Procedure for the Adoption and Reconsideration of Instructional Materials

File: IIAA-R

The procedures detailed in IIAA/IIAA-R, Textbook Selection and Adoption, outline the steps for the selection, adoption, and reconsideration of instructional materials.

    1. Philosophy of Instructional Materials Selection
      The philosophy of the Lake Washington School District, as explained in IIAA/IIAA-R, Textbook Selection and Adoption, shall be followed in the selection, adoption, and purchase of all materials which will be used with all students. Furthermore, it is the policy of the Lake Washington School District to select instructional materials that eliminate bias pertaining to sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal. The policy and procedures will be reviewed by curriculum committees as they begin working, the instructional materials committee on a regular basis, and any others responsible for the selection and/or purchase of instructional materials.
    2. Informational Session
      The Administrator of Curriculum will be responsible for conducting one informational session annually on the Instructional Materials Policy and Procedures, IIAA/IIAA-R, Textbook Selection and Adoption. This session will be for the purpose of informing/orienting both staff and the public to the Instructional Materials Policy and Procedures contained therein. People who might be interested in serving on the Instructional Materials Committee or on Reconsideration committees are encouraged to attend.
    3. Instructional Materials Committee (IMC)
      1. Function
        The function of this IMC committee is to follow established processes which are to be used in the examining and evaluating of materials which require action by the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors and present those recommendations to the Superintendent who in turn presents them to the board. In specific instances, the IMC may grant requests to modify the selection process when, in its judgment, students would be better served by so doing and if the intent of the law and board policy are fulfilled.
      2. Membership
        The IMC members will be appointed with the provisions of RCW 28.A.320.230. Membership of the committee shall be approved on or by the first school board meeting in October by the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors and shall consist of 29 members to include representation in the following configuration:

        Permanent Committee Members

        Two Central Office Administrators
        :
        1 Administrator of Curriculum (Chair of IMC)
        1 Central office Administrator appointed by the Superintendent

        Appointed Committee Members

        Three Principals:

        1 High School Principal
        1 Middle School Principal
        1 Elementary Principal

        Eleven Teacher Representatives from the following areas:

        1 Curriculum and Assessment Specialist
        2 High School Teachers
        2 Middle School Teachers
        2 Intermediate Elementary Teachers
        2 Primary Elementary Teachers
        1 Special Education Teacher
        1 Safety Net Teacher

        Three Librarians:

        1 Elementary Librarian
        1 Middle School Librarian
        1 High School Librarian

        One Technology Operations Staff Member

        1 Technology Operations staff member selected by the Director of Technology

        Four Students:

        4 High School Representatives

        Five Community Representatives:

        5 Community Representatives, one from each of the five Board of Directors’ district areas

        Each member of the committee is entitled to a vote.
      3. Selection of Staff Members
        The chairperson of the IMC (the Administrator of Curriculum) shall advertise any opening occurring on the IMC in the spring or fall of the upcoming school year. This advertisement shall include the role and expectations of IMC members and be sent to staff groups within the school district. The IMC Chair shall encourage applications and select members based upon school geographical location, content balance, and diverse representation as well as willingness to serve. The IMC chair shall submit the names of persons nominated to the Superintendent who is responsible for the formal selection of committee members.
      4. Selection of Volunteer Members
        The volunteer community members shall be chosen as representatives from each of the five Board of Directors’ district areas. The Superintendent or designee, who is responsible for the formal selection of committee members, shall contact the board member of the respective attendance area to receive nominations for committee members.
      5. Term of Office
        The Administrator of Curriculum is a permanent position. The central office administrator and appointed members will each serve three-year terms. The student members will each serve two years. Terms may repeat.
      6. Training/Orientation Session
        A training/orientation session will be conducted for all new members prior to their beginning service on the IMC.
      7. Meetings/Quorum
        Regular meetings of the committee will be held in the months of October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June. Additional meetings may be called by the chairperson of the committee. Fifty percent (50%) plus one person of the 29 voting members shall constitute a quorum. A minimum of 15 votes is required to carry a motion. The Administrator of Curriculum will make every effort to reach participants using a variety of technical solutions which may include, but are not limited to: phone calling, teleconferencing, conference calling, and/or video linking software.
      8. Vacancies/Replacements
        If a member misses two consecutive meetings, the Chair of the IMC has the option of replacing that person. If a person is unable to fulfill a term of office, a replacement will be sought and appointed to fill the remainder of that term.
    4. Classification/Definition of Instructional Materials and Procedures for Adoption
      1. Major Course Adoption
        Those materials designed for use by students as principle learning resources in meeting the standards, goals, and objectives of a district-wide course or curricular area shall be considered major course adoptions. To qualify as a major course adoption, the recommendation of the selection must be made by the Administrator of Curriculum, representing all educators in the district who teach that course, level, or who are teaching in that curricular area.

