I. Responsibility for Selection of Instructional Materials

    A. The Board is responsible for matters relating to the operation of the Spirit Lake Community School District.

    B. The responsibility for the selection of instructional materials is delegated to the professionally trained and licensed employees of the school                     system. 

    C. While selection of materials may involve many people including principals, teacher-librarians, teachers, students, parents, and community                       members, the responsibility for coordinating the selection of most instructional materials and making the recommendation for the purchase rests with licensed employees.

    D. Responsibility for coordinating the selection of instructional materials for distribution to classes will rest with the licensed employees, principal and           superintendent. 

    E. If the Board appoints an ad hoc committee to make recommendations on the selection of instructional materials, the ad hoc committee is formed            and appointed in compliance with the Board policy.

         1. The superintendent will inform the committee as to their role and responsibility in the process.

         2. The following statement will be provided to the ad hoc committee members: 

             “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. Study thoroughly all materials referred to you and read available                  reviews. The general acceptance of the materials should be checked by consulting standard evaluation aids and local holdings in other                            schools. Passages or parts should not be pulled out of context. The values and faults should be weighed against each other and the opinions  based on the material as a whole. Your report, presenting both  majority and minority opinions, will be presented by the principal, or principal’s designee, to the complainant at the conclusion of our discussion of the questioned material.”

II. Material selected for use in libraries and classrooms shall meet the following guidelines:

      A. Religion – Material will represent the all religions in a factual, unbiased manner. The primary source material of the major religions is considered              appropriate, but material which advocates rather than informs, or is designed to sway reader judgment regarding religion, will not be included in  the school libraries or classrooms.

      B. Racism – Material will present a diversity of race, custom, culture, and belief as a positive aspect of the nation’s heritage and give candid                        treatment to unresolved intercultural problems, including those which involve prejudice, discrimination, and the undesirable consequences of                  withholding rights, freedom, or respect of an individual. Required material will comply with all applicable laws. 

      C. Sexism – Material will reflect a sensitivity to the needs, rights, traits, lifestyles and aspirations of individuals without preference or bias.  Required            material will comply with all applicable laws.

      D. Age – Material will recognize the diverse contributions of various age groups and portray the continuing contributions of maturing members                     of society.

      E. Ideology – Material will present basic primary and factual information on an ideology or philosophy of government which exerts or has exerted a              strong force, either favorably or unfavorably, over civilization or society, past or present. This material will not be selected with the intention to sway reader judgment and is related to the maturity level of the intended audience.

      F. Profanity and Sex – Material complies with all applicable laws and is subjected to a test of literary merit and reality by the teacher librarians and              licensed employees who will take into consideration their reading of public and community standards of morality.

      G. Controversial issues materials will be directed toward maintaining a balanced collection representing various views.

The selection decision should be made on the basis of whether the material presents an accurate representation of society and culture, whether the circumstances depicted are realistically portrayed, or whether the material has literary or social value when the material is viewed as a whole.

These guidelines will not be construed in such a manner as to preclude materials which accurately represent the customs, morals, manners, culture, or society of a different time or a different place.

III. Procedure for Selection

      A. Material purchased for libraries and classrooms shall be recommended for purchase by licensed employees in consultation with administrative           staff, school library staff, students or an ad hoc committee as appointed by the Board. The material recommended for purchase is approved by the         appropriate building administrator.

           1. The materials selected will support stated objectives and goals of the school district. Specifically, the goals are:

                a. To acquire materials and provide service consistent with the demands of the curriculum;

                b. To develop students’ skills and resourcefulness in the use of libraries and learning resources;

                c. To effectively guide and counsel students in the selection and use of materials and media centers;

                d. To foster in students a wide range of significant interests;

                e. To provide opportunities for aesthetic experiences and development of an appreciation of the fine arts;

                f. To provide materials to motivate students to examine their own attitudes and behaviors and to comprehend their own duties and                                       responsibilities as citizens in a pluralistic democracy;

                g. To encourage life-long education through the use of the library; and,

                h. To work cooperatively and constructively with the instructional and administrative staff in the school.

           2. Materials selected are consistent with stated principles of selection. These principles are:

                 a. To select material, within established standards, which will meet the goals and objectives of the school district;

                 b. To consider the educational characteristics of the community in the selection of materials within a given category;

                 c. To present the racial, religious and ethnic groups in the community by:

                     1. Portraying people, adults and children, whatever their ethnic, religious or social class identity, as human and recognizable, displaying a familiar range of emotions, both negative and positive.

                     2. Placing no constraints on individual aspirations and opportunity.

                     3. Giving comprehensive, accurate, and balanced representation to minority groups and women – in art and science, history and                                         literature, and in all other fields of life and culture.

                     4. Providing abundant recognition of minority groups and women by showing them frequently in positions of leadership and authority.

                d. To intelligently, quickly, and effectively anticipate and meet needs through awareness of subjects of local, national and international interest                      and significance; and,

                e. To strive for impartiality in the selection process.

         3. The materials selected will meet stated selection criteria. These criteria are:

                a. Authority-Author’s qualifications – education, experience, and previously published works;

                b. Reliability:

                    1. Accuracy-meaningful organization and emphasis on content, meets the material’s goals and objectives, and presents authoritative and                            realistic factual material.

