Ready for a Challenge???

1. Ready for a Challenge??? MISD Policy EFA (Local) Selection of Resources/ Challenged Resources

2. A sticky situation…

3. Some background… • First Amendment • Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982) • “In loco parentis”

4. MISD Selection Policy EFA (Local) “provide a wide range of instructional resources for students and faculty that present varying levels of difficulty, diversity of appeal, and a variety of points of view.” “A parent of a District student, any employee, or any District resi-dent may formally challenge an instructional resource used in the District’s educational program on the basis of appropriateness.”

5. Responsibility for Selection • The School Board is legally responsible for materials that are selected for use with students • Responsibility for selection of materials is delegated to professionally trained and certified • instructional staff and • librarians

6. Objectives for Instructional Materials Instructional materials must: • enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration students’ varied interests, abilities, learning styles, and maturity levels. • stimulate growth in factual knowledge, enjoyment of reading, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and societal standards.

7. Objectives for Instructional Materials Instructional materials must: • present various sides of controversial issues so that students have an opportunity to develop, under guidance, skills in critical analysis and in making informed judgments in their daily lives. • represent many ethnic, religious, and cultural groups and their contributions to the national heritage and world community.

8. Objectives for Instructional Materials Instructional materials must: • Provide a wide range of background information that will enable students to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives.

9. Criteria for Selection Make sure that selected materials: • Support general educational goals of the state and District • Also support the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses consistent with the District and campus improvement plans.

10. Criteria for Selection Instructional materials must: • Meet high standards of quality in: • Physical format • Factual content • Readability • Artistic/literary quality • Accuracy • Educational significance

11. Criteria for Selection Make sure that materials: • Are appropriate for the subject and for the age, ability level, learning styles, and social and emotional development of the students for whom they are selected. • Are designed to provide information that will motivate students to examine their own attitudes and behavior, to understand their rights, duties, and responsibilities as citizens, and to make informed judgments in their daily lives.

12. Criteria for Selection • When selecting materials, keep in mind: • The Freedom to Read statement • Wide diversity of views and expressions are good • Not all ideas must be endorsed • Author’s background doesn’t matter • Can’t force your tastes on others

13. Criteria for Selection • The Freedom to Read statement, continued • It is our responsibility to contest encroachments upon the freedom to read by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community • By providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression, we demonstrate that the answer to a “bad” book is a “good” one

14. Criteria for Selection • When selecting materials, keep in mind: • The Students’ Right to Read (NCTE) “The right to read…can be used wisely or foolishly. In many ways, education is an effort to improve the quality of choices open to all students. But to deny the freedom of choice in fear that it may be unwisely used is to destroy the freedom itself. For this reason, we respect the right of individuals to be selective in their own reading.”

15. Criteria for Selection • On a recognized list • Reviewed • Gifts must meet the same criteria as materials that are selected for purchase

16. Recommended Selection Tools Recommended book lists Professional journals Self review

17. Follow the Selection Policy… when putting materials in your classroom or library that are for student use

18. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles: • The right to object to instructional resources is granted by the Board • Any parent, resident or employee of the district may raise an objection

19. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles (2) • The principles of the freedom to read, listen and view must be defended

20. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles (3) • Major criterion for decision is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use

21. Request for Reconsideration Guiding principles (4) • A decision to sustain a challenge shall not be interpreted as irresponsibility on the part of the professional involved in the selection

22. Request for Reconsideration A parent’s ability to exercise control over reading, listening or viewing matter extends only to his or her own children.

23. Reconsideration – The Process • Try to resolve the issue informally

24. Our goal is to resolve the complaint informally whenever possible.

25. Reconsideration – The Process FORMAL RECONSIDERATION Step 1 - Principal mails documents and form to the concerned party: • A copy of Policy EFA (Local) • Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials form (EFA-Exhibit)

26. Two page form

27. Reconsideration – The Process • The complainant must complete and return the form to the building principal before the process can continue • When the form is returned, the principal appoints a reconsideration committee: • Teachers (2) • Librarian • Parents (2) • Principal

28. Reconsideration – The Process • The committee members read the challenged material and judge whether it conforms to the selection policy

29. Two page report

30. Reconsideration – The Process • The complainant must be notified in writing of the committee’s decision as soon as reasonably possible

31. Reconsideration - Appeal • If the complainant is not satisfied with the committee’s decision, he may appeal the decision to the appropriate A.O. • The objection to the committee decision must be explained by the complainant in writing.

32. Reconsideration - Appeal • If the complainant is not satisfied with the A.O.’s decision, he may appeal to the superintendent, following the same procedure • If the complainant is not satisfied with the superintendent’s decision, he may request a hearing on the matter at the next regular meeting of the Board

33. Follow the Selection Policy carefully to avoid a challenge

34. If you do have a challenge… • Try to resolve it informally • If you can’t, keep calm and follow the process • Library Services can provide help and support

35. Now you’re ready to meet the challenge! MISD Library Services August 2013