The policy of this school district related to selection of learning materials states that any member of the school district community may formally challenge instructional materials and library used in the district's education program.  This policy allows those persons in the school and the community who are not directly involved in the selection of materials to make their own opinions known.  The task of the reconsideration committee is to make an informed recommendation on the challenge.  The meetings of the committee may be subject to the open meetings law.

The most critical component of the reconsideration process is the establishment and maintenance of the committee's credibility in the community.  For this purpose, the committee is composed of a combination of community members and licensed employees as detailed in 605.3R1.  The community should not, therefore, infer that the committee is biased or is obligated to uphold prior professional decisions.  For this same reason, a community member will be selected to chair the committee.

The reconsideration process, the task of this committee, is just one part of the selection continuum.  Material is purchased to meet a need.  It is reviewed and examined, if possible, prior to purchase.  It is periodically re-evaluated through updating, discarding, or re-examination.  The committee must be ready to acknowledge that an error in selection may have been made despite this process.  Librarians and school employees regularly read great numbers of reviews in the selection process, and occasional errors are possible.

In reconsidering challenged materials, the role of the committee, and particularly the chairperson, is to produce a climate for meaningful discussion of disparate views.  The committee should begin by finding items of agreement, keeping in mind that the larger the group participating, the greater the amount of information available and, therefore, the greater the number of possible approaches to the problem.

The committee may, at its discretion, hear an oral presentation from the complainant to the committee to expand and elaborate on the complaint.  The committee may listen to the complainant, to those with special knowledge, and any other interested persons.  In these discussions, the committee should be aware of relevant social pressures which are affecting the situation.  Individuals who may try to dominate or impose a decision must not be allowed to do so.  Minority viewpoints expressed by groups or individuals must be heard, and observers must be made to feel welcome.  It is important that the committee create a calm, nonvolatile environment in which to deal with a potentially volatile situation.  To this end, the complainant will be kept informed of the progress of the complaint.

The committee will listen to the views of all interested persons before making recommendations.  In deliberating its recommendation, the committee should remember that the school system must be responsive to the needs, tastes, and opinions of the community it serves.  Therefore, the committee must distinguish between broad community sentiment and attempts to impose personal standards.  The deliberations should concentrate on the appropriateness of the material.  The question to be answered by the committee is, "Is the material appropriate for its designated audience at this time?"

The committee's final recommendation will be (1) to remove the challenged material from the total school environment, (2) to take no removal action, or (3) to agree on a limitation of the educational use of the materials.

The committee chairperson will instruct the secretary to convey the committee's recommendation to the office of the superintendent.  The recommendation should detail the rationale on which it was based.  A letter will be sent to the complainant outlining the outcome

 

Request for re-evaluation of printed or multimedia material to be submitted to the superintendent.

 

REVIEW INITIATED BY:                                                                                                                         DATE:  ____________________________

Name:  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address:  __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State  ________________________________________  Zip Code  __________________  Telephone  ____________________________

School(s) in which item is used _________________________________________________________________________________________

Relationship to school (parent, student, citizen, etc.)  ________________________________________________________________________

BOOK OR OTHER PRINTED MATERIAL IF APPLICABLE:

Author:  ____________________________________  Hardcover:  ___________  Paperback:  ___________ Other:  ___________ 

Title:  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Publisher (if known)  __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Date of Publication  ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

MULTIMEDIA MATERIAL IF APPLICABLE:

Title:  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Publisher (if known)  __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Type of material (filmstrip, online resource, motion picture, etc.)  _____________________________________________________________________________

PERSON MAKING THE REQUEST REPRESENTS: (circle one)

                      Self                                                                                          Group or Organization

                     Name of Group  ___________________________________________________________________

                     Address of Group  _________________________________________________________________

 

1. What brought this item to your attention?
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
2. To what in the item do you object?  (please be specific; cite pages, or frames, etc.)
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
3. In your opinion, what harmful effects upon students might result from use of this item?
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
4. Do you perceive any instructional value in the use of this item?
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
5. Did you review the entire item?  If not, what sections did you review?
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
6. Should the opinion of any additional experts in the field be considered?
        __________  Yes          __________  No

