4511 Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

4000: Instruction

(This policy replaces previously approved Board of Education Policy #6161)

The Board of Education has the legal responsibility for the selection of educational materials to be used in the educational affairs of the District. To efficiently accomplish the suitable selection of educational materials, the Board of Education assigns the task of selection to the Superintendent, who delegates responsibility to other professional personnel.

The term “selection” means the designation of educational materials for purchase. The term “educational materials” is intended to mean such instructional materials as: textbooks, supplementary materials, library books, videos/DVDs, software, technology, web access, and other appropriate audiovisual materials.

The key figures in this procedure must be the professional committees within each discipline as well as the District’s Curriculum Advisory Council. Other educators with knowledge in specific fields or responsibilities in specific areas must, however, be involved.

The goal of obtaining materials conducive to free inquiry dictates that the District’s instructional materials selection policy must not depend upon private whim or group pressure. Material selection must reflect considered judgment, choice, and independence and should foster these qualities in our students.

SELECTION PROCEDURES – LINE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Superintendent has the immediate responsibility for the selection of all educational materials in the District.

The Superintendent discharges his/her responsibility of selection by assignment to the professional staff, according to the requirements of a selection procedure and levels of staff responsibility.

On the District-level, a recommendation is made to the Superintendent by the District’s Curriculum Advisory Council. The Council, as per contractual agreement, is comprised of teachers and administrators. Prior to submitting their recommendation, the Council reviews the materials submitted by District Curriculum Committees. The Curriculum Committees are comprised of representatives appointed by the Brentwood Principals and Supervisors Organization (BPSO) and the Brentwood Teachers Association (BTA)

The building principal has the responsibility for the selection of educational materials/resources in the building, operating within the limits of District policy.

On the building-level, selection customarily proceeds through a building committee, which is chaired by the principal or his/her representative working in conjunction with curriculum specialists and teachers.
PROCEDURES - SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids and the advice and judgment of the professional staff shall be used as guides in the selection of materials.
2. Materials should fit the levels of comprehension and interest of the students for whom they are intended.
3. Fictional materials should represent an honest portrayal of some problem, aspect of life, or point of view that broadens a person’s understanding of human nature and society.
4. Portions or aspects of materials must be evaluated in relation to the work as a whole and cannot be considered out of context.
5. Experimental materials of high quality are given consideration since the District assumes responsibility for an enriched and expanding educational program.
6. Expository materials should be factually accurate, and the ideas presented in a fair and unbiased fashion.
7. In general, materials are selected which will have a lasting value in a collection; however, from time to time, some materials may be purchased to meet interest in current topics.
8. While the use of profanity or frankness in dealing with sex may be deplored, such use in educational communications media does not automatically disqualify the materials. A decision for inclusion will be made on the basis of whether life is realistically presented and whether the material has aesthetic or educational value. Materials concerning dating advice and youth problems belong in a school’s collections for young adults, as do scientific materials treating the reproductive process, when the information is presented in a factual, non-sensational manner.
9. Materials dealing with an ideology or a philosophy, which exerts a significant influence in politics, religion, education, or any other phase of life, shall be included upon the recommendation of professional personnel.
10. The materials should provide opportunity for vicarious experiences, thinking, reacting, discussing, and studying.
11. Content and subject treatment in materials purchased primarily for classroom instruction should coincide closely with the objectives of the course.
12. Where possible, materials should be coordinated with supplementary aids such as: teachers’ manuals, self-instruction aids, review and overview devices, detailed index, suggested activities and examples.
13. Materials should represent the many ethnic and cultural groups and their contributions to American heritage.
PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING LIBRARY MATERIAL
1. The Library Media Specialist, and the District Coordinator of the Instructional Media Center (IMC), with the approval of the building principal and utilizing recommendations solicited from the professional staff and students, has responsibility for the selection of library materials for each school library.
2. Books received as gifts that meet the standards for selection may be added to the library. If they are not deemed suitable, they will be discarded.
PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS
1. The Library Media Specialist, and the Coordinator of IMC, with the approval of the building principal and utilizing the recommendations solicited from the professional staff and students, will be responsible for the selection of audiovisual materials in each school building.
2. On the District level, the Coordinator of IMC, utilizing recommendations from the District’s Curriculum Committees, is responsible for the approval of all audiovisual materials used in the District.
3. The Instructional Media Center will provide the District’s Curriculum Committees with copies of all evaluated audiovisual materials prior to purchase.
4. Materials, not available for preview prior to purchase, will be evaluated before being added to the school’s collection
PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING TEXT MATERIALS ON A DISTRICT LEVEL
1. District-level Curriculum Committees shall include teacher representatives approved by BTA and administrative representatives approved by BPSO and shall recommend changes in the approved textbook list in a given area.
2. It is expected that all new text materials will be tested and evaluated by experienced teachers approved by BTA, as directed by the Curriculum Advisory Council, prior to the preparation of recommendations for change.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the particular District-level Curriculum Committee to:
  1. Arrange for scheduling meetings of the committee.
  2. Compile a list of materials for consideration by the District’s Curriculum Advisory Council.
  3. Arrange for testing of new materials after consulting with the appropriate administrators in the area in which the materials are to be tested.
  4. Prepare recommendations for changes in the textbook standards, based on the findings of the committee.
4. Recommendations are implemented at the direction of the Superintendent.
5. The Curriculum Advisory Council will make recommendations concerning implementation to the Superintendent.
6. Textbook adoptions should generally be reviewed after a period of five years, unless there are unusual circumstances which require an earlier re-evaluation.

Cross-reference:
1420, Complaints about Curricula or Instructional Materials
4300, Curriculum Development

Approved by the Board of Education: 7/7/09

Download the Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials PDF