Procedure 2020

Section: 2000 - Instruction

 

Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

For the purposes of this procedure, the definitions from Policy 2020 will apply.

District course design and core instructional materials should be regularly reviewed to ensure their ongoing alignment with state law, teaching and learning standards, and research-based best practices. All students will receive high quality core instruction and, as appropriate, strategic and intensive intervention supports matched to student needs.

 

A. Course Design

Existing Courses

The superintendent or designee will establish a regular cycle of course design review and development that includes examination by review committees composed of district subject area coordinators and, as appropriate, external content area experts. This review cycle should be based on student need, changing demographics and funding.  The cycle should cover each content area to ensure current course relevance. The course design process should review:

• Relevance, rigor, and alignment to state learning standards;
• Efficacy of core, alternative core, and intervention instructional materials that support student learning; and
• Processes and resources used to assess student progress and address teacher professional learning.

Recommendations of this review may lead to:

• Affirmation of continued use of current processes and instructional materials;
• Establishment  of a timeline for completion of recommended tasks;
• Creation and assignment of tasks to subcommittees as required to select, write, or revise the course design;
• Recommendation of new instructional materials selection to the Instructional Materials Committee;
• Design of course implementation and staff development plans;
• Identification of projected budget needs in accordance with established timelines; and/or
• Maintained communications with impacted stakeholders.

New Courses or Major Modifications to Existing Courses

New course offerings or major course modifications that propose significant changes to course objectives or scope will be reviewed by the superintendent or designee prior to being scheduled to ensure that the course is rigorous, utilizes appropriate instructional materials, and is a carefully considered part of the school’s college and career pathways.

When the implementation of new or modified courses requires the adoption of new instructional resources, those resource recommendations will be forwarded to the Instructional Materials Committee for consideration by the process outlined below.

 

B. Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

For the purposes of this procedure, instructional materials used in the school district will be classified as core, alternative core, intervention, supplemental, and temporary supplemental and shall be selected according to the procedures that follow. The principal is responsible for ensuring the continuing familiarity of his/her certificated staff with the requirement of this policy and procedure. The district office will provide such technical assistance as may be necessary to accomplish this.

Roles and Responsibilities in the Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

Instructional Material Type	Role, Certificated Teaching  Staff	Role, Principal	Role, Superintendent	Role, Instructional Materials Committee (IMC	Role, Approval
Core material	identify		establish adoption procedure	recommend	School Board
Alternative core	identify		designate selector		Supt or Designee
Intervention	identify		designate selector		Supt or Designee
Supplemental	identify	designate selector			Principal
Temporary Supplemental	select – within district guidelines

 

Instructional Material Delivery Formats

Instructional materials may be delivered in many formats, and may include textbooks, technology-based materials, or other educational media.

Open Educational Resources 

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others. A wide variety of free, high quality instructional content is available from supplemental to core instructional materials. District staff are encouraged to consider OER when selecting instructional materials. OER are subject to the same selection and adoption procedures as other instructional materials outlined in this document.

Technology-based Resources

When instructional materials are technology based, district technology staff should be consulted regarding the technological impacts of the suggested program. Equity of access for students and teachers must be considered for all core materials delivered in digital formats.

 

C. Core Instructional Material Selection

Instructional Materials Committee
The Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) is formed to establish and monitor such procedures as may be necessary for the evaluation and recommendation of core materials used by the district in conformance to stated criteria. The committee will act upon requests for core material approval and will evaluate and act upon citizens’ requests for reconsideration of core materials.

Committee meetings will be held on a schedule determined by the district.  Special meetings may be called by the committee chairman if necessary. The committee secretary will provide department heads, principals, and program developers with copies of the committee meeting schedule and minutes.

The committee will consist of:

a. the executive director(s) of leadership and learning, Chairperson

b. two administrators, one elementary, and one secondary school

c. three classroom teachers, one elementary, one middle school, and one high school

d. one special education representative

e.  three patrons

Instructional Materials Committees may include parents, but state law provides that parents must make up less than one-half the committee.