        A text is defined as any source of learning including, but not limited to: books, e-books, websites, open educational resources, digital resources, web-based programs, computer software, magazines, instructional manuals, novels, or videos. Under the direction of the Administrator of Curriculum, Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, must be submitted to the IMC along with any ancillary materials that need consideration by the IMC following the procedures shown below, A. Initiation of Request: Major Course Adoptions.
        1. Initiation of Request: Major Course Adoptions
          1. The Administrator of Curriculum, on behalf of the district Curriculum Adoption Committee {petitioner(s)}, must complete Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials.
          2. Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, and one copy of the instructional material/s for each grade level or course must be submitted to the Administrator of Curriculum (IMC chairperson) 15 school days prior to a scheduled IMC meeting following the procedure as outlined in below, B. Procedure for Selection and Approval of Major Course Adoptions.
          3. Staff members shall be informed as to which curricular areas will be under investigation.
        2. Procedure for Selection and Approval of Major Course Adoption
          1. Major course adoptions must be reviewed and recommended for approval by the IMC.
          2. Approval or disapproval must be based upon district philosophy as established in Section I, Philosophy of Instructional Materials Selection. Upon approval by the IMC the materials are sent to the Superintendent for presentation to the Board of Directors for final district action.
          3. The selection of the instructional materials which will be designated as the required major course adoption for either elementary or secondary level throughout the district shall be completed by using the following procedure
            1. A district Curriculum Adoption Committee including teachers, administrators, community members, as determined by the Administrator of Curriculum or Superintendent or designee, representing each grade level within the discipline shall be established.
            2. Publishers will be informed of the district's intent to consider the possible adoption of instructional materials in a given subject area. They will be invited to submit materials to the attention of the Curriculum Adoption Committee through the Administrator of Curriculum.
            3. The Curriculum Adoption Committee will use an evidence-based approach to evaluate each publisher’s materials on a pre-determined set of criteria in five different areas: organization and design, assessment, technology, best practice, and standards alignment.
            4. The Curriculum Adoption Committee shall narrow the search to the top two or three curriculum series, texts, and/or ancillary materials.
            5. The Administrator of Curriculum will research the top two or three curriculum series, texts, and/or ancillary materials being certain to give due diligence to the financial impacts to the District
            6. The Curriculum Adoption Committee shall run a limited pilot of materials with students prior to the selection of the final set of materials.
            7. Following the limited pilot, the Curriculum Adoption Committee shall recommend a selection based upon the philosophies of this policy.
            8. The Curriculum Adoption Committee shall submit selected materials to the IMC. If concern or doubt is expressed by several members of the IMC on a text brought for its consideration, the chair may request a motion to table action on that text until the petitioner(s) and one or two other subject area specialists or grade level specialists can be consulted by the Chair of IMC or are able to address the IMC.
            9. IMC will review each grade level or content area curriculum materials, texts, and ancillary materials that have been recommended by the Curriculum Adoption Committee. The Curriculum Adoption Committee will be available to the IMC for additional information, if necessary.
            10. If the request for approval is denied, the chair of the IMC shall report the reasons for denial to the petitioner(s) in writing along with an explanation of the appeal process.
            11. Materials for special classes (i.e., special education, or honors programs) may be used at levels other than those approved by special permission of the Administrator of Curriculum, Superintendent, or designee.
          4. Disposition of request:
            1. Approval: Referred to the Board of Directors for action.
            2. Disapproval: A written explanation of the reasons for disapproval shall be made to the petitioner(s) by the chair of the IMC
              1. An appeal procedure may be initiated.
              2. The Administrator of Curriculum, Superintendent, or designee shall reconvene the IMC to review the petitioner’s appeal, which shall include information additional to the original request. The committee shall meet with the petitioner(s) in a public meeting. Testimony and deliberations shall be held publicly. If the IMC denies the appeal it shall:
                • Report its findings in writing to the petitioner(s) and
                • Assist the petitioner(s) in finding acceptable materials to use
              3. If the IMC overturns their original ruling, a recommendation for adoption will be sent to the Board of Directors via the Superintendent or designee.
              4. Following approval by the IMC, a recommendation shall be made to the LWSD Board of Directors.
      2. Other Instructional Materials
        Other instructional materials are those texts designated to meet the basic goals and objectives of an individual course offering, and are defined, but not limited to: books, e-books, websites, open educational resources, digital resources, web-based programs, computer software, magazines, instructional manuals, novels, or videos which are purchased to expand, support, or enrich the curriculum.

