Morris School District
MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Morristown, New Jersey 07960

Policy
File Code: 6161.1
Monitored: X
Mandated:
Other Reasons X
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The board shall approve, purchase and distribute without cost, required textbooks, supplementary books, and instructional materials for pupil use. No other instructional materials shall be used in the classroom without review and approval by the Superintendent or designee.
The Superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for the selection and recommendation of textbooks for board consideration. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop procedures for the selection of textbooks according to the following guidelines:
  • Professional staff members at all appropriate levels shall participate in the selection process.

  • Textbooks with copyright dates more than five years old shall be reviewed annually for their continuing suitability.

  • Textbooks shall be relevant to the courses of study adopted by the board and developmental appropriate for the respective grade level.

  • Textbooks shall be free of discrimination and comply with equity criteria.

  • The staff shall continually research new sources of textbooks and explore the innovative use of all possible books.
The board shall approve only those textbooks which have been selected and recommended for their consideration by the Superintendent or his/her designee. In considering the approval of any proposed textbook, the board will weigh its relationship to the curriculum and its relationship to a continuous multi-grade program.

A list of all approved textbooks shall be maintained by the Superintendent or his/her designee and made available for the use of the professional staff and for the information of members of the board and public.

Supplementary materials for the school classrooms and school library shall be selected by the appropriate professional personnel in consultation with the program supervisor and/or building principal. The final decision on recommending purchase shall rest with the Superintendent or his/her designee.

All materials shall be selected to:
  • Enrich and support the curriculum taking into consideration the diversified interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the pupils;

  • Stimulate growth in factual knowledge;

  • Enhance literary appreciation;

  • Foster aesthetic values and ethical standards;

  • Provide background knowledge which will enable pupils to make intelligent judgments;

  • Present various viewpoints on many subjects that will assist in the development of critical judgment and perceptions.
The value and impact of any library or instructional 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.

Materials from commercial, political, religious, or other private sources must have the approval of the administration before being used in the schools. This approval may be given to materials which are of obvious educational quality, which supplement and enrich text and reference book materials for definite school courses, which are timely and up to date, and which promote democratic ideals and moral values.

Date: April 14, 1986
October 29, 2001 First Reading
November 19, 2001 Approved

Legal References:
N.J.S.A. 18A:4-25 Prescribing minimum courses of study for public schools; approval of courses of study
N.J.S.A. 18A:33-1 District to furnish suitable facilities; adoption of courses of study
N.J.S.A. 18A:34-1 Textbooks; selection; furnished free with supplies; appropriations
N.J.S.A. 18A:35-1 et seq. Curriculum and Courses
N.J.A.C. 6:4-1.3(e), (f) Policy development
N.J.A.C. 6:8-4.1 Review of mandated programs and services
N.J.A.C. 6:20-6.1 et seq. Purchase and Loan of Textbooks

New Jersey State Board of Education Resolution, September 5, 1984, encourages local boards to scrutinize their textbook selection process to ensure that instructional materials are not racially or sexually biased.

Cross References:
1312 Community complaints and inquiries
2224 Nondiscrimination/affirmative action
5145.4 Equal educational opportunity
6000 Concepts and roles in instruction
6010 Goals and objectives
6121 Nondiscrimination/affirmative action
6140 Curriculum adoption
6141 Curriculum design/development
6142.1 Family life education
6144 Controversial issues
6161.2 Complaints regarding instructional materials
6163.1 Media center/library
 

Morris School District | 31 Hazel Street | Morristown, New Jersey | Phone: 973-292-2300
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