PV Literature List

General Guidelines:

• The PVUSD Governing Board has final approval of all Literature List titles and grade levels.

• Teachers must choose novels from the approved Literature List for their grade level when they teach a novel to a whole class or require students to read a book.

• If a teacher gives students a list of novel choices, the choices must come from the Literature List. If any of the choice novels are sensitive, the teacher must follow the Guidelines for Sensitive Titles.

• The committee recommends no specific literature list for K-3, as students are learning to read versus reading to learn.

• Gifted and International Baccalaureate(IB) programs have their own course approved lists. They will refer to the Guidelines for Titles that are not on the Literature List outlined below.

• Titles that will be read throughout the year must be published on the teacher's course syllabus or newsletter at the beginning of the year and the teacher must obtain a parent/guardian signature on the syllabus. If a novel with a content advisory is listed on the syllabus, the teacher will follow the Guidelines for Content Advisory listed below.  

Guidelines for Content Advisory:

• If a title with a content advisory is assigned to the whole class or appears on a list of titles in which students choose the book, the parent should be notified of the sensitive nature of the title and all of the subsequent guidelines should be followed.

• The title will be listed on the syllabus or newsletter at the beginning of the year.

  • An alternate title will be available for each title with a content advisory.

  • The content advisory letter will be completed and included with the syllabus.

  • The student and/or parent will have the option to opt out of the title with a content advisory and an alternate title will be assigned in its place. If a parent/student chooses the alternate title, please follow these guidelines.  

  • The teacher will obtain a parent/guardian signature on the novel list.

  • Teachers should refer to the following resources: syllabus templates

• The teacher will make the principal aware of the title that will be taught and discussed in class.

• The teacher will review the teacher resources for the novel being taught (see Content Advisory).

Guidelines for Titles that are not on the Literature List:

• Teachers may only supplement a title that is not on the District Literature List if the student has self-selected the title. Teachers must obtain parent permission for the student to read the self-selected book. Self-Selected Novel Parent Permission 

• AP or Pre-AP teachers may allow students to self-select a book from a list of titles that have been previously used on the AP exam, but the list can not be narrowed (with the exception of titles that have previously been taught or will be taught in the upcoming year). Teachers must obtain parent permission for the student to read the self-selected book. Example List / AP Self-Selected Novel Letter Template

• IB and Gifted teachers may supplement a title that is not on the district’s literature list if it is on their course approved list and they notify the principal and parents. The Gifted/IB Novel Letter Template should be completed and sent home via email and on paper.

  1. Gifted approved list

  2. IB Reading List

Guidelines for Summer Projects:

• Any novels that will be assigned during the summer must be listed on the summer project guidelines, and the teacher must obtain a parent/guardian signature. 

• Summer projects can only include books with sensitive content if the teacher provides other choices that are not sensitive. The teacher must also provide information about the sensitive nature of the title using the Content Advisory Letter Template.

• AP teachers may allow students to self-select a book that has been previously used on the AP exam. In this case, teachers may provide a list, but it can not be narrowed. Teachers must obtain parent permission for the student to read the self-selected book. Example List / AP Self-Selected Novel Letter Template

Procedures for Literature List Committee:

The Literature List Committee will meet every 1-2 years to review the new submissions and submit a final list to the Governing Board for approval. The committee will include representation from each of the following groups: United Parent Council, Paradise Valley Principals, and Paradise Valley Education Association.  

Content Advisory: Content Advisories denote texts that may include sexually explicit content as defined by ARS 15-120.03 or other sensitive content such as violence, suicide, religious references, offensive language, drinking or drugs, racial insensitivity, etc. Despite the sensitive content, these texts have been placed on the literature list because they hold educational value and contain key themes that are crucially important to students’ awareness of the world and its diverse perspectives.