        The recommendation of the selection of these texts would be made by the teacher/department chairperson. Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, with the building principal's signature indicating his/her approval will be submitted to the IMC with any ancillary materials that need consideration by the IMC.

        If four or fewer copies of a text are acquired per school, they need not be submitted to the IMC. Final responsibility for the acquisition of texts shall rest with the building principal.
        1. Approved texts that have since been updated to a newer edition and are still going to be used in sets of five copies or more, must go through IMC again following the procedure above.
        2. Other texts that received approval from IMC, to be used in sets of five copies or more, longer than twenty (20) years prior to the current date, must be resubmitted to IMC for re-approval following the procedure, Section A, Initiation of Request: Instructional Materials.
        3. If the IMC does not have the expertise or access to subject area specialists in a particular field, the chair will refer the material for review to outside specialists whose reviews will be made available to the IMC at the next scheduled meeting
      3. Appendix D, In-Building Approval of Speaker or Other Instructional Materials, should be filed with the building principal for any free and/or sponsored materials, instructional materials, or guest speakers that could be viewed as sensitive or controversial.
        1. Initiation of Request: Other Instructional Materials
          The district IMC committee member, teacher, principal, or department chairperson {petitioner(s)} will complete Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, and three copies of the instructional material/s must be submitted to the Administrator of Curriculum (IMC chairperson) fifteen (15) school days prior to a scheduled IMC meeting and follow the procedure below, B. Procedure for Selection and Approval of Other Instructional Materials.
        2. Procedure for Selection and Approval of Other Instructional Materials
          Other instructional materials acquired in quantities of five or more or for use with five or more students, must be reviewed and recommended for approval by the IMC. Approval or disapproval must be based upon district philosophy as established in this policy. If concern or doubt is expressed by several members of the IMC on a text brought for its consideration, the chair may request a motion to table the action on that text until the petitioner(s) and one or two other subject area specialists or grade level specialists can be consulted by the Chair of IMC or are able to address the IMC.
          1. If the request for approval is denied, the chair of the IMC shall report the reasons for denial to the petitioner(s) in writing, along with an explanation of the appeal process.
          2. Upon approval by the IMC, the materials are sent to the Superintendent for presentation to the Board of Directors for final action.
          3. Materials for special classes (i.e., special education, or honors programs) may be used at levels other than those approved by special permission of the Administrator of Curriculum, Superintendent, or designee.
      4. School-Based Curricula
        School-based curricula are those texts and/or programs that are acquired by individual schools or PTSAs to expand, support, or enrich the curriculum, student achievement, and/or school culture. A school-based curriculum is defined but not limited to: books, e-books, websites, open educational resources, digital resources, web-based programs, computer software, magazines, instructional manuals, novels, or videos. The recommendation of the selection of these materials shall be made by the principal of the school. Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, must be submitted to the IMC with any ancillary materials that need consideration by the IMC following the procedure below, Procedure for Selection of School-Based Curricula.
        1. Initiation of Request: School-Based Curricula
          Schools seeking approval of school-based curriculum must first convene a curriculum committee to thoroughly review the proposed curriculum. Membership on the committee is determined by appointment from the building principal and is made up of the following members:

