NEPN/NSBA Code:  IJJ

INSTRUCTIONAL AND LIBRARY-MEDIA MATERIALS SELECTION

The School Committee is legally responsible for all matters relating to the operation of the schools, including the provision of instructional materials and maintenance of library- media resources that support the school system’s curriculum.

While the School Committee retains its authority to approve the selection of instructional materials, it recognizes the educational expertise of its professional staff and the need for such staff to be involved in the recommendation of instructional materials. The School Committee delegates responsibility for the selection of instructional materials and library- media resources to the professionally trained personnel employed by the school system, subject to the criteria and procedures for selection and the School Committee’s policy on challenged materials as described below.

With the assistance of professional staff, the Superintendent shall establish a system for the selection of instructional materials, including procedures to establish an orderly process for the review and recommendation of instructional materials. The Superintendent will be responsible for overseeing the purchase of instructional materials within budgetary parameters set by the School Committee. The School Committee expects the Superintendent to report on progress made in aligning instructional materials with curriculum development and evaluation in support of the content standards contained in Maine’s system of Learning Results.

Each school shall maintain a library-media program that includes books and other print materials, multimedia materials, online resources, and information technology that support the curriculum. Each level of school will have a certified library media specialist responsible for overseeing the library-media program, under the supervision of the Superintendent. As with instructional materials, the School Committee delegates responsibility for selection of library-media materials and technology and online resources to the school system’s professionally trained staff, subject to the criteria and procedures for selection and the School Committee’s policy on challenged materials described below.

Definitions

“Instructional materials” include textbooks and other print materials, software and other electronic materials, online/Internet resources (including access), and supplies and other materials to support instruction in subject areas and implementation of the system of Learning Results.

“Library-media resources” include books, print materials, online/Internet resources (including access), multimedia materials, and information technology that, as part of the library-media program, support the school system’s curriculum.

Objectives of Selection

The School Committee recognizes that it is the primary objective of instructional materials to implement and support the curriculum, and of library-media resources to extend and enrich the educational program of the schools. Quality instructional materials and library-media resources are essential to student learning. In preparing students to meet the content standards of the Learning Results, in supporting the achievement of the school district’s educational goals and objectives, and in providing enrichment opportunities that expand students’ interests and contribute to a desire for lifelong learning, it is the responsibility of the instructional program and the library-media centers of the schools to provide a wide range of materials on all levels of difficulty, with diversity of appeal and the presentation of different points of view.

Criteria for Selection

Instructional and library-media materials selected should:

A.   Support achievement of the content standards of the Learning Results;

B.  Support the goals and objectives of the school system’s educational programs;

C.  Contribute toward continuity, integration and articulation of the curriculum;

D.   Take into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the students served;

E.   Foster respect and appreciation for cultural diversity and varied opinions;

F.   Provide an array of comprehensive and accurate materials that are inclusive of cultures, languages, and discourses that reflect and examine the racial, class, ethnic, gender, religious, and cultural variety of the United States;

G.  Present a balance of opposing sides of controversial issues to enable students to develop a capability for critical analysis;

H.  Stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards; 

I.      Provide a background of information that will enable students to make intelligent decisions in their daily lives; and

J.   Respect the constraints of the school district’s budget.

Other factors that should be considered are accuracy and currency of material; importance of the subject matter; scholarship; quality of writing and production; and reputation and significance of the author, artist, or composer.

In evaluating software, multimedia materials, and online/Internet resources, additional factors that should be considered include purpose for use; content; format (degree of interactivity or student involvement); use of graphics, sound, and animation; feedback provided; and ease of use.

Procedures for Selection

Meeting the needs of the individual schools, based on knowledge of the curriculum and the existing collections of instructional and library-media materials, shall be the highest priority. Basic learning materials, i.e., those that are the predominant instructional materials used by most members of the class, are used for a significant portion of the course or receive major emphasis during a course, or are essential to student achievement of content standards of the Learning Results, are to take priority in the selection process.

Before recommending materials for purchase, professional staff should evaluate the existing collection, consulting reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared selection aids and specialists from all departments and/or all grade levels.

Social studies and science textbooks should not be older than five years unless up-to-date supplemental instructional materials are also available.

Whenever possible, the purchase of non-print materials and multimedia, online and technology resources shall be made after personal evaluation by the librarian/media specialist and/or other professional staff. Reviewing aids may be used in lieu of personal evaluation.

Multiple copies of outstanding and much-in-demand materials should be purchased as needed. Worn or missing standard items should be replaced periodically. Out-of-date or no-longer-useful materials should be withdrawn from the collection/circulation. 

Donated or Teacher-Purchased Materials

Any book or a/v donations to classrooms or school libraries should be chosen from a list curated by the classroom teacher or grade level librarian in accordance with School Committee policy on gifts and donations. Alternatively, an unrestricted monetary donation can be made.

Parental Authority

A student’s parent/guardian may inspect, upon request, any instructional material used as part of the curriculum. The Superintendent will be responsible for developing and implementing procedures for providing access to instructional material within a reasonable time after such a request is made.

The School Committee recognizes that the final authority as to what materials an individual student will be exposed rests with that student’s parents or guardians. However, at no time will the wishes of one child’s parents/guardians to restrict their reading or viewing of a particular item infringe on other parents’/guardians’ rights to permit their children to read or view the same material.

Library-media center materials will not be removed from the collection because of criticism except in accordance with School Committee policy.

Challenged Materials

Despite the care taken to select materials for student and staff use and the qualifications of the persons who select the materials, the School Committee recognized that objections may be raised occasionally by students, parents, school staff, or residents of Lewiston.

In the event a complaint is made, the following procedures will apply:

A.   The complaint shall be heard first by the person providing the materials in question

B.  If the complaint is not resolved, the complainant shall be referred to the building Principal and requested to fill out the “ Challenge of Instructional Materials Form.” A copy of the form will be forwarded to the Superintendent. 

C.  The Superintendent shall appoint a committee composed of the following persons to review the complaint: one Principal at the appropriate grade level; one librarian/media specialist; one classroom teacher; the content leader in the subject area of the challenged materials; one community member.

D.  The review committee shall: read and examine the materials referred to them; check general acceptance of materials by reading reviews; weigh values and faults against each other and form opinions based on the material as a whole and not on passages or portions pulled out of context; meet to discuss the material and to prepare a written report on it.

E.   The report of the committee shall be forwarded to the Superintendent who will inform the complainant of the results.

F.   No materials shall be removed from use until the review committee has made a final decision.

G.  The review committee’s decision may be appealed to the School Committee. The School Committee may set aside a portion of a regular meeting or call a special meeting for the purpose of receiving testimony from representatives of the various points of view. The material in question shall be:

1.     Reviewed objectively and in its full content;

2.     Evaluated in terms of the needs and interest of students, school, curriculum and community;

3.     Considered in the light of differing opinions; and

4.    Reviewed in light of the criteria for initial selection and purpose as provided herein.

The School Committee will announce its decision in writing not later than the conclusion of the next regular meeting of the School Committee following its receipt of said testimony.

Legal Reference:  20-A MRSA § § 1001 (10-A); 1055 (4); 4002

Ch. 125 § § 9.01, 9.03 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rules)

P.L. 107-110 § 1061 (No Child Left Behind Act)

Cross Reference:  IJJ-E – Citizen’s Challenge of Education Media Form 

DN -School Properties Disposition

Adopted:   June 7, 2000

Revised:     November 18, 2002 Reviewed: September 10, 2012

Reviewed:   October 30, 2017     

Revised: December 13, 2021            

Revised:    May 5, 2025