Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials

The Governing Board uses a comprehensive process to adopt district instructional materials that is based on selection criteria established by law and Board policy and includes opportunities for the involvement of district staff, parents/guardians, and community members, and, as appropriate, students. Complaints concerning the content or use of instructional materials, including textbooks, supplementary instructional materials, library materials, or other instructional materials and equipment, shall be properly and fairly considered using established complaint procedures. Parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss any concerns regarding instructional materials with their student's teacher and/or the school principal. If the situation remains unresolved, a complaint may be filed using the process specified in the accompanying administrative regulation and exhibit. The district shall accept complaints concerning instructional materials only from staff, district residents, or the parents/guardians of students enrolled in a district school. (Education Code 35160) However, a complaint related to the use or prohibited use of any existing textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or other curriculum for classroom instruction, or any book or other resource in a school library that alleges unlawful discrimination based on a violation of Education Code 243 or 244 shall be filed, investigated, and resolved in accordance with Board Policy 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. When deliberating upon challenged materials, the Superintendent, or any designee or committee established by the Superintendent to review the materials, shall consider the degree to which the materials align with the criteria for instructional materials as specified in law, Board policy, and administrative regulation. In addition, such deliberations may consider the educational philosophy and vision of the district; the educational suitability of the materials including the manner in which the materials support the curriculum and appropriateness for the student's age; the professional opinions of teachers of the subject and of other competent authorities and/or experts; reviews of the materials by reputable bodies; the stated objectives in using the materials; community standards; the allegations in the complaint, including the extent to which the objections are based on the dislike of ideas contained in the materials; and the impact that keeping or removing the materials would have on student well-being. The Superintendent, or any designee or committee established by the Superintendent to review the materials, shall not prohibit the continued use of an appropriately adopted textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or other curriculum for classroom instruction, or any book or other resource in a school library on the basis that it contains inclusive and/or diverse perspectives, as specified in Education Code 243. Additionally, the Superintendent, or any designee or committee established by the Superintendent to the review materials, shall not authorize the continued use of an adopted textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or curriculum for classroom instruction if the use would subject a student to unlawful discrimination pursuant to Education Code 220. If the complainant finds the Superintendent's or review committee's decision unsatisfactory, the complainant may appeal the decision to the Board. Any challenged instructional material that is reviewed by the district shall not be subject to further reconsideration for 12 months, unless required by law. Complaints related to the sufficiency of textbooks or instructional materials shall be resolved as specified in Administrative Regulation 1312.4 - Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures.