604.01

INSTRUCTION

Textbook Selection and Adoption Catalog

The Board policy is to maintain a reasonable textbook adoption schedule not to exceed ten (10) years. Additional adoptions may occur as deemed necessary to support the curriculum (generally accepted).

Textbook committees, comprised of teachers, parents, administrators, and students (when appropriate)shall be appointed by the Curriculum Department. Recommendations of the committees shall be presented by the Curriculum Department to the Superintendent or superintendent's designee for review prior to presentation to the Board for adoption.

Textbook Adoption Catalog 

A catalog of all textbook adoptions for elementary, intermediate, and high schools shall be revised each year.

• Cross Reference: Board Policy 604.07 Selection of Instructional Materials; Administrative Regulation 604.02A, Administrative Regulation 604.02B

• Legal Reference: Iowa Code Ch. 301C

• By action of the Board 8/9/71; Revised 8/14/72, 11/8/76, 6/13/83, 11/12/90; Revised 2/14/00; Revised 2/26/07

• Edited 2/07

604.03

INSTRUCTION

Copyright Law

The Board hereby declares it a policy of the District to abide by copyright laws enacted by the federal government.

Students and school personnel will comply with the copyright law and with all District procedures as they pertain to the copyright law.

No school district property will be used in violation of the copyright law or in violation of District procedures pertaining to the copyright law.

The District assumes no liability for infringement of copyright by individual employees.

Copyrighted materials may be duplicated with the prior written permission of the copyright holder, or where the duplication constitutes a "fair use" of the materials as that term is defined by law and by the courts. The criteria of "fair use" has been defined within the administrative rule associated with this policy.

The Superintendent or superintendent's designee shall be responsible for administering this policy and establishing administrative procedures for the implementation and compliance with the copyright policy.

• Cross Reference: Board Policy 605.6 Internet: Appropriate Use; Administrative Regulation 604.03A

• Legal References: 17 U.S.C. 101 et. seq.

• By action of the Board 11/8/76, 6/13/83; Revised 8/9/93; Revised 2/14/00

• Edited 2/00

604.04

INSTRUCTION

Guidance and Counseling  (Deleted 9/18/00)

604.05

INSTRUCTION

Health Services

Health services in the school district shall function within the framework of written goals and objectives. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or superintendent's designee to provide leadership in the development of such a program and to develop procedures showing the relationship of the health program to the total school program and the relationship of the special personnel employed in this service to the administration and teaching personnel. In an effort to provide optimum services and conserve resources in our community, the Davenport Community School District shall seek out collaborative and cooperative arrangements with health agencies in the community. Each such relationship will require formal review and approval of the Board.

• Cross Reference: AR 604.5B; Board Policy 502.02 Vision Screening; 502.05 Injury or Illness at School

• By action of the Board 11/8/76, Revised 6/13/83, 8/9/93; Revised 6/26/00

• Edited 6/00

604.06

INSTRUCTION

Music Lessons

Instrumental instruction shall be offered, beginning in grade four for strings and grade five for wind and percussion, to all students of the District who desire this training. Each child who registers for training shall receive one short private lesson a week during school time under the direction of a special instrumental instructor. In addition, the students shall be given ensemble experience as soon as they are able to play in the orchestra or band.

• By action of the Board 11/8/76, Revised 6/13/83, 8/9/93; Revised 2/14/00

• Edited 2/00

604.07

INSTRUCTION

Selection of Instructional Materials

The District will provide a wide range of instructional materials on all levels with a variety of difficulty, with diversity of appeal and the presentation with different points of view. "Instructional Materials" will mean all materials used within the classrooms, both basic texts and supplemental materials, and all materials circulated from the school media center for student and/or teacher use including: books, pamphlets, magazines, film, audio tapes, video tapes, computer programs, etc.

 Notification of Parents

Parents or guardians shall be notified annually that a wide variety of instructional media will be used at various grade levels, subject areas, and courses and that these materials are available for parent or guardian review. In the event that parents or guardians deem an instructional media selection inappropriate for their child, they may request the child be provided an alternative assignment of comparable difficulty that meets the objectives for which the instructional media selection is being used.

• Cross References: Board Policies 604.01 Textbook Selection and Adoption Catalog; 604.03 Copyright Law; 604.09 Inspection of Instructional Materials; 604.10 Challenge of Instructional Materials; and 605.10 Multicultural and Non-gender Equity Education Opportunity

• Legal Reference: Iowa Code Chapter 301

• By action of the Board 11/8/76, 6/13/83, Revised 8/12/85, 8/9/93, 4/11/94, 11/14/94 Revised 1/22/96; Revised 2/14/00; Revised 2/12/07

• Edited 2/07

604.09

INSTRUCTION

Inspection of Instructional Materials

Parents and members of the District's community may view the instructional materials including teacher's manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary material that will be used in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation as part of any federally funded or other programs must be available for inspection by parents.

