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IJJ - SELECTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

Definitions:

Chapter 127 of the Maine Department of Education defines "instructional materials" to include “textbooks and other print materials, software and other electronic materials, and supplies and other materials to support implementation of the system of Learning Results.” "Library-media resources" include “books, written materials, online internet resource materials, multimedia materials and information technology that support the school unit's curriculum.”

Selection of Materials:

The Superintendent, in consultation with administrators and professional staff, is responsible for selecting appropriate educational material (including instructional materials and library-media resources). The Superintendent is responsible for developing any administrative procedures necessary to guide the review and selection of educational materials, and may delegate specific responsibilities to staff as the Superintendent deems appropriate. All administrative procedures must be consistent with this policy. The Superintendent is expected to keep the Board informed about educational materials purchased for the school unit.

Criteria for Selection:

Quality educational materials and resources are essential to student learning and supporting the school unit's educational goals and objectives.

Instructional and library media materials selected should:

  1. Support student achievement of the content standards of the system of Learning Results;
  2. Support the goals and objectives of the school unit's educational programs;
  3. Enrich and support the curriculum;
  4. Take into consideration the varied interest, abilities, and maturity levels of the students served;
  5. Foster respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and varied opinions;
  6. Stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, ethical standards, and critical analysis;
  7. Provide information that will enable students to make informed decisions in their daily lives;
  8. Be accurate and current;
  9. Reflect high quality scholarship and presentation;
  10. Represent significant authors/composers and works; and
  11. Be affordable.

Selection Procedure:

The highest priority shall be meeting the instructional needs of the individual schools. In meeting this priority, preference shall be given to basic learning materials, i.e., those that are the predominant instructional materials used at particular grade levels or courses and/or are essential to student achievement of Learning Results content standards.

Before selecting/recommending materials for purchase, professional staff should evaluate the existing collection, consult with staff from appropriate departments and/or grade levels, personally review the material, and obtain recommendations/reviews regarding the material from appropriate reputable sources.

In accordance with state regulations, social studies and science textbooks should not be older than five years unless up-to-date supplemental instructional materials are also available.

Multiple copies of materials should be purchased as needed and within budgetary constraints. Worn or missing materials should be replaced as needed. Outdated materials or materials that are no longer in demand should be withdrawn from the collection and/or circulation.

Donated Materials:

Gift materials are judged by the same criteria as materials selected by the school staff and in accordance with any applicable Board policies or procedures on gifts and donations.

Inspection of Materials by Parents and Opt-Out Requests:

A student's parent/guardian may inspect, upon request, any instructional or library media materials used as part of the curriculum. Such requests shall be made to the appropriate teacher or the library media specialist. Access to the materials shall be provided within a reasonable time after such a request is made. The Superintendent may develop any administrative procedures necessary to implement this policy.

If a parent/guardian wishes to restrict their child's access to particular instructional materials, the procedure in Board policy IMBB shall be followed.

Challenged Materials Procedure:

This procedure applies only to requests to remove materials from the school's collection or curriculum. Individual exemption requests are subject to Board policy IMBB. In the event that a student, parent, staff, or community member had a concern regarding particular materials or requests removal of particular material from the curriculum or collection, the following procedure will be followed:

  1. The complainant must discuss their concern first with the person providing the material in question. Individual staff members may discuss concerns, but do not have the authority to remove materials from the curriculum or library collection.

  2. If the complainant is not satisfied, they shall be referred to the building administrator and requested to fill out IJJ-E - Citizen's Challenge to Education Media Form. A copy of the form will be forwarded to the Superintendent.

  3. The Superintendent shall appoint a Committee composed of the following persons to review the complaint: one administrator at the appropriate grade level; one library media specialist; one classroom teacher; the department head in the subject area of the challenged materials; and two community members.

  4. The Committee shall read and examine the materials referred to them; check general acceptance of materials by reading reviews; and weigh the values and faults of the material. Committee members are expected to form opinions based on the material as a whole and not on passages or portions pulled out of context. The Committee should generally be neutral toward viewpoints expressed in materials, and shall ask the Superintendent to consult legal counsel for advice concerning any questions involving freedom of speech or expression. The Committee shall meet to discuss the material and prepare a written report with their recommendations.

  5. The Committee shall provide the final report to the Superintendent, who will inform the complainant of the results.

  6. No material shall be removed from use until the Committee has made a final decision.

  7. The Committee's decision may be appealed to the Board. The Board may set aside a portion of a regular meeting or call a special meeting to review the complaint and the

    Committee’s report, and to receive testimony from representatives of the various points of view. The material in question shall be:

    1. Reviewed objectively and in its full content;
    2. Evaluated in terms of the needs and interests of students, school, curriculum and community;
    3. Considered in the light of differing opinions; and
    4. Reviewed in light of the criteria set forth in this policy.

The Board will announce its decision in writing no later than the conclusion of the next regular meeting of the Board.

  • 20-A §§ 1001(10-A), 1055(4), 4002
  • Maine Dept. of Ed. Rules Ch. 125
  • P.L. 107-110 § 1061 (No Child Left Behind Act)

Cross Reference:

Adopted:

  • September 13, 2005

Revised:

  • December 11, 2012
  • January 14, 2014
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