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Littleton Public Schools Regulation |
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Policy Code IJK-R Policy Name Supplementary Materials Selection and Adoption Adoption September 8, 2005 Revised January 13, 2011 |
The Board of Education supports the use of a variety of instructional materials, including textbooks and supplemental materials, to assist student learning. Supplementary materials are defined as instructional materials, other than textbooks, such as, but not limited to, fiction and nonfiction books, periodicals, maps, videos, and software programs that are available for student use, but on a short-term or one-time basis. These supplementary materials used on a short-term or one-time basis do not require Board of Education approval. However, supplemental fiction and nonfiction books assigned for students to read in their entirety do require formal Board of Education action. All supplementary materials must support or enrich the District adopted curriculum.
The following regulation outlines the process for approval, and establishes guidelines for use of fiction and nonfiction supplementary reading books, assigned or selected by teachers for instructional purposes. The regulation does not include fiction/nonfiction book selections made independently by the student from the building or classroom library.
Guidelines for Approval Process of Supplemental Fiction or Nonfiction Reading Books
Requests for approval of fiction and nonfiction reading books must be submitted to the Office of Learning Services.
▪ Teachers initiate the process by completing the District developed Approval Request for New Titles form, which specifies
◦ Three readers review the material and sign the form.
◦ Sensitive or controversial passages or sections for further review are flagged for review by the District Materials Approval Committee.
▪ The District Materials Approval Committee will be named each year from teachers, administrators, and community members who apply or are appointed to review supplemental reading book requests and will be facilitated by a designee of the Director of Learning Services.
◦ The District Materials Approval Committee reviews requests for approval, and forwards recommendations of appropriate supplementary materials to the Director of Learning Services.
◦ Supplementary materials not recommended for approval by the committee will be returned to buildings with explanations.
◦ The Office of Learning Services presents recommended supplementary materials to the Board of Education for consideration twice annually, in April and September.
◦ All parties will be notified regarding Board of Education action and approved titles will be added to the District approved list.
Guidelines for Approval Process of Supplemental Fiction or Nonfiction Reading Books
Teachers considering new titles and the District Materials Approval Committee shall use the following standards:
Standards for Required Reading
1. Reading selections which are assigned as required reading or read aloud to students in the classroom shall meet the following criteria:
a. The subject matter, interest and reading level, and maturity level of the selection are appropriate for the students being taught.
b. The selection is appropriate for the age, emotional development, ability level, and social development of the students being taught.
c. The selection meets an appropriate instructional purpose.
d. The selection will help students better understand themselves and others.
e. The selection has identifiable literary or curricular merit.
f. The selection appropriately models a literary element, style, or genre that the students are expected to learn.
2. Materials or books that students select themselves from school library media centers, public libraries, home libraries, or other sources shall not come under the guidelines of this policy.
3. The teacher has an obligation to know the content of the fiction or nonfiction books being assigned. In the event that the content is potentially objectionable, parents shall be notified by the school, with sufficient time and adequate detail, about the opportunity to opt out if desired.
Cross Reference: IMA, Teaching Activities/Presentations
IMA-R, Teaching Activities/Presentations
IMBB, Exemptions From Required Instruction
KCB, Review of Decisions at Request of Community Members