Reconsideration of Materials

Requests for Reconsideration of Materials

Censorship leaves students with an inadequate and distorted picture of the ideals, values, and problems of their culture. Despite a sound book selection policy for the selection of worthwhile books for students to read, occasional objections to a work will undoubtedly be made. Books are potentially open to criticism in one or more of these general areas: treatment of minorities, ideologies of love and sex, and use of language not acceptable to some people as well as other concerns. Suggestion for adding resources or reconsidering resources will be made in writing. A person requesting reconsideration of materials must read, listen and/or view the entire item to lessen the possibility that something is taken out of context. The person asking for reconsideration must submit to the principal in writing using the form, Request for Reconsideration of Challenged Materials and identify the complaint.

See Appendix H: Request for Reconsideration of Challenged Materials

Request for Informal Reconsideration

1. The school receiving a complaint regarding a Media Center resource shall try to resolve the issue informally.

2. The Media Center Specialist shall explain to the questioner the school’s selection procedure, criteria, and qualifications of those persons involved in selecting the resource.

3. If the questioner wishes to file a formal challenge, a copy of the district Request for Reconsideration of Challenged Materials Form shall be provided by the principal to the party concerned.

Request for Formal Reconsideration

1. The Request for Reconsideration of Challenged Materials Form shall be completed by and signed by the questioner and filed with the media specialist or building principal.

2. The district superintendent shall be informed of the formal complaint.

3. Within a timely manner of the filing of the form, the principal or media specialist shall submit a copy of the complaint to the Reconsideration Committee.

4. A standing Reconsideration Committee is in place to respond to the reconsideration process. It will be constituted of: (The committee members should be a building administrator, a counselor, two teacher representing different grade levels, two parents, a student and a librarian.) A chairperson will be selected.

5. Copies of the item will be obtained for the committee members to read, listen to, and/or view. A short but realistic timeframe will be provided to keep the process moving.

6. As many reviews of the challenged item as possible will be obtained. The committee members will study these.

7. After consultation, the committee will develop recommendations regarding the challenged item.

8. The chairperson will send a written response to the person requesting the reconsideration, providing the rationale for the committee’s decision.

9. If the person requesting the reconsideration is dissatisfied, the matter will be brought to the attention of the superintendent who will make a decision after consultation with the Reconsideration Committee. If a resolution is not reached, the school board will make the final decision after consultation with the involved parties. EFA (Legal); EFA (Local); FNG (Local).

Source: http://www.tasb.org/policy/pol/private/107901/

See Appendix H: Request for Reconsideration of Challenged Material