          Elementary:

          1 Building Principal
          2 Primary Teachers {one representative selected from a school other than that of the petitioner(s)}
          2 Intermediate Teachers (one of these from a different school)
          1 Librarian
          1 Petitioner(s)
          2 Community Members who represent the largest possible span of grade levels

          Secondary:

          1 Building Principal or Associate Principal
          4 Building Teachers (preferably from the affected department or grade level and two of the four teachers from different schools)
          1 Librarian
          1 Petitioner(s)
          2 Community Members (representing the largest possible span of grade levels)
        2. Procedure for Selection of School-Based Curricula
          School-based curricula acquired in quantities of five or more must be reviewed and recommended for approval by the IMC. Approval or disapproval must be based upon district philosophy as established in Section I, Philosophy of Instructional Materials Selection. Evaluation shall be made according to the criteria identified in Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials.

          Upon approval of the school-based curriculum by the curriculum committee, the petitioner(s) will submit Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, and three copies of the materials, one copy for each of all grade levels copies of the comprehensive curriculum to the Administrator of Curriculum (IMC chairperson) fifteen (15) school days prior to a scheduled IMC meeting and follow the typical IMC procedure as outlined.
          1. If the request for approval is denied, the chair of the IMC shall report the reasons for denial to the petitioner(s) in writing, along with an explanation of the appeal process.
          2. Upon approval by the IMC, the materials are sent to the Superintendent for presentation to the Board of Directors for final action.
          3. Materials for special classes (i.e., special education, or honors programs) may be used at levels other than those approved by special permission of the Administrator of Curriculum, or Superintendent, or designee.
        3. Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge, and College in the High School Courses
          Those materials designed for use by students as principle learning resources in meeting the goals and objectives of Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge, and College in the High School Courses. These materials include, but are not limited to: books, e-books, websites, pen educational resources, digital resources, web-based programs, computer software, magazines, instructional manuals, novels, or videos that are purchased to expand, support or enrich AP, Cambridge, College in the High School programs or courses which are endorsed by those particular programs. The recommendation of the selection of these texts and or curriculum material would be made by the principal of the school. Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials, with the building principal's signature indicating his/her approval will be submitted to the IMC Chair for consideration following the procedure outlined below, 1. Initiation of Request: AP, Cambridge, and College In the High School Courses.
          1. Initiation of Request: AP, Cambridge, and College in the High School Courses
            1. Schools seeking approval for AP, Cambridge and/or College in the High School curriculum materials must first be certain that these curriculum materials are approved and/or endorsed by AP, Cambridge, and/or the university sponsoring College in the High school courses.
            2. The petitioner(s) must solicit three reviews from job-alike teachers or subject specific department heads from different schools. These reviewers must complete IMC Appendix B: Reviewer Input Form.
            3. Any digital resources or resources that require technology must be submitted to the Administrator of Curriculum and reviewed by the Technology Operations Department for system compatibility.
            4. The petitioner(s) must collect the submission form and all of the Appendix B: Reviewer Input Form(s), and submit them to the Administrator of Curriculum (chair of IMC).
            5. Approval or disapproval of the AP, Cambridge, or College in the High School curricula must be based upon district philosophy as established in this policy. Evaluation shall be made according to the criteria identified in Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials.
            6. The Administrator of Curriculum will submit the petitioner’s reviews and any subsequent research deemed necessary to IMC following the procedure as shown below, 2. Procedure for Selection of AP, Cambridge, and College in the High School.
            7. Materials for special classes (i.e., special education, or honors programs) may be used at levels other than those approved by special permission of the Administrator of Curriculum or Superintendent, or designee.