                    2. Current-presentation of content which is consistent with the finding of recent and authoritative research.

               c. Treatment of subject-shows an objective reflection for the multi-ethnic character and cultural diversity of society.

               d. Language:

                   1. Vocabulary –

                       a. Does not indicate bias by the use of words which may result in negative value judgments about groups of people;

                       b. Does not use "man" or similar limiting word usage in generalization or ambiguities which may cause others to feel excluded or                                         dehumanized.

                    2. Compatible to the reading level of the student for whom it is intended.

              e. Format -

                    1. Book –

                       a. Adequate and accurate index;

                       b. Paper of good quality and color;

                       c. Print adequate and well spaced;

                       d. Adequate margins;

                       e. Firmly bound; and,

                       f. Cost.

                   2. Nonbook, including software and electronically available materials –

                      a. Flexibility, adaptability;

                      b. Curricular orientation of significant interest to students;

                      c. Appropriate for audience;

                     d. Accurate authoritative presentation;

                     e. Good production qualities (fidelity, aesthetically adequate);

                     f.  Durability; and,

                     g. Cost.

                 3. Illustrations of book and nonbook materials should:

                     a. Depict instances of fully integrated grouping and settings to indicate equal status and non-segregated social relationships.

                     b. Make clearly apparent the identity of minorities;

                     c. Contain pertinent and effective illustrations;

                     d. Flexible to enable the teacher to use parts at a time and not follow a comprehensive instructional program on a rigid frame of reference.

             f.  Special Features -

                1. Bibliographies.

                2. Glossary.

                3. Current charts, maps, etc.

                4. Visual aids.

                5. Index.

               6. Special activities to stimulate and challenge students.

               7. Provide a variety of learning skills.

            g. Potential use:

               1. Will it meet the requirement of reference work?

               2. Will it help students with personal problems and adjustments?

               3. Will it serve as a source of information for teachers and librarians?

               4. Does it offer an understanding of cultures other than the student's own and is it free of racial, religious, age, disability, ethnic, gender                               identity and sexual stereotypes?

               5. Will it expand students' sphere of understanding and help them to understand the ideas and beliefs of others?

               6. Will it help students and teachers keep abreast of and understand current events?

               7. Will it foster and develop hobbies and special interests?

               8. Will it help develop aesthetic tastes and appreciation?

               9. Will it serve the needs of students with special needs?

              10. Does it inspire learning?

              11. Is it relevant to the subject?

              12. Will it stimulate a student's interest?

      4. Gifts of library or instructional materials may be accepted if the gift meets existing criteria for library and instructional materials. The acceptance              and placement of such gifts is within the discretion of the board.

      5. In order to provide a current, highly usable collection of materials. teacher-librarians will ensure constant and continuing renewal of the collection,            not only the addition of up-to-date materials, but by the judicious elimination of materials which no longer meet school district needs or find use. The process of weeding instructional materials will be done according to established and accepted standards for determining the relevance and value of materials in a given context

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approved: 11/14/67                     Reviewed: 5/13/19                        Revised: 1/10/11; 6/10/13; 12/11/23

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE

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 and library materials 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 administration and licensed employees as detailed in 605.3R1. 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 itsrecommendation, 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. Building administration will convey the committee's recommendation to theoffice 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.

.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approved:  12/11/23                       Reviewed:                                  Revised:

Request for re-evaluation of printed or multimedia materials to be submitted to the Superintendent, or the Superintendent's designee.

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 ____________________________________________________________________

Producer (if known) ________________________________________________________

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

PERSON MAKING THE REQUEST REPRESENTS: (circle one)

Self                                                                        Group or Organization

Name of Group or Organization _________________________________________

Address of Group or Organization ________________________________________

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 specific 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 _______________

__________________________________________ ________________________ Signature Dated

Dear:

We recognize your concern about the use of ___________________________ in our school district. The school district has developed procedures for selection of instructional and library 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,

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 return to the district office.The school official or employee will also notify the building level principal of the complaint and whether or not the individual has been satisfied with the initial contact. within two school days after the reconsideration form is received.  School 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 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. The district office will keep on hand and make available Request for Reconsideration of Instructional and Library Forms. Formal objections to instructional materials must be made on this form.

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 Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee.

4. The Superintendent, or Superintendent's designee, will convene a the reconsideration committee for re-evaluation within two weeks of receipt of the Reconsideration Form.

5.  The committee will make their recommendation to the Superintendent, or Superintendent's designee, within five days of the meeting.

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

7.  An appeal to 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, modigy 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.

8. 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.6.d. of this rule.

9. The Reconsideration Committee

a. The reconsideration committee is made up of a minimum of six members.

1. Two licensed employees designated annually, as needed, by the building principal.

2. One teacher-librarian designated annually by the superintendent.

3. One member of the administrative team designated annually by the superintendent.

4. Two additional members appointed annually, as needed, by the building administrators.

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 meetngs and public records laws. Notice of committee meetings is made public through appropriate publications and other communications methods.

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

g. The committee will determine its agenda for the first 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, or the Superintendent's designee, the individual and the appropriate attendance centers. 

j. The individual filing the challenge is kept informed by the Superintendent, or the Superintendent's designee, on the status of the Reconsideration Request Form throughout the reconsideration process. The individual filing the challenge and known interested parties is given appropriate notice of meetings as required by law.

k. Following the Superintendent's decision with respect to the committee's recommendation, the individual or the chairperson of the reconsideration committee 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approved: 8/13/67                Reviewed:  5/13/19                                 Revised: 1/10/11; 6/10/13; 12/11/23