CODE: 6161.1
SECTION: INSTRUCTION
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION, SELECTION, AND ADOPTION OF TEXTBOOKS
The West Milford Board of Education believes that textbooks should support and enrich the curriculum and make possible the achievement of the district's educational goals. The Superintendent of Schools shall develop procedures for continual review of new texts being offered and evaluation of those already in use to ensure that the textbooks used in the district are up to date in the factual matter they present and further the district's educational goals. In addition, textbooks should be judged by further standards which shall include, but not be limited to:
A. Does the material reflect the district's affirmative action policy, which prohibits the teaching or encouragement of racial, sexual, religious, ethnic or age bias?
B. Does it help pupils develop abilities in critical reading and thinking?
C. Does it provide effective basic or advanced education for the pupils for whom it is intended?
The review process shall:
A. Be conducted by supervisory and teaching staff members, particularly those staff members who will be using the materials as an integral part of the instructional program;
B. Include a written review of the textbook which shall reflect the consensus of professional staff;
C. Be recommended by the appropriate supervisor, building principal (s) , Superintendent of Schools and reviewed by the Board's Instructional Committee;
D. Provide an opportunity for public inspection of the recommended text.
E. Be publicly adopted by the Board of Education.
The Superintendent of Schools shall develop administrative rules outlining a procedure for the selection of instructional materials, which meet the above criteria. Instructional materials used within the district should be sufficient in quantity and scope to meet the needs of every pupil in the district.
The Board, by law, makes the final textbook selection decision. However, prior to final adoption, the recommendations resulting from each review will be given thorough consideration.
Any citizen who objects to the final selections made by the Board should follow the procedures outlines in 6161.2 Complaints regarding instructional materials.
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000