          2. Procedure for Selection of AP, Cambridge, and College in the High School
            1. The petitioner(s) attend IMC and speak regarding the desired text or curriculum. The petitioners must give a report on the steps followed after the initiation of the request.
              • The petitioner’s review forms, Appendix B: Reviewer Input Form, shall be added to the IMC consent agenda and voted on following the rules for quorum as outlined in IIAA‑R, III, G., Meetings/Quorums.
              • If the request for approval is denied, the chair of the IMC shall report the reasons for denial to the petitioner(s) in writing along with an explanation of the appeal process. See ii. Disposition of Request, as shown below.
              • If the IMC approves a request for material(s) then approval shall include level or grade level designation: elementary, middle school, or high school.
                • Approval of College in the High School texts or curriculum materials shall be used only for the course intended and for students enrolled in that particular course. The approval of these texts shall not include approval for use by any other students in any other grade level.
                • Materials for special classes (i.e., special education, or honors programs) may be used at levels other than those approved by special permission of the Administrator of Curriculum, Superintendent, or designee.
          3. Disposition of request:
            1. Approval: Referred to the Board of Directors for action.
            2. Disapproval: A written explanation of the reasons for disapproval shall be made to the petitioner(s) by the chair of the IMC.
              1. An appeal procedure may be initiated.
              2. The Administrator of Curriculum, Superintendent, or designee shall reconvene the IMC to review the petitioner’s appeal, which shall include information additional to the original request. The committee shall meet with the petitioner(s) in a public meeting. Testimony and deliberations shall be held publicly. If the IMC denies the appeal it shall:
                • Report its findings in writing to the petitioner(s) and
                • Assist the petitioner(s) in finding acceptable materials to use.
              3. If the IMC overturns their original ruling, a recommendation for adoption will be sent to the Board of Directors via the Superintendent or designee.
            3. If the IMC overturns their original ruling, a recommendation for adoption will be sent to the Board of Directors via the Superintendent or designee.
    5. Pilot Usage of Materials other than Major Course Adoptions
      While it is not the intent of the district to pilot instructional materials prior to all adoptions/approvals, pilot usage for materials may be requested by a principal for a pre-determined testing period and must be approved by the Administrator of Curriculum.

      Following the pilot period, the materials will either be submitted to the IMC for approval or discontinued for use in any classroom in Lake Washington School District.
    6. Recommendations for Adoption Submitted to Superintendent and Board of Directors
      All the major course adoptions, instructional materials, school-based curricula, and AP, Cambridge, and College in the High School materials must receive the Board of Directors' approval before use within the district. After the IMC completes its procedure, the recommended materials are presented to the Board of Directors for action.
      1. Public Review of Instructional Materials
        It is the intention of the Lake Washington Board of Directors to provide an opportunity for public review of instructional materials prior to action by the board. The following procedure will be used to implement the intention of the board.

        At least two weeks prior to action, the Administrator of Curriculum shall post IMC submissions on the district’s website and shall make available during regular office hours at the Resource Center those materials recommended for adoption by the IMC.

        Appendix C, Public Review of Materials, will be available on which public comments can be provided. The completed forms will be distributed to the Board for their consideration.
      2. Board Action
        At the first scheduled board meeting following the public review, the board will take action on the report of the IMC.

        Materials approved for “major course adoptions” that have been recommended through a district-wide Curriculum Adoption Committee process shall not be subject to reconsideration for a minimum of three years, unless there is a substantive change of circumstance as determined by the Superintendent.
      3. Approved Text Lists
        Those texts which receive approval for use from the Board will be listed in the approved textbook list. This list will be housed in the Curriculum Office and maintained by the Administrator of Curriculum. Instructional materials approved by the Board of Directors shall be listed in the approved textbook list.

