Principles and Policies

Durham Public Schools Mission

Durham Public Schools embraces, educates, and empowers every student to innovate, serve, and lead. 

Durham Public Schools Vision

Durham Public Schools: Igniting Limitless Potential 

Durham Public Schools Strategic Plan

The Durham Public Schools Media Program supports and aligns to the 2023-28 DPS Strategic Plan. 

DPS NON-NEGOTIABLES

• Establish realistic goals driven by data at the school, teacher, and student levels with frequent monitoring.

• Standardize Professional Learning Communities with a minimum of one meeting per month with checks for effectiveness.

• Create intervention plans at the beginning of the academic year for elementary schools and at the beginning of the semester for secondary schools inclusive of monitoring and adjusting for high impact.

• Develop a comprehensive professional development plan at the beginning of the year in alignment with the district’s professional development plan coupled with evidence of evaluations and follow-up.

• Envision and design an innovative and rewarding incentive plan for students and staff at the beginning of the year.

• Engage families in meaningful ways that result in trusting relationships, increasing enrollments, and collaborative partnerships for student achievement.

Library Media Center Guiding Principles

The Durham Public Schools Media Program is based upon the principles, ideals and guidelines set forth in the following documents:

• • IMPACT: Guidelines for North Carolina Media and Technology Programs 

  • DPS Media Coordinator Responsibilities 

  • ISTE Standards for Students (DTL Student Standards)

  • NC Educators’ Evaluation Standards for Media Coordinators 

  • North Carolina Standard Course of Study

  • Durham Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction Documents 

  • Durham Public Schools Strategic Plan

These documents in particular form the foundation for the media program within the school and district. 

Additionally, excellent resources covering all aspects of school library media programs can be accessed on the NCDPI Digital Teaching and Learning page, maintained by NCDPI library-media consultant Kathy Parker.  

Although dated, IMPACT provides guidelines and best practices for media coordinators and technology facilitators that continue to be relevant.  It is highly recommended that media coordinators review IMPACT at the beginning of every school year, and refer to it frequently as needed to drive decision making related to instruction, collaboration, flexible access, Media and Technology Advisory Committees, budgeting, facilities, collection development, and all other facets of the media program.   The North Carolina Information and Technology Essential Standards (ITES) define the knowledge and skills that all students should acquire at each grade level, and the North Carolina Educator Evaluation System (NCEES) for library media coordinators provides guidance on fulfilling our professional role and responsibilities. Additionally, the documents below provide standards and professional beliefs and practices to which we adhere.  The standards presented in these documents should be implemented seamlessly in conjunction with the Common Core Standards and DPS unit plans. Many of the resources below are housed in the in room M-6 at the DPS Staff Development Center, and are available for checkout through the DPS Professional Collection site in Destiny at https://dpsnc.follettdestiny.com/. 

• • AASL National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries

  • Learner Framework 

  • ALA Library Bill of Rights

  • ALA Code of Ethics 

  • Future Ready Librarians Framework

DPS Board Policies

The following Durham Public Schools Board of Education Policies relate directly to media and technology programs.  Media coordinators and technology facilitators should be thoroughly familiar with these policies, and review with your faculties and staffs each year:

• • Policy 3102: Online Instruction (e-Learning)

  • Policy 3200: Selection of Instructional Materials

  • Policy 3205: Use of Videos and Digital Media

  • 3205-R: Use of Videos and Digital Media

  • 3210: Parental Inspection of an Objection to Instructional Materials

  • Policy 3220: Technology in the Educational Program

  • Policy 3225/4312/7320: Technology Responsible Use  (Acceptable Use Policy-AUP)

  • Policy 3226/4205: Internet Safety

  • Policy Code 3227/7322: Web Page Development

  • Policy 3230/7330: Copyright Compliance

  • Policy Code: 4040/7310 Staff-Student Relations 

  • Policy 4301: Code of Student Conduct - Elementary

  • Policy 4301: Code of Student Conduct - Middle and High Schools

  • Policy 6520: Use Of Equipment, Materials, and Supplies 

  • Policy 7335: Employee Use of Social Media

  • Policy 8225/7360: Crowdfunding (info & form)

  • Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) - formerly Bring Your Device to School (Policy 3220.C)

  • Media Releases and Parent/Guardian Permission for Technology Use are part of the PowerSchool registration (See your Data manager for a complete list) 

  • Media Release Form in English and Spanish

Links to associated rules, procedures, and forms can be found beneath the board policy if applicable. The DPS Board is in the process of updating all board policies. During the revision process, the Board will maintain two policy manuals. As new policies are adopted and added to the New Policy Manual, correlating old policies (either in whole or in part) will be removed from the Old Policy Manual. The Board will attempt to provide strikeout versions of any old policy that has been only partially superseded. In the event of a conflict between information contained in a policy located in the old manual and a policy located in the new manual, the newly adopted policy takes precedence.