| Wyoming Public School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
2521 - INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS SELECTION
OBJECTIVES
| A. | To provide materials which will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the students served; | |
| B. | To provide materials which will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literacy appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards; | |
| C. | To provide a background of information which will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives and promote a spirit of self-motivated inquiry and learning; | |
| D. | To provide a diversity of viewpoints so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practice of analytical reading and thinking; | |
| E. | To provide materials representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups, showing their contributions to our American heritage; | |
| F. | To support the principles of intellectual freedom and ensure that the basic rights of each student are met. |
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
As the governing body of the District, the Wyoming Board of Education is legally responsible for the selection of instructional materials and resources. Since the Board is a policy-making body, it delegates to the Superintendent, administrative staff and the professional personnel of the District responsibility to recommend selection of instructional materials and resources.
The responsibility for the actual selection of materials shall rest with appropriate professionally trained personnel who shall discharge this obligation consistent with the Board’s adopted selection criteria and procedures. Selection procedures shall involve representatives of the professional staff directly affected by the selections, and persons qualified by preparation to aid in wise selection.
Materials for library media centers are selected by the professional library media staff with due regard to suggestions from the administration, faculty, parents and students. Final selection is made by the library media specialist of the school in which the center is housed.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
Selection of instructional materials is a continuous process based on the needs of a constantly changing and evolving curriculum, and on the extremely diverse interests of students and teachers.
Staff members involved in selection of resource materials shall use the following criteria as a guide:
| A. | educational significance | |
| B. | contribution the subject matter makes to the curriculum and to the interests of the students | |
| C. | favorable reviews found in reputable selection sources | |
| D. | favorable recommendations made on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel | |
| E. | reputation and significance of the author, producer, and/or publisher | |
| F. | validity, currency, and relevance of material | |
| G. | contribution the material makes to breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues | |
| H. | high degree of potential user appeal | |
| I. | presentation of real-life situations in their truest proportions | |
| J. | high artistic quality or literary style | |
| K. | quality and variety of format | |
| L. | value commensurate with cost and/or need | |
| M. | timeliness or permanence | |
| N. | integrity |
The following criteria will be used as they apply:
| A. | Learning resources shall support and be consistent with the general educational goals of the State and District and the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses. | |
| B. | Learning resources shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation. | |
| C. | Learning resources shall be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social development of the students for whom the materials are selected. | |
| D. | Physical format and appearance of learning resources shall be suitable for their intended use. | |
| E. | Learning resources shall be designed to help students gain an awareness of our pluralistic society. | |
| F. | Learning resources shall be designed to motivate students and staff to examine their own duties, responsibilities, rights, and privileges as participating citizens in our society. | |
| G. | Learning resources shall be selected for their strengths rather than rejected for their weaknesses. | |
| H. | The selection of learning resources on controversial issues will be directed toward maintaining a diverse collection representing various views. | |
| I. | Learning resources shall clarify historical and contemporary forces by presenting objective analysis of tension and conflict, placing emphasis on recognizing and understanding social and economic problems. |
The following kinds of materials should be selected for the media center:
| A. | Materials integral to the instructional program. | |
| B. | Materials appropriate for the reading level and understanding of students in the school. | |
| C. | Materials reflecting the interests and needs of the students and faculty served by the media center. | |
| D. | Materials warranting inclusion in the collection because of their literary and/or artistic value and merit. | |
| E. | Materials presenting information with the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity possible. | |
| F. | Materials representing a fair and unbiased presentation of information. |
POLICY RELATING TO SPECIAL AREAS
Gifts
Gifts of instructional materials and resources will be accepted in keeping with the above policy on selection, as well as the Board’s policy on accepting gifts. Professional staff shall decide which gifts will be kept and/or added to the existing instructional material collections. Such materials will be judged by the evaluative criteria of selection used for purchased materials as described in the section on Criteria.
Multi-media
Multi-media materials may include projected visuals and audio materials on DVD, VHS, CD’s, cassettes, sound chips, and other non-profit formats. These materials will be selected using the same criteria outlined above, and will be examined by professional staff to the extent necessary to apply selection criteria. As with all supplemental instructional materials, multimedia materials should be used as tools to enhance the standard adopted curriculum. The usage guidelines of such multi-media tools will be established by curriculum committees and should be in alignment with the District policy on the Use of Multi-Media Resources for Instruction.
When contemplating the usage of multi-media materials rated PG or higher, teachers must secure prior permission from the building principal. If approval is granted, they then must secure prior permission from student’s parents in writing through the use of a Multi-media Permissions Form. In the case of multi-media materials that have been technically edited to change their rating, or when only portions of multi-media materials are being used when those portions do not contain controversial material, teachers need not secure prior permission.
De-Selection
De-selection must be an ongoing process that includes the removal of instructional resources so that individual collections remain vital, accurate, relevant and useful.
