SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT | Administrative Guideline Manual

2521A - SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The criteria established for the selection of instructional materials and equipment shall not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law including, but not limited to, age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability.

In accordance with the policies of the Board of Education for selection of resource materials, the following guidelines should be followed:

Criteria for Selection of Instructional Materials
1. technical quality of the publication/production
2. readability and appeal to diverse students
3. authenticity-authoritativeness
4. completeness, accuracy, clarity
5. absence of gender stereotyping and racial or ethnic bias
6. reputation and significance of the author, artist, composer, and/or producer
7. format and price
8. relationship to a course of study
9. extent to which the scope/content of the material makes it possible for students to accomplish the objectives and goals of the program
10. appropriateness of the content and/or presentation relative to the maturity and/or comprehension level of the students
11. needs of an individual school program based on requests from administrators and teachers
12. needs of individual students based on requests by teachers, parents, or students
Criteria for Selection of Equipment

The evaluation and selection criteria for instructional equipment should include:
1. relevance to the school curriculum;
2. needs of staff and/or students;
3. technical quality;
4. cost;
5. reliability;
6. ease of repair and maintenance;
7. compatibility with existing District equipment, when applicable.
Procedure for Selection of Instructional Resources

The procedure for the selection of instructional resources is outlined within the Curriculum Renewal and Design Process document shared on the District website.
Procedure for Selection of Library or Media Center Materials
1. The Library Media/Technology Specialist, in cooperation with the Director of Teaching and Learning, shall be responsible for the selection of all materials housed in a library or media center. Upon notification of the availability of funds for the purchase of such resource materials, the Library Media/Technology Specialist, will prepare a request form which includes the amount of money available to a grade level or subject area for new or additional materials. Instructional staff are to submit a prioritized request list of the materials they would find most useful.
2. The Library Media/Technology Specialist, shall then determine which of the requests can be accommodated and proceed to review the selections prior to purchase. The selection criteria are the same as those used for the selection of basic text materials. (see AG 2510)3.
3. Any material that contains content or a manner of presentation that could be controversial, as defined in Policy 2240, should be approved by the District Administrator prior to purchase.
Procedure for Use of Nondistrict Materials
1. No print, audio, video, or graphic materials which are not part of the District's basic or supplementary materials are to be used with students without prior review and approval. Such review should be done, using Form 2521 F1, first by the teacher(s) or counselor(s) who wish to use the material.
2. The critical criteria by which such materials are to be reviewed are:
  1. relationship to the course of study;
  2. the uniqueness of the content and/or presentation that is not adequately provided in District materials;
  3. the appropriateness of the content and/or presentation for the maturity and comprehension levels of the students;
  4. the extent to which the content or presentation could create controversy among students, parents, and community groups.
3. Each of the four criteria are to be rated according to the rating scale on Form 2521 F1. In any situation in which the teacher has rated any of the four criteria 3 or 4, the use of the material must be approved by the District Administrator. If there is any concern on the part of the District Administrator that the material might be inappropriate, s/he should personally review the materials.
4. Any material that contains content or a manner of presentation that could be controversial, as defined in Policy 2240, should be approved by the District Administrator prior to purchase.