Instructional Materials Reconsideration Process
Crandall ISD Instructional Materials Reconsideration Process - Exhibit A
Board Policy: EFA(Local)
Regulations: Texas School procedures Reviewing Challenged Materials Protocol
Forms: Request to Formally Reconsider Instructional Materials Form (English)
Formulario de solicitud para reconsiderar formalmente los materiales didácticos (Spanish)
Flow Chart for Reconsidering CISD Instructional Materials
Guiding Principles for Responding to a Request to Reconsider
The following principles shall guide Crandall ISD in responding to challenges of instructional materials and resources:
● A complainant may raise an objection to an instructional material used in a school’s educational program, despite the fact that the professional staff selecting the materials were qualified to make the selection, followed the proper procedure, and adhered to the objectives for instructional materials set out in EFA(Legal) and EFA(Local) Policies.
● A Parent’s ability to exercise control over instruction extends only to his or her own (child)ren as set forth in Education Code Chapter 26.
● Access to a challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process, except the District may deny access to a child if requested by the child’s parent.
The major criterion for the final decision on challenged instructional materials is the appropriateness of the material for its intended educational use. No challenged instructional material shall be removed solely because of the ideas expressed therein.
Steps in the Process Considerations:
● When the District or a campus receives an objection to the appropriateness of an instructional material, the appropriate administrator shall try to resolve the matter informally. The informal meeting may include the classroom teacher if they wish to be present.
● Access to a challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process, except the District may deny access to a child if requested by the child’s parent.
Step One: Informal Reconsideration
1) A complainant should contact the appropriate administrator to express their objection to the appropriateness of specific individual instructional materials.
2) The appropriate campus and/or district administrator(s), who supports the material, will meet with the individual regarding options to informally resolve the complaint prior to formal reconsideration: a) The appropriate administrator shall explain the school/district’s selection and reconsideration process. Informal reconsiderations are intended for specific children in which the complainant has legal guardianship. Formal reconsideration requests are intended for ALL students in the school and/or district. b) The appropriate administrator shall explain the intended educational purpose of the materials and any additional information regarding its use.
3) The administrator may offer a concerned parent an alternative instructional material in place of the challenged material.
If a complainant wishes to continue to challenge the material for all students beyond the Informal Reconsideration, the Formal Reconsideration process listed will be followed.
Step Two: Formal Reconsideration
If the complainant wishes to make a formal challenge, the administrator shall provide the complainant a copy of this policy and a form to request a formal reconsideration. Upon receipt of the Request for Formal Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Form, the principal will acknowledge receipt of the form and notify the District’s Curriculum & Instruction office of the review request.
Reconsideration Committee
1) A Reconsideration Committee shall be appointed by the District’s Curriculum & Instructional Staff
a) The reconsideration committee shall include at least one member of the instructional staff who has experience using the challenged material with students or is familiar with the challenged material’s content. Other members of the committee may include district-level staff, secondary-level students, parents, and any other appropriate individuals.
b) All members of the committee shall review the challenged instructional material in its entirety.
c) As soon as reasonably possible, the committee shall meet and determine whether the challenged material conforms to the principles of selection set out in board policy and whether the challenged material will continue to be used in the educational program.
d) The committee shall prepare a written report of its findings. The Superintendent, the Chief Academic Officer, other appropriate campus/district administrators, and the complainant shall receive copies of the report.
e) After an instructional material has been reviewed through formal reconsideration, it shall not be reviewed again until it is evaluated in the periodic local selection process.
Step Three: Options for Complainant
The complainant who submitted the Request for Formal Reconsideration of Instructional Materials Form may do one of the following once the Formal Reconsideration has been completed:
1. Accept the decision of the Reconsideration Committee
2. The complainant may appeal the decision of the reconsideration committee in accordance with appropriate complaint policies, starting at the appropriate level as outlined in CISD’s Board Policies DGBA, FNG, and GF.