The following criteria should serve as guidelines for de-selection of materials:
| A. | Material is physically worn or damaged. | |
| B. | Material contains obsolete or inaccurate information. | |
| C. | Multiple copies are not needed. | |
| D. | Material is no longer useful in the collection. | |
| E. | Material has been replaced by a new edition, new supplements, or a new copy. | |
| F. | Material does not support changes in curriculum. | |
| G. | Material has been deemed by the District Reconsideration Committee to be inappropriate. |
When materials have been withdrawn from a collection according to the de-selection guidelines, they may be disposed of in the following manner:
| A. | Withdrawn materials that are appropriate for further use may be offered to classroom teacher or another school media center within the District. | |
| B. | Withdrawn materials that are determined to have no use due to content or condition will be stamped "Discard" and disposed of. |
Controversial Materials
The Board recognizes the need and right of students to free access to many different types of print and non-print materials. It also recognizes the right of the professional staff to select print and non-print materials supportive of Wyoming Public Schools educational philosophy and goals. The selection of instructional materials on controversial issues will be directed toward maintaining a diverse collection representing various views. Instructional materials shall be selected for their strengths rather than rejected for their weaknesses. The Board subscribes in principle to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and to the statements of policy on library philosophy as expressed in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, a copy of which is appended to and made part of this policy.
RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS
The Board recognizes the need and right of students to free access to many different types of print and non-print materials. It also recognizes the right of the professional staff to select print and non-print materials supportive of the School District’s educational philosophy and goals.
Despite the quality of the selection process, occasional objections to instructional materials may be made. No questioned material shall be removed from the school except upon the recommendation of a reconsideration committee, with the concurrence of the Superintendent.
| A. | If a parent requests that his/her own child not read a given book, the teacher, library media specialist and/or school administrator should resolve the issue, perhaps by arranging for use of alternative material meeting essentially the same instructional purpose. | |
| B. | The Board will not permit any individual or group to exercise censorship over instructional materials and media center collections, but it recognizes that, at times, a re-evaluation of certain material may be desirable. Should an individual or group ask to have any instructional material withdrawn from school use the following procedure must be observed. |
Procedures to be followed:
| A. | All complaints to staff members shall be reported to the building principal involved, whether received by telephone, letter, or in personal conversation. | |
| B. | The principal shall contact the complainant to discuss the complaint and attempt to resolve it informally by explaining the philosophy and goals of the School District, the selection procedure, criteria and qualifications of those persons selecting the resource. | |
| C. | If the complaint is not resolved informally, the complainant shall be supplied with a copy of the District’s Instructional Materials Selection Policy and a copy of the Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Form. This form shall be completed and returned before consideration will be given to the complaint. | |
| D. | If the principal has not received the formal request for reconsideration within two (2) weeks, it shall be considered closed. If the request is returned, the rationale for selection of the specific work shall be reestablished by the appropriate staff via a written response. | |
| E. | In accordance with Wyoming Public Schools statement of philosophy, no questioned materials shall be removed from the school pending a final decision. Pending the outcome of the request for reconsideration, however, access to questioned materials can be denied to the child (or children) of the parents making the complaint, if they so desire. | |
| F. | Upon receipt of a completed objection form, the principal in the building involved will convene a committee of five (5) to consider the complaint. This committee shall consist of the Director of Curriculum and the following people from the school involved: the principal, library media specialist, a teacher, and a community representative. | |
| G. | The committee shall be provided with copies of the Instructional Materials Selection Policy, the completed Request for Reconsideration Form, and the written rationale for selection of the specific item. The committee will meet to discuss the materials, following the instructions set forth as follows: | |
| Instructions to Reconsideration Committee |
| 1. | Bear in mind the principles of the freedom to learn and to read and base your decision on these broad principles rather than on defense of individual materials. Freedom of inquiry is vital to education in a democracy. | ||
| 2. | Study thoroughly all materials referred to you and read available reviews. The general acceptance of the materials should be checked by consulting standard educational aids and local holdings in other schools. | ||
| 3. | Passages or parts should not be pulled out of context. The values and faults should be weighted against each other and the opinions based on the materials as a whole. | ||
| 4. | Discuss the challenged resource in the context of the educational program. | ||
| 5. | Prepare a written report, presenting both majority and minority opinions. |
| H. | The principal shall notify complainant of the decision and send a formal report and recommendation to the Superintendent. In answering the complainant, the principal shall explain the instructional material selection system, give the guidelines for selection, and cite authorities used in reaching decisions. If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant shall be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the principal will acknowledge it and make recommended changes. | |
| I. | If the complainant is still not satisfied, s/he may ask the Superintendent to present an appeal to the Board of Education, which shall make a final determination of the issue. The Board of Education may seek assistance from outside organizations such as the American Library Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, etc., in making its determination. |
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
| A. | Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. | |
| B. | Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. | |
| C. | Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. | |
| D. | Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. | |
| E. | A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. | |
| F. | Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use. |
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Adopted June 18, 1948, by the ALA Council; amended February 2, 1961; January 23, 1980; inclusion of "age" reaffirmed January 23, 1996.
M.C.L.A. 380.1274, 380.1277
Revised 3/27/06