The School Board recognizes its responsibility for the improvement and growth of the educational program of the schools. Instructional materials shall be selected to ensure alignment with state learning standards and enable all students to master foundational skills and knowledge to achieve college and career readiness. The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for the regular review of standards and selection of instructional materials.

Definitions
For the purpose of policy and procedure 2020, the following definitions will apply:

Instructional Materials are materials designed for use by students and their teachers as learning resources. These may include textbooks, technology-based materials, and other educational media. For the purposes of this policy, there are two categories of instructional materials:

I. Core Materials are the primary materials used to teach state standards. Core materials are selected through a process that requires the Instructional Materials Committee to launch and manage an adoption team, based on the district’s procedures, and then recommended an adoption by the School Board.

II. Supplemental Materials are used in conjunction with the core instructional materials. These include materials in school libraries, and instructional materials not expressly required by the school or school district and are selected at the discretion of the certificated teacher or teacher-librarian. 

Instructional Materials Committee

The Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) is the body that makes recommendations regarding potential adoptions of core instructional materials to the School Board based on the Superintendent-established procedure(s). The IMC is appointed, with the approval of the school board, by the Superintendent. This committee shall consist of:

• representative members of the district's professional staff including three (3) and at least one-third (1/3) of the committee that are non-supervisory certificated instructional staff members
• one or more parents of enrolled students, with the parent members equaling less than one-half of the total membership of the committee; comprehensive outreach to parents of enrolled students will take place to recruit a diverse pool of parent members for IMC that reflects the demographics and learning needs in the district.

Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials

The School Board is responsible for the adoption of all core materials used in the District. The Superintendent or designee will establish procedures for adoption of core and selection of supplemental material.

The primary objective in selecting instructional materials is to implement, enrich, and support the educational program of the schools.  All instructional materials will be selected in conformance with:

A. Applicable state and federal laws;

B. Goals and/or learning standards of the district and state; and

C. Procedures established by the Instructional Materials Committee which address the criteria detailed in the corresponding procedure 2020P.

Selection criteria must be designed to ensure adopted materials do not have bias based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, and the use of a trained dog guide or service animal. To achieve this, the IMC shall direct adoption teams to use screening criteria to identify and eliminate bias in adopted materials as directed in current state law.

The school board may not refuse to approve, or prohibit the use of, any instructional materials on the basis that it relates to or includes the study of the role and contributions of any individual or group who is part of a protected class.

The Superintendent will ensure that a listing of all core instructional materials used within the school is maintained in the District and is available for public review either in person or online. Additionally, the Superintendent will ensure staff make supplemental materials available for review upon request from parents and legal guardians.

The intent of the Board is that the Superintendent delegate responsibility for examining, evaluating, and selecting all supplemental materials to the professional staff of the District. Staff will use professional judgment in the selection of high quality supplemental materials that align to the State learning standards and are appropriate for the instructional program and learning needs of their students. 

Addressing Material Complaints

The intent of the Board is to provide opportunities for parents and legal guardians to share complaints regarding materials and resolve concerns at the school level whenever possible. The Superintendent or delegate will implement procedures that require:

(A) Complaints be in writing from a parent or legal guardian of a student who is enrolled in the district and submitted to a principal from a school where the materials that are the subject of the complaint are used.

(B) Seek to resolve complaints through a meeting with the parent or guardian, a certificated teacher who uses the materials that are the subject of the complaint, and the principal to whom the complaint was submitted. Principals should maintain documentation of written complaints that are resolved at the school level.

(C) Require, if a resolution cannot be agreed upon with the parent or guardian and the school principal, the IMC to provide a written decision on the matter within: 60 days of a meeting with the teacher and principal; or 90 days after the complaint was received by the principal, whichever date is later. Decisions will be made by a majority vote of the IMC. Decisions made may be limited in application to only the student or students of the parent or guardian who submitted the complaint.

(D) Provide a process for appealing decisions of the IMC by the parent or guardian, a certificated teacher who uses the materials that are the subject of the complaint, or a principal from a school where the materials that are the subject of the complaint are used, to the superintendent or a designee. Appeal requests must be made in writing and decisions by the superintendent or designee under this subsection are not subject to appeal. Final decisions may not be reconsidered for a minimum of three years unless there is a substantive change of circumstances as determined by the superintendent.

Legal References:
Basic Education Act - District school directors responsibilities- RCW 28A.150.230
Instructional materials - Instructional materials committee - RCW 28A.320.230
Course of study and regulations - Enforcement - Withholding salary warrant for failure - RCW 28A.405.060
Sexual Equality - Chapter 28A.640 RCW
Responsibilities related to instruction - WAC 180-44-010
Textbooks and instructional materials - Scope Elimination of sex bias -compliance timetable - WAC 392-190-055
Definition of Supplemental - RCW 28A.320.235

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Board: August 1984
Revised by the Board: 1.08, 12.12; 9.15, 1.25
Classification: Essential