        All instructional materials purchased for use in the district must be selected from the approved textbook list, except as provided in RCW 28A.320.230, Instructional materials — Instructional materials committee, stating that " Within the limitations of board policy, a school district's chief administrator may purchase instructional materials to meet deviant needs or rapidly changing circumstances."
    7. Procedures for Selection and Approval of Library Learning Resource Materials
      1. Library Learning Resource Materials
        Library learning resource materials are those which are accessible through the library/learning resource center in each school. They provide support for any area of the curriculum, information for independent study, and sources for enrichment and recreational interests. Selection of those materials will be made by the Library Media Specialist/resource person, teachers, and/or department chairpersons with the approval of the building principal. The final responsibility for such resource materials in each school rests with the building principal. Such items are defined, but not limited to: books, e-books, websites, open educational resources, digital resources, web-based programs, computer software, magazines, instructional manuals, novels, or videos which are purchased to expand, support, or enrich the curriculum would be identified as learning resource materials. If a patron raises concerns about a book that is in the library, the principal will discuss the concern with the school’s librarian and make a decision on the appropriateness of the material for use in the school’s library. If the librarian does not agree with the principal’s decision, he/she may request that decision be reviewed by the principal’s supervisor, the district supervisor of librarians, and the Administrator of Curriculum.
      2. Introduction
        Selection of library learning resource materials which are accessible through and reside in the library shall be the province of the school librarian, operating according to professional selection standards and guidelines and keeping with the primary objective which is to enrich, support, and extend the educational program of the school. All materials purchased shall be subject to principal approval and the final responsibility shall rest with the building principal. Section I, Philosophy of Instructional Materials Selection, shall be reviewed periodically with the librarians and principals.
      3. Objectives of Selection
        1. The school library media professionals shall assume a leadership role in promoting the principles of intellectual freedom within the school by providing resources and services that create and sustain an atmosphere of free inquiry.
        2. School library media professionals shall cooperate with other individuals in building collections of resources appropriate to the developmental and maturity level of the students who will be served.
        3. Students and educators served by the school library media program will have access to resources and services free of constraints resulting from personal, partisan, or doctrinal disapproval.
      4. Criteria for Selection of Library Learning Resource Materials
        The librarian shall consider the following basic factors influencing the selection of materials:
        1. Knowledge of curriculum needs of the district, school, and individual students
        2. Consideration of requests from administrators, teachers, parents, and students.
        3. Knowledge of reviewing sources appropriate to the grade level(s) in building, as well as those above and below the grade level(s) to supply resources which meet the needs of all students.
        4. Accepted selections sources which include, but are not limited to: standard catalogs and book and program reviewing sources (e.g., sources identified in "Selecting Learning Resources for Washington State Libraries and Learning Resource Centers and librarian reviewing groups such as Washington State Young Adult Review Group {WashYARG} and Puget Sound Book Review Council.)
        5. The above does not preclude use of publishers' prepublication plans, etc. as deemed appropriate by the school librarian.
    8. Challenged Materials Procedures
      The following procedures are established for all instructional materials placed in question by an individual, group, or organization. No such requests for removal of challenged materials shall be acted upon until the procedure is complete. These procedures must be followed in the order presented below.
      1. Process
        1. Complaints must be communicated to the person(s) primarily responsible for the utilization of the materials.
        2. The complainant and building principal, along with appropriate staff, will meet to try to resolve any misunderstanding.
        3. If these efforts fail and the complainant requests the withdrawal of the instructional materials from the school, Appendix E, Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials, and administrative policy IIAA-R VIII, Challenged Materials Procedures, shall be furnished to the complainant by the principal with an explanation of the process for registering the complaint.