Members will be appointed by the superintendent or designee through the district’s committee process. Membership must be approved by the Board of Directors. The chairman and the secretary will be permanent members of the committee. Other members will have three-year terms.

Temporary appointments of one year or less may be made to fill vacancies or in order to bring into the committee certain professional staff members needed to facilitate completion of short-range tasks.

Criteria for Selection of Core Instructional Materials
Core instructional materials shall be selected based upon the degree to which they:

1. Demonstrate likelihood of impact as shown by scientific or evidence-based research;
    
2. Enable implementation of the district’s developed curriculum and meet state standards and College Readiness requirements;
    
3. Provide sufficient flexibility to meet the varied needs and abilities of the students served;
    
4. Provide clear and appropriate differentiation components for English Language Learners, special education students, students with academic opportunity gaps, and highly capable students;
    
5. Where appropriate, present balanced but differing views of issues, controversial or otherwise, in order that students may develop critical analysis and informed decision-making skills;
    
6. Demonstrate consideration of appropriate format(s) (including technological, visual, and/or auditory components);
    
7. Support an equitable access to learning and learning materials for all students; including the provision of appropriate, high-quality accessible instructional materials to all students with disabilities who require them; and
    

Are free of stereotyping and gender, race, class, and other forms of bias, recognizing that under certain circumstances biased materials may serve as appropriate resources to present contrasting and differing points of view, and biased materials may be employed in order to teach students about bias, stereotyping, and propaganda in historical or contemporary contexts. The Washington Models for the Evaluation of Bias Content in Instructional Materials, published by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) should be consulted in the selection process to further the goal of eliminating content bias: https://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/InstructionalMaterialsReview.aspx.

Social studies curriculum review or adoption
In compliance with RCW 28A.320.170, when the board adopts or reviews the district’s social studies curriculum, it will incorporate history, culture and government of the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes utilizing curriculum available on the OSPI website. The district may modify the OSPI curriculum to incorporate elements that have a regionally specific focus or may incorporate the curriculum into existing instructional materials. 

During regularly scheduled reviews and revisions of their social studies and history curriculum thereafter, the district will collaborate with any federally recognized Indian tribe within its boundaries and with neighboring Indian tribes to expand and improve instructional materials about Indian tribes and to create programs of classroom and community cultural exchange.

The district will collaborate with the office of the superintendent of public instruction on curricular areas regarding tribal government and history that are statewide in nature. 

Identification of Core Instructional Materials
Core materials shall be initially selected by such certificated staff as the superintendent or designee may assign. Materials must meet the Criteria for the Selection of Core Materials above.

Recommendation of Core Instructional Materials
The IMC will receive recommended district material proposals through superintendent-assigned staff. Core material will be reviewed according to superintendent-established procedures to ensure compliance with the above selection criteria and by using instructional material evaluation tools listed on the OSPI website: https://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/InstructionalMaterialsReview.aspx

Based on their evaluation, the IMC will recommend core instructional materials to the board for adoption.

Adoption of Core Instructional Materials
Core material will be approved by the board prior to their use in classrooms. Texts selected previously are exempt from this requirement.

Regularly Scheduled Core Material Updates 
Any courses using OER as their core material shall annually convene a representative group of district teachers of the course to revise and improve the core material. Adaptations shall be based on teacher and student suggestions and data from state or district assessments identifying areas of lower student performance. Revised versions of the core material will be implemented for the following school year.

If the adaptations to the core material results in significant changes to course objectives or scope, the revised resource shall be forwarded to the Instructional Materials Committee for consideration and, formal recommendation for board adoption.

Exceptional Needs or Rapidly Changing Circumstances
The superintendent or designee may authorize the acquisition of alternative core instructional materials to meet exceptional needs or rapidly changing circumstances. However, expanded use of core instructional materials selected for exceptional needs will require adoption through the formal process.

College in the High School, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB)
College in the High School, AP, and/or IB courses may have varying course designs as necessitated by their course credit transfer requirements.

Field Testing
The superintendent or designee may consider the use of field testing as part of the adoption process. Field testing can provide a flexible opportunity to investigate the effectiveness of curricular approaches, instructional materials, and/or assessment resources through careful experimentation for an identified purpose based on student needs. 

