2521A - SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Gull Lake Community Schools

Administrative Guidelines

2521A - SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

In accordance with the policies of the Board of Education for selection of all resource materials which support and supplement curriculum, the following guidelines should be followed:

Criteria for Selection of Instructional Materials

		1.	technical quality of the publication/production
		2.	readability and appeal to students
		3.	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.	positive reviews in professional journals with National scope
		8.	format and price
		9.	relationship to a course of study
		10.	extent to which the scope/content of the material makes it possible for students to accomplish the objectives and goals of the program
		11.	appropriateness of the content and/or presentation relative to the maturity and/or comprehension level of the students
		12.	needs of an individual school program based on requests from administrators and teachers
		13.	needs of individual students based on requests by teachers, parents, or students

	B.	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;
		8.	availability for purchases through the ISD consortium.

Procedure for Selection of Instructional Resources

		1.	Each principal shall select members of the staff who are directly involved in the program for which the materials and/or equipment will be used. Their responsibility is to review and evaluate suggested resources, using the criteria listed on page 1, and make recommendations to the principal.
		2.	The principal shall review the recommendations and, if necessary the materials and equipment, and submit the recommendations to the Business Manager for purchases.

Procedure for Selection of Library or Media Center Materials

		1.	Responsibility for the selection of materials rests legally with the Board of Education of the Gull Lake Community Schools. Authority to select materials for the school district media centers is delegated by the Board to the professional library personnel within each building, or in the absence of a professional librarian in a building, to a staff member designated by the Superintendent. This person selects materials in accordance with this policy, and with consideration of requests by faculty, parents, and students subject to administrative approval.
		2.	Any material that contains content or a manner of presentation that could be controversial, as defined in Policy 2240 and criterion #4 in Form 2521 F1, should be approved by the principal prior to purchase.
		3.	Upon selection and purchase of the library/media center materials, the instructional staff should be notified and an explanation provided for any requested materials that were not or could not be selected.

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 of the building principal. 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:

			a.	relationship to the course of study;
			b.	the uniqueness of the content and/or presentation that is not adequately provided in District materials;
			c.	the appropriateness of the content and/or presentation for the maturity and comprehension levels of the students;
			d.	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 principal. If there is any concern on the part of the principal that the material might be inappropriate, s/he should personally review the materials, and if still uncertain, contact the Director of Curriculum.
		4.	An ample supply of Form 2521 F1 is to be kept on file in the school and/or each departmental office.
		5.	Any material that contains content or a manner of presentation that could be controversial, as defined in Policy 2240 and criterion #4 in Form 2521 F1, should be approved by the principal prior to purchase.

Each member of the faculty is to receive a copy of Form 2521 F1 for use as a reference. The form should be submitted to the principal only at his/her discretion.