Board Policy

BP 6161.1

Instruction

Selection And Evaluation Of Instructional Materials

The Board of Education believes that instructional materials should be selected and evaluated with great care so that they will effectively support the adopted courses of study and meet current curricular goals. The review of instructional materials shall be coordinated with the overall development and evaluation of the district's curriculum. Taken as a whole, district instructional materials should present a broad spectrum of knowledge and viewpoints, reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our society, and enhance the use of multiple teaching strategies and technologies.

(cf. 6141 - Curriculum Development and Evaluation)

The Superintendent or designee shall establish a process by which new instructional materials may be requested and subsequently evaluated, together with existing materials. Teachers, students, parents/guardians and community members shall have the opportunity to recommend instructional materials.

The Superintendent or designee shall establish instructional material evaluation committees. These committees may include teachers, administrators and other staff who have subject-matter expertise, as well as parents/guardians and/or community members broadly representative of the district's ethnic and socioeconomic composition. Staff members who participate in selecting and/or evaluating instructional materials shall be those most competent for the task because of their professional training, experience and assignments.

The majority of each evaluation committee's members shall be teachers.

Individuals who participate in selecting and evaluating instructional materials shall have no financial interest in the materials being reviewed, recommended, or approved. Incompatible activities and conflicts of interest related to the selection and evaluation of instructional materials shall be clearly identified in administrative regulations.

(cf. 3315 - Relations with Vendors)

(cf. 9270 - Conflict of Interest)

Recommendations for the adoption and/or withdrawal of instructional materials shall be presented to the Board by the Superintendent or designee and shall include documentation supporting the recommendation. All recommended materials shall be displayed and available for public inspection at the district office.

(cf. 3270 - Sale and Disposal of Books, Equipment and Supplies)

Once instructional materials have been adopted by the Board, objections and complaints shall be handled on a case-by-case basis in keeping with Board policy.

(cf. 1312.2 - Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

1720-1723 Preparation of courses of study

35272 Education and athletic materials

44805 Enforcement of course of studies; use of textbooks, rules and regulations

51501 Subject matter reflecting on race, color, etc.

60010 Definitions

60040-60047 Instructional requirements and materials

60070-60076 Prohibited acts (re instructional materials)

60110-60111 Instructional materials on drug education

60200-60206 Elementary school materials

60400-60411 High school textbooks

Management Resources:

CDE PROGRAM ADVISORIES

1002.90 Selection of Instructional Materials, CIL: 90/91-02

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: May 24, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California