Challenged Materials 

Reconsideration Policy

Students, their parents, residents and staff of the District shall be provided with the opportunity to challenge the quality and suitability of learning resources used in the District's educational programs (Blue Valley Schools, 2015). If a challenge is made, the following guidelines should be followed: 

• The person questioning the materials first must reach out to the staff member implementing the material to discuss concerns. If they feel the issue is not resolved, then a meeting will take place with the principal or administrator in charge. The board recognizes the right of individual parents/guardians to request that their children not have to read, view or listen to a specific instructional item, provided a written request is made to the appropriate building principal (Northwest R-1, 2001). However, no parent(s)/guardian(s) have the right to determine reading, viewing or listening matter for students other than their own child (Rockwood, 2022). All materials will be reconsidered and if necessary, removed from district media centers, classrooms, and libraries (Fox C-6, 2015). If a resolution is not found, then the person may choose to file a formal challenge. 

Filing a Formal Challenge

1. Complete a “Challenged Materials” form, which can be obtained from the school principal. 

2. The form must be completed by the individual and turned in to the principal within 14 days of receiving it. 

3. Once the “Challenged Materials” form has been received by the principal, it will be filed with the Superintendent. 

4. The “Challenged Materials'' form will then be referred to the Challenged Materials Committee for revaluation of the resource. The Superintendent will arrange for a Challenged Materials Committee reevaluation meeting within 30 days (Rockwood, 2022). 

*Access to challenged materials shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process (Rockwood, 2022). 

Challenged Materials Committee

The Challenged Materials Committee will consist of the following individuals: 

• Person who filed the “Challenged Materials” form 

• Teacher using the resource in question 

• One administrator from the building using the materials

• Two members of the school teaching staff within the school district 

• Two certified librarians from within the school district 

• One board member 

• Any other member that the superintendent deems necessary

• Superintendent of the school district

The superintendent will serve as the chairperson of the committee. As the chairperson, the superintendent is responsible for providing instructions to all committee members and making sure all responsibilities are carried out in accordance with the reconsideration process. All committee members will be presented with the challenged resource and directed to examine and review in order to determine a resolution. 

The Challenged Materials Committee will complete the following : 

1. Examine and/or read the challenged resource (Rockwood, 2022).

2. Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the resource (Rockwood, 2022). 

3. Read appropriate Intellectual Freedom documents (Blue Valley Schools, 2015).

4. Weigh values and faults against each other and form opinions based on the material as a whole (Northwest R-1, 2001). 

A. The committee must follow all instructions listed above prior to the meeting and voting process. Each member should make their judgement based on professional knowledge, reviews, and guidelines provided through district policies, standards, and providing all students equality and Intellectual Freedom. 

5. Meet together as a committee to discuss and vote if the challenged “materials should be retained without restriction; retained with restriction, or not retained” (Rockwood, 2022). 

A. Each member will be allowed one vote via secret ballot which will be given to the superintendent to count. The majority vote will make the final decision. However, in case of a tie, all board members will have to complete the Challenged Materials Committee process to make a finalized decision. 

6. Prepare a written report that states the decision, and rationale for the decision (Rockwood, 2022), based on the official vote.

7. The committee’s official vote will be the final decision on the challenged resource.

The written report, along with a letter outlining the appeal processes, shall be mailed to the person challenging the resource within five business days of the Challenged Materials Committee’s conclusion (Rockwood, 2022). 

The written report will be retained by all libraries within the district so that the challenged resource follows the decision made by the committee and is implemented within five business days of receiving the report. 

A Learning Resource(s) that has been removed may be considered for reinstatement at the discretion of the Board. The request for reinstatement needs to be directed to the Board President. The request for reinstatement should be in writing and detail the changes, if any, which have been made to the original resource(s). The Board shall decide to accept or deny the request for reinstatement. If accepted, the Board may direct the Superintendent to appoint a committee to review the reinstatement request before making their final determination (Blue Valley Schools, 2015).
 

A Learning Resource that has been retained after being the subject of the above procedures may not be challenged again for a period of two years after the date of the final decision reached under these procedures, unless (a) there is a change in the District curriculum which results in the Learning Resource being approved for use by students of a different grade level than those for whom it was originally approved, (b) the Learning Resource is otherwise approved for use by students of a different grade level than those for whom it was originally approved (Blue Valley Schools, 2015).

*Non-Printed Materials that are challenged will follow the exact same process as printed materials.  

Challenged Materials Form

Directions:  Please complete the form in its entirety and submit to the school principal within 14 days of receiving. 

Your Name: ____________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________City:_________________ State:_____ Zip:_______ 

Email: __________________________________Phone:_______________________________ 

Signature:__________________________________________ Date:_____________________

1. Identify the learning resource to be reviewed. 

A. Type of resource: ______________________________________(Circle One: Digital or Printed)

B. Title: _________________________________________________________________

C. Author: _______________________________________________________________

     D. Publisher: _____________________________________________________________

     E. URL: _________________________________________________________________

2. Please state your concern with the learning resource. 

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

3. To what part of the material do you object (topic, content, etc.), and explain why you feel it should not be an available resource? 

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

4. What are your suggestions and/or recommendations for this learning resource? (Retained w/restrictions, retained, etc.) 

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

5. I have discussed the concern with the following people: 

1. My child’s teacher 

Teacher Name: ________________________________________ Date:_________

 Please explain the result of the discussion with your child’s teacher: 

2. My child’s principal

Principal Name: ________________________________________ Date:_________

 Please explain the result of the discussion with your child’s principal: 

References: 

Blue Valley Schools, (2015). Challenges to and reconsideration of learning resources. Retrieved July 3, 2023 from http://go.boarddocs.com/ks/usd229/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=B9Z5UB11E984

Fox C-6 School District, (2015). Instructional media centers/school libraries- selection and reconsideration of materials. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ ViewPolicy.aspx?S=245&revid=IPmJfPNPslshfAupjz0mx2EuA==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=qo79RxbUbdO3GjATNVIJ7Q==&PG=6&IRP=0&isPndg=false

Northwest R-1 School District, (2001). Reg 6241-challenged materials(form-6241). Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/nwr1/Board.nsf/Public?open&id=policies#

Rockwood School District, (2022). Challenged materials. Retrieved July 1, 2023 from https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/rsdpa/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C4FLR57C9E0

Policy High Points

I found the Blue Valley Schools, (2015) to be an extremely detailed policy. It does an excellent job outlining the procedure for challenged resources. After reviewing the policy, I made four changes to my own. 

1. I revised the opening statement on my policy. I had something similar, but had left out residents of the community and I wanted to include them as well. 

2. I added step 3 to the procedure of the Materials Challenging committee. I felt that it is important for all committee members to be knowledge about the Intellectual Freedom documents prior to making a decision regarding the challenged material. 

3. I added the last two statements to my policy in regards to resources that are challenged or retained to guide future questioning and committees. 

a. Resources that have been removed are able to be considered for reinstatement at the discretion of the school board (Blue Valley Schools, 2015). All resources should have the opportunity to be reinstated over time as communities, curriculum, and student needs change. 

b. Resources that have been retained through the Materials Challenging committee may not be up for challenging again for a two year period (Blue Valley Schools, 2015). This is important to include so that resources are not constantly being challenged after a review has previously taken place in certain time frame. 

Everyone Has an Opinion