Trial-use core instructional material of an experimental, field-test nature may be authorized for use by the superintendent for a period of no more than one school year prior to adoption through the formal process.

Citizen Access to View Core Materials 
Members of the community are invited to review any core instructional materials in current or proposed use. Such review may be accomplished at the school, in the district office, or online. The review and examination process should be arranged in a way to avoid disrupting the educational program. The review of core materials should be undertaken with the knowledge of district objectives in mind.

D. Intervention Instructional Material Selection
Instructional materials designed to support strategic or intensive intervention for students who are at risk of not meeting established learning standards will be approved by the superintendent or designee based upon evidence from reputable sources (e.g., National Center on Response to Intervention, Johns Hopkins Best Evidence Encyclopedia).

E.  Alternative Core Instructional Material Selection
The superintendent, or designee, will establish procedures through which schools may be approved to use alternative core materials for specialized course offerings or flexible learning environments. In many cases, the superintendent may decide that selection of these alternative core materials be made by certificated staff designated by the building principal.

F. Supplemental Material Selection
Supplemental materials will not require IMC approval or board adoption.
 
The superintendent shall delegate responsibility for examining, evaluating, and selecting all supplemental and temporary supplemental materials to the principal or professional staff of the district. This includes preparing all student reading lists using state standards-aligned resources/repositories. Certified staff will rely on reason and professional judgment in the selection of high quality supplemental materials that align to state learning standards and are appropriate for the instructional program and developmental level and interests of their students. While supplemental materials do not require item-by-item approval of the IMC, staff are expected to thoroughly preview such materials and to give due consideration to the text complexity, developmental level of students; appropriateness of language or images; bias against racial, gender, ethnic, or other social groups; and other sensitive issues.

Media usage guidelines: media, films, videos, CD/DVD’s etc. must have a high instructional value and demonstrate that they are aligned with state and district standards and curriculum. The over-utilization of media, films, etc. compromises best instructional practice and therefore should be used judiciously. Generally, short clips are more appropriate than showing a full-length film. Video rental and library loaners are designed for home use. They may be used in the classroom only if the concepts or information on the tape is an integral part of the lesson. When using industry-rated material, staff will follow the procedures below:

1. Under no circumstances may a “NC 17” or “X” film/product be shown.
2. “G” rated products may be shown at any level.
3. Students in grades pr-K-5 may view “PG” products only with written parent permission. “PG-13” and “R” products are prohibited.
4. Students in grades 6-8 may view “PG” products with parent notification. Students may view “PG-13” products with written parent permission. “R” products are prohibited.
5. Students in grades 9-12 may view “PG-13”. “R” rated products may be shown with parent permission. Longview School District Page 2 of 10 Procedure No. 2020P
6.  All PG, PG-13 and R products must be previewed in their entirety by the teacher and approved by the principal prior to use.
7.  For all products that require parent permission, the teacher will prepare a compatible alternative assignment/activity for students not viewing the product.

 

G. Temporary Supplemental Material Selection
Professional staff of the district will rely on reason and professional judgment in the selection of high quality temporary supplemental materials that are appropriate for the instructional program and developmental level and interests of their students.
 

H. Free, Sponsored, and Donated Materials

The schools welcome the donation of books and other resource materials from individuals and organizations but reserve the right to dispose of unsuitable materials. The materials, to be acceptable, must meet the same high standards and criteria established for the selection of district-purchased instructional materials and be approved by the building instructional material committee. If the donor does not want rejected material returned, it will be discarded.

 

I. Conditions for Loan and Sale of Instructional Materials

Textbooks and other instructional materials may be made available for loan to students when, in the judgment of the board members, the best interests of the district will be served by such a decision. The professional staff will maintain records necessary for the proper accounting of all instructional materials and will set forth conditions for student replacement of lost or badly damaged materials. District instructional materials which students are not required to own may be made available to students who wish to purchase them. New and used materials currently utilized in the instructional program will be sold at the replacement cost of each item. Used materials no longer in basic or supplementary use will be sold at a price reflecting the depreciated value of the materials. Instructional materials that do not meet current district standards for subject content, sex balance, ethnic content or are not repairable may be declared obsolete by the superintendent and disposed of per district policy.

