File:  KEC - Public Concerns/Complaints about Instructional Resources

NOTE: While Colorado school districts are not required by law to adopt a policy on this subject, some content in this sample reflects legal requirements school districts must follow. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the district should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

The Board has approved principles governing the selection of all instructional materials including library books and has established policies pertaining to the selection process. However, the Board wishes to amplify its principles on the selection of books and other materials which present controversial topics or which for other reasons might be challenged.

Material that is challenged usually belongs to one of the three basic categories: religion, ideology or profanity/obscenity. Board policies regarding these areas shall be as follows:

1. Religion-Factual, unbiased material on all major religions has a place in school libraries.

2.  Ideologies-Libraries should, with no thought toward swaying reader judgment, make available a balanced collection of primary and factual material on the level of their students on various ideologies or philosophies which exert or have exerted a strong force, either favorably or unfavorably, in government, current events, politics, education and other phases of life.

3. Profanity/obscenity-Materials shall be subjected to a test of literary merit by media specialists and teachers who will take into consideration the maturity of students and the standards of the community.

Criticism of a book or other materials used in the schools may be expected from time to time. In such instances:

1. The Board recognizes the right of an individual parent/guardian to request that his/her child not read a given book. When such a request is presented, the teacher and/or school administrator should resolve the situation, perhaps by arranging for use of alternative materials meeting essentially the same instructional purpose. This does not apply, however, to basic program texts and materials that the Board has adopted.

2. The Board shall not permit any individual or group to exercise censorship over instructional materials and library collections but recognizes that at times a reevaluation of certain materials may be desirable. Should an individual or group ask to have any book or other material withdrawn from school use:

a. The person who objects to the book or other material shall be asked to sign a complaint on a standard form on which that person will document the criticism.

b. Following receipt of the formal complaint, the superintendent shall provide for a reevaluation of the material in question.

c. The reevaluation shall be based on the points offered above as well as the principles governing the selection of all instructional materials. Additionally, the Board wishes to emphasize that:

(1)  A book shall not be excluded because of the writer's race or nationality or political or religious views.

(2) The value of any book or other material shall be judged as a whole, taking into account the purpose of the material rather than individual, isolated expressions or incidents in the work.

d. The superintendent or designee shall review the complaint and reevaluation and shall render a decision in the matter. Should the solution be unsatisfactory, the complainant may appeal the decision to the Board.

In summary, the Board assumes final responsibility for all books and instructional materials it makes available to students. It holds its professional staff accountable for their proper selection. It recognizes rights of individual parents/guardians with respect to controversial materials used by their own children. It will provide for the reevaluation of materials in library collections upon formal request.

(Adoption date)

CROSS REFS.: IJ, Instructional Resources and Materials

IMB, Teaching about Controversial Issues and Use of Controversial Materials

NOTE:  Each school district should adopt its own procedures to accompany this policy. This policy and those in the cross references comprise a coordinated set of policies on instructional materials.

[Revised May 2014]

COLORADO SAMPLE POLICY 1977