   If yes, please list suggestions:

   
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    
7. To replace this item, do you 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          (a)  Please contact the Superintendent

                                              (b)  Please be prepared at this time to indicate the approximate length of time your presentation will require.  Although this is no guarantee
                                                     that you'll be allowed to present to the committee, or that you will get your requested amount of time.
                                                                                                                                      ________________ Minutes
        __________  No

 

___________________________           ______________________________________________________________________
Dated                                                           Signature

 

Dear:

We recognize your concern about the use of                                                      in our school district.  The school district has developed procedures for selection of instructional materials but realizes that not everyone will agree with every selection made.

To help you understand the selection process, we are sending copies of the school district's:

      1.   Instructional goals and objectives,

      2.   Instructional and Library Materials Selection policy statement, and

      3.   Procedure for reconsideration of instructional and library materials.

If you are still concerned after you review this material, please complete the Reconsideration Request Form and return it to me.  You may be assured of prompt attention to your request.  If I have not heard from you within one week, we will assume you no longer wish to file a formal complaint.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Request for re-evaluation of printed or multimedia material to be submitted to the superintendent.

REVIEW INITIATED BY:                                                   DATE: _________________________

Name _______________________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________

City/State ______________________________ Zip Code ___________ Telephone __________________

Name of affected Student _________________________________________________________________

Requester's Relationship to Student (must be parent/legal guardian _________________________________

 

BOOK OR OTHER PRINTED MATERIAL TO PROHIBIT STUDENT FROM CHECKING OUT:

Author ______________________  Hardcover ____   Paperback ______   Other ______

Title ____________________________________________________________________

Publisher (if know) _________________________________________________________

Date of Publication _________________________________________________________

 

MULTIMEDIA MATERIAL TO PROHIBIT STUDENT FROM CHECKING OUT:

Title _____________________________________________________________________

Producer (if know) __________________________________________________________

Type of material (filmstrip, motion picture, etc.) ____________________________________

 

__________________________                  _______________________________________
Dated                                                            Signature

A.         A member of the school district community may raise an objection to instructional materials used in the school district's education program. While the individuals recommending the selection of such material were duly qualified to make the selection and followed the proper procedure and observed the criteria for selecting such material; the district must be ready to acknowledge that an error in selection may have been made despite this process.  School employees regularly read great numbers of reviews in the selection process, and occasional errors are possible.

1.    The complainant will address the complaint at the lowest organizational level of licensed staff.  Often this will be the classroom teacher.

2.     The school official or employee receiving a complaint regarding instructional or library materials will try to resolve the issue at the lowest organizational level.  The materials generally will remain in use pending the outcome of the reconsideration procedure.

        a.    The school official or employee initially receiving a complaint will explain to the individual the district's selection procedure, criteria to be met by the instructional materials, and qualifications of those persons selecting the material.
        b.    The school official or employee initially receiving a complaint will explain to the individual the role of the objected material in the education program, its intended educational purpose, and additional information regarding its use.  In the alternative, the employee may refer the individual to the teacher-librarian who can identify and explain the use of the material.
        c.    The school official or employee receiving the initial complaint will direct the complainant to complete the Request for Reconsideration of Instructional and Library Materials Form, and notify the building level principal of receipt of the complaint within two school days after the reconsideration form is received.  Schools officials will offer to assist the complainant in completing the form, but if a complainant refuses to complete the form, the complaint will be deemed invalid and no further action taken.

B.    Request for Reconsideration

    1.    A member of the school district community may formally challenge instructional and library
           materials on the basis of appropriateness used in the school district's education program.  This
           procedure is for the purpose of considering the opinions of those persons in the school district and
           the community who are not directly involved in the selection process.
    
    2.    Each attendance center and the school district's central administrative office will keep on hand and
           make available Request for Reconsideration of Instructional and Library Materials Forms.  