J. Protest Procedure for Instructional Materials
When a parent/guardian or employee challenges any instructional materials used or restricted from use in the schools, the following steps should be taken:

Informal Process:

• Concerns should first be discussed with the certificated teacher and/or the school principal. All parties are urged to resolve the concern at this level.
• The building principal shall meet with the complainant in order to fully understand the basis for the complaint. At that meeting, the principal shall inform the complainant of the selection procedures and the principles of intellectual freedom involved in the choice of the materials. The principal shall make no commitments at the time of the meeting concerning disposition of the materials under discussion.  If appropriate, principal may schedule a meeting between the complainant and the staff person using the materials.
• Any decision to discontinue use of any instructional material on the basis of a com­plaint shall be voluntary and rest solely with the employee using the material. Such decisions shall be reported to the building principal.

Formal Process:

• If the concerns cannot be resolved through discussion at the school level, the following steps will be taken and the challenged instructional material will continue to be used until a decision is rendered: 

          a. If the instructional material is core, alternative core, or intervention material, the parent/guardian or employee may register a request for reconsideration with the Executive Director of Leadership and Learning. This request will be forwarded to the Instructional Materials Review committee. The IMC will review the complaint and establish a timely process for public consideration of the complaint, if appropriate.

          b. If the challenged instructional material is supplemental in nature, at a parent’s written request to the principal, the supplemental material may be asked to be withdrawn from their student. The principal shall facilitate a meeting of the complainant(s) and appropriate school staff.  Following the meeting, the principal shall respond with a written decision. If warranted by the scope of the supplemental material, an appeal may be submitted to the superintendent or designee requesting review by the Instructional Materials Committee and a written decision.

          1. If any instructional material is removed from use in a particular building by that build­ing's principal, that decision will be referred to the instructional materials committee in all other buildings using the material.

Formal Process Timeline:

Step 1:

Upon receipt of the completed written complaint, the executive director of leadership and learning shall:

1. Convene the district instructional materials committee within ten working days;
2. Notify the superintendent the Instructional Materials Committee is reviewing the challenged materials.

 

Within 20 working days, the district instructional materials committee shall:

1. Read, view, or listen to the material in its entirety.
2. Check general acceptance of the material by reading reviews and consulting rec­ommended lists.
3. Determine the extent to which the material supports the curriculum.
4. Complete the appropriate "checklist for instructional material," judging the material for its strength and value as a whole and not in part.
5. Invite the complainant to appear before the district or building instructional materials committee to discuss the reason for the complaint.
6. Reject the complaint, modify the use of the material, or wholly concur with the complaint.

 

The executive director of leadership and learning shall, in writing:

1. Inform the complainant of action taken;
2. Inform the superintendent of action taken.

No restriction will be imposed on usage of challenged materials which have been properly approved until the district instructional materials committee has taken action. Materials not approved according to district regulations will be withdrawn from use while the complaint is being reviewed.

 

Step 2:

If the complaint is rejected and the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, a writ­ten request for review shall be presented to the superintendent within 10 days of receipt of the decision of the district instructional materials committee.

The superintendent shall, within 10 days      

1. Review the complaint;
2. Meet with the complainant to discuss the concerns;
3. Seek assistance of the district instructional materials committee

After receiving input from the district instructional materials committee, the superintendent shall, within 10 days:

1. Arrive at a decision and take action;
2. Inform the complainant in writing of action taken; and
3. Report action taken in writing to the board of directors.

 

Step 3:

The complainant may appeal the decision of the superintendent to the board of directors. Such appeal must be filed with the secretary of the board of directors within 10 days of receipt of the superintendent's decision.

Upon receiving such an appeal, the board of directors shall schedule a public hearing on the complaint within 14 days.  A final decision on the materials shall be made by the board and delivered to the complainant in writing within 30 days of the public hearing.

 

Adoption Date: May 21, 1970

Amended: October 26, 2009

Amended: May 9, 2016