controversial Issues)
(cf. 9000 - Role of the Board)
(cf. 9005 - Governance Standards)
When any challenged instructional material is reviewed by the district, it shall not be subject to further reconsideration for 12 months, unless the Superintendent determines that reconsideration is warranted.
Complaints related to sufficiency of textbooks or instructional materials shall be resolved pursuant to the district's Williams uniform complaint procedure at AR 1312.4.
(cf. 1312.1 - Complaints Concerning District Employees)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
(cf. 1312.4 - Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
18111 Exclusion of books by Board of Trustees
35010 Control of district; prescription and enforcement of rules
35186 Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures
44805 Enforcement of course of studies; use of textbooks, rules and regulations
51501 Subject matter reflecting on race, color, etc.
60000-60005 Instructional materials, legislative intent
60040-60048 Instructional requirements and materials
60119 Public hearing on sufficiency of materials
60200-60206 Elementary school materials
60226 Requirements for publishers and manufacturers
60400-60411 High school textbooks
60510-60511 Donation of sale of obsolete instructional materials
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM ADVISORIES
1002.90 Selection of Instructional Materials, CIL: 90/91-02
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Standards for Evaluation of Instructional Materials with Respect to Social Content, 1986 edition, revised 2001
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education, Curriculum and Instruction: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci
Policy HART-RANSOM UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: January 14, 2016 Modesto, California