Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials

Step 1: Informal Complaint If a staff member, district resident, or parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a district school has a complaint regarding the content or use of any specific instructional material, such individual shall informally discuss the material in question with the principal. (Education Code 35160) Step 2: Formal Complaint If the complainant is not satisfied with the principal's initial response, the complainant shall present a written complaint to the principal. Complaints regarding printed material shall name the author, title, and publisher and shall identify the objection by page and item numbers. In the case of non printed material, written information specifying the precise nature of the objection and location of such material shall be given. In order for the district to reply appropriately, complainants shall sign all complaints and provide identifying information. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted. Upon receiving a complaint, the principal shall provide the complainant with a written acknowledgement of its receipt and respond to any procedural questions the complainant may have. The principal shall then notify the Superintendent or designee, the teacher(s), and other staff as appropriate. During the investigation of the complaint, the challenged material may remain in use until a final decision has been reached. Step 3: Review Committee The Superintendent or designee shall determine whether to convene a review committee to review the complaint. If the Superintendent or designee determines that a review committee is necessary, the Superintendent or designee shall appoint a committee composed of administrators and staff members selected from relevant instructional and administrative areas. The Superintendent or designee may also appoint parents/guardians, students, and community members, as appropriate, to serve on the committee. The Superintendent or designee may provide training to the review committee to ensure that the review committee is informed regarding its responsibilities, the criteria to follow when reviewing instructional materials, and applicable laws, Board policy(ies), and administrative regulation(s). Within 30 days of being convened, the review committee shall summarize its findings in a written report. The Superintendent or designee shall notify the complainant in writing of the committee's decision within 15 days of receiving the committee's report. Step 4: Superintendent Determination If the Superintendent or designee determines that a review committee is not necessary, the Superintendent or designee shall, in a timely manner, issue a decision regarding the complaint. Step 5: Appeal to the Governing Board If the complainant remains unsatisfied, the complainant may appeal the Superintendent's or review committee's decision to the Governing Board. The Board's decision shall be final.