Process for the Review of Books
"A parent of a District student, any employee, or any District resident may formally challenge an instructional resource used in the District's educational program on the basis of appropriateness." [EF LOCAL)]
Informal Complaint
A parent can submit a complaint to the campus. The school will notify the librarian, principal, and district librarian of the complaint. There will be an informal meeting with the principal and/or librarian to discuss the situation with the complainant.
Formal Complaint
If the complainant does not agree with the outcome from the informal meeting, they can ask to fill out a REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION form. Once the form has been submitted, a campus or district committee will convene to discuss the material. This committee is composed of at least one district administrator, two teachers, and one district parent.
Appeal of Decision
If the complainant does not like the outcome of the initial committee meeting, they may file an APPEAL REQUEST FOR INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES to the Chief Learning Officer within ten school days of receiving the decision. A second committee will meet to determine whether or not the previous decision should be upheld. This committee is composted of the Chief Learning Officer, the Executive Director of Secondary Instruction and Advanced Academics, the district librarian, a campus administrator, a teacher specialist, and a district parent.
Board Level Appeal
If the complainant still disagrees with the second committee's decision, they may appeal to the Board of Trustees. The Chief Learning Officer will inform the complainant of the date, time, and place of the Board meeting at which the complaint will be on the agenda for the Board to consider.
The Board will receive the written request and copies of all records from the prior meetings. The Board will be given copies of the material in question to read/examine upon request.
Committee Procedures
The meeting facilitator will inform the committee members of the general nature of the complaint.
All members will review the initial written complaint.
The Committee members will:
- review the District's criteria for selection of instructional materials.
- consider the audience and grade level.
- discuss whether the material conforms to the principals outlined in the District's policy.
- read and review any supporting documentation, such as reviews from publishing companies.
- determine the extent to which the material supports and enriches the curriculum or is a source for recreational reading.
- consider both the positive and negative effects that continued use of the resource might have at the campus level.
- complete the "Checklist for Reconsideration of Instructional Resources" and present it to the campus principal.