        4. Appendix E, Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials, shall be completed with evidence that Steps 1 and 2 have been fulfilled. The complainant shall submit the form to the district Superintendent or designee.
        5. A review of the questioned materials shall be instituted within 15 school days after receipt of Appendix E, Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials.
        6. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Superintendent shall cause a Reconsideration Committee to be convened for the purpose of holding an open public hearing on the material in question.
          1. The chair of the Reconsideration Committee shall be the Administrator of Curriculum.
          2. The public hearing will be held within fifteen (15) school days of receipt of the complaint. Each side will have thirty (30) minutes to present their case before the committee. After both presentations, each side shall have five (5) minutes to summarize. The committee may then ask questions, and/or request additional information from professionally qualified resource persons.
          3. Within six (6) school days of the public hearing, the committee, after reviewing testimony presented and the material in question, will reconvene to discuss the complaint and to come to a decision.
          4. The chair of the reconsideration committee shall, within thirty-five (35) school days after receipt of the written complaint, submit the final recommendation of the committee to the Superintendent.
          5. The Superintendent or designee shall, within ten (10) working days of receiving the committee's recommendation, inform the complainant and the teacher or librarian in writing of the committee's decision.
          6. The Reconsideration Committee's decision shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors upon request by any of the concerned parties. Such request for board review must be made within fifteen (15) working days of the receipt of the decision. If a request is not received within the fifteen (15) day period, the challenged process shall be completed.
          7. Regardless of whether the concerned parties accept or reject the decisions submitted to them, the Superintendent shall submit a copy of the committee's report to the Board of Directors.
          8. The decision of the Reconsideration Committee may be appealed by the concerned parties to the Board of Directors through the Office of the Superintendent. The purpose of the Board of Directors' review shall be to determine whether the Reconsideration Committee has followed the process as outlined in this policy under Section A. Process, as shown above.
          9. The Superintendent shall convey the findings of the Board of Directors' review to the concerned parties.
          10. If the appropriate processes, as outlined in this policy, have been followed by the Reconsideration Committee, the decision of the committee shall stand. If it is deemed that the appropriate process was not followed by the Reconsideration Committee, the Board of Directors shall determine the outcome of the challenge.
          11. The decision regarding challenged materials shall not be subject to reconsideration for a minimum of three years, unless there is a substantive change of circumstance as determined by the Superintendent.
          12. A quorum for the final Reconsideration Committee decision shall consist of all nine members. To remove materials, a simple majority vote (5) is necessary. The chairperson may vote.
          13. If the material is disapproved, the Reconsideration Committee will report the decision in writing to the concerned parties. The report will identify levels of use and specific reasons for disapproval.
      2. Reconsideration Committee
        The Reconsideration Committee shall include the following persons who are representative of the challenged level of instructional materials:
        • 4 Parents (of children at the grade level of materials discussed)
        • 1 Central Office Administrator designated by the Superintendent
        • 1 Elementary / Secondary Principal
        • 2 Elementary / Secondary Content or Grade Level Teachers
        • 1 Chairperson of IMC
        1. If library materials which have been approved by IMC are challenged, a librarian should replace one of the teachers on the Reconsideration Committee. Also, none of the committee members should have been members of IMC when the challenged material was originally discussed and adopted.
        2. The library materials challenge process is specific to materials previously approved by IMC.
        3. Library materials that have not been approved by IMC and are challenged by a patron are reviewed following Appendix D, In-Building Approval of Speaker or Other Instructional Materials.

Appendix A, Request for Approval of Basic Instructional Materials
Appendix B, Reviewer Input Form
Appendix C, Public Review of Materials
Appendix D, In-Building Approval of Speaker or Other Instructional Materials
Appendix E, Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials

Adopted
08/07/67

Revised
03/07/69
02/10/79
07/18/83
02/16/88
05/07/90
04/20/92
08/10/98
11/01/99
07/01/02
06/02/08
06/23/14
04/15/16

Student raises hand while teacher talks to class