    3.    The individual will state the specific reason the instructional or library material is being challenged.
           The Request for Reconsideration of Instructional and Library Materials Form is signed by the
           individual and filed with the building-level principal.  

    4.    The building-level principal will promptly file the objection with the Superintendent for re-
           evaluation.

    5.       The Superintendent will convene a reconsideration committee within two weeks of receipt of the
              Reconsideration Form.

    6.       The committee will make their recommendation to the Superintendent within five school days of
              meeting.

    7.       The Superintendent will issue a decision related to the Reconsideration Request Form within 5
              school days of receipt of the committee’s recommendation.  A copy of the Superintendent’s
             decision will be provided to the complainant.

    8.       An appeal of the Superintendent’s decision may be filed with the board secretary within five days
             of the Superintendent’s decision.  The board will determine whether to hear the appeal at the next
             regular meeting or within 30 days of the Superintendent’s decision, whichever is later.  If the board
             elects to hear the appeal, the board will act to affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the
             Superintendent.  The board’s decision will be communicated to the complainant. The board’s
            decision will be deemed final.

    9.       Generally, access to challenged instructional material will not be restricted during the
              reconsideration process.  However, in unusual circumstances, the instructional material may be
              removed temporarily by following the provisions of Section B.10.d. of this rule.

   10.     The Reconsideration Committee
                  a.       The reconsideration committee is made up of six members.
                              (1)    One licensed employee designated annually, as needed, by the superintendent.
                              (2)    One teacher-librarian designated annually by the superintendent.
                              (3)    One member of the administrative team designated annually by the superintendent.
                              (4)    Three members of the community appointed annually, as needed, by the board.

                  b.       The committee will select their chairperson and secretary.

                  c.       The committee will meet at the request of the superintendent.

                  d.       Special meetings may be called by the board to consider temporary removal of materials
                            in unusual circumstances.  A recommendation for temporary removal will require a two-
                            thirds vote of the committee.

                  e.       The committee may be subject to applicable open meetings and public records laws. 
                            Notice of the committee meeting is made public through appropriate communication
                            methods as required by law.

                  f.        The committee will receive the completed Reconsideration Request Form from the
                            superintendent.

                  g.       The committee will determine its agenda for the meeting which may include the
                            following:
                            (1)    Distribution of copies of the completed Reconsideration Request Form.
                            (2)    An opportunity for the individual or a group spokesperson to talk about or expand
                                    on the Reconsideration Request Form. 

                            (3)    Distribution of reputable, professionally prepared reviews of the challenged
                            instructional material if available.
                            (4)    Distribution of copies of the challenged instructional material as available.
       h.         The Committee will determine whether interested persons, including the individual
                   filing the challenge, may have the opportunity to share their views.  The committee may
                   request that individuals with special knowledge be present to give information to the
                   committee. 

       i.    The committee's final recommendation may be to take no removal action, to remove
                        the challenged material from the school environment, or to limit the educational use
                        of the challenged material.  The sole criterion for the final recommendation is the
                        appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use.  The written final
                        recommendation and its justification are forwarded to the superintendent, the
                       complainant and the appropriate attendance centers.
        
                  j.    The individual filing the challenge is kept informed by the Superintendent of the
                        status of the reconsideration request throughout the reconsideration process.  The
                        individual filing the challenge and known interested parties are given appropriate
                        notice of meetings as required by law.

                  k.    Following the superintendent’s decision with respect to the committee's
                         recommendation, the individual may appeal the decision to the board for review.  

                   l.    A recommendation to sustain a challenge will not be interpreted as a judgment of
                         irresponsibility on the part of the individuals involved in the original selection or use
                         of the material.

                  m.    Requests to reconsider materials which have previously been reconsidered by the
                          committee must receive approval of two-thirds of the committee members before
                          the materials will again be reconsidered.  

                   n.    If necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the committee, the committee may
                          consolidate related challenges, or decline to hear multiple challenges to the same
                          materials.  Generally, the committee will not hear subsequent challenges to the same
                          materials within the same school year.