The instructional materials must be viewed on District premises. Copies may be obtained according to Board Policy 306.05 Public Examination of School District Public Records and copyright laws.

It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or superintendent's designee to develop administrative regulations regarding the inspection of instructional materials.

• Legal References: Goals 2000: Educate America Act, U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.; Iowa Code §§ 279.8; Chs. 280, 301

• Cross Reference: Board Policy 604.7 Selection of Instructional Materials; 604.10 Challenge of Instructional Materials; 306.05 Public Examination of School District Public Records

• By action of the Board 11/14/94; Revised 2/14/00; Revised 2/12/07

• Edited 2/07

604.10

INSTRUCTION

Challenge of Instructional Materials

1. A. Objection by Citizen

Any resident or employee of the school district may raise an objection to instructional materials used in the District's educational program despite the fact that the materials were selected by qualified personnel following the prescribed procedure and considering the established selection criteria.

1. Any citizen (or citizens) may register criticism of material with a building principal, media specialist, or teacher.
1. At that time, the principal and media specialist or teacher shall try to resolve the issue informally. The materials shall remain in use until the challenge is resolved.
2. The principal and media specialist or teacher shall explain to the complainant the District's selection procedure, criteria, and qualifications of those persons selecting material.
3. The principal and media specialist or teacher shall explain to the complainant the particular place the material objected to occupies in the educational program, its intended educational usefulness, and additional information regarding its use, or shall refer the complaining party to someone who can identify and explain the use of the material.
2. In the event that the person making an objection to material is not satisfied with the initial explanation, the complainant should be referred to the Associate Superintendent for Learning Services and the coordinator of the subject area in which the material is used. If, after private counseling, the complainant desires to file a formal complaint, the person to whom the complainant has been referred shall give the complainant a copy of the selection policy and explain the steps to take to file a formal request for reconsideration.

2. Requests for Reconsideration

1. If after proceeding through the above steps, the complainant wishes to file a formal objection to the material, the complainant may do so by submitting a Request for Reconsideration Form with the building principal.
1. To be acted upon, the Request Form must be filled out completely and signed by the complainant.
2. The building principal shall file the Request Form immediately with the Associate Superintendent for Learning Services.
2. Upon receiving this request form, the Associate Superintendent for Learning Services will acknowledge the request and place the request on the agenda for the next meeting of the Reconsideration Committee. Circulation of challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration proceedings.
3. The Reconsideration Committee
1. The Reconsideration Committee shall consist of eleven members.
1. One teacher, designated by the Superintendent or superintendent's designee,
2. One principal, designated by the Superintendent or superintendent's designee,
3. One media specialist, designated by the Superintendent or superintendent's designee,
4. A Coordinator of Curriculum, assigned by the Associate Superintendent for Learning Services,
5. The Associate Superintendent for Learning Services, who will act as secretary for the committee,
6. Six citizen members to include:
1. Three members from the community, including a designated chairperson, appointed by the P.T.A. Council Executive Board.
2. Three high school students, one from each high school, to be appointed by their respective student governments, subject to their parents' approval.
2. The members of the Reconsideration Committee, a standing committee, shall be appointed in May for the following school year.
3. The committee will meet as needed, September through May, to consider requests for reconsideration.
4. If at any time a committee member is the complainant, challenged materials have been used in a committee member's class, or a committee member was a participant in selecting the materials challenged, the committee member shall not serve on the committee during the reconsideration of that material. Instead, an alternative committee member shall be designated by the person or group making the original appointment.
4. The procedure for the first meeting following receipt of the reconsideration request form is as follows:
1. Distribute copies of the written request form, copies of reputable, professionally prepared reviews of the material, and copies of the challenged material.
2. Give complainant an opportunity to talk about and expand on the request form.
5. At the second or subsequent meeting:
1. Interested persons, including the complainant, shall have opportunity to share their views. The committee may request that individuals with special knowledge be present to give information.
2. The committee shall decide on one of the following:
1. Remove the material from the total school environment,
2. Limit the educational use of the material to specific classroom use or to a specific building(s),
3. Retain the material for general student use.
6. A written decision and its justification will be forwarded to the Superintendent who will notify the complainant and Board of the committee's decision and reasons for its action.
7. Appeal Procedure
1. A complainant who is not satisfied with the decision of the committee may appeal to the Board under the following conditions:
1. The individual attended the Reconsideration Committee meetings and listened to and participated in the discussions surrounding the work.
2. The appeal must be received by the Superintendent within 30 days of the committee's decision.
2. When a complainant meets the conditions required for appeal, the Board shall conduct a hearing. Notice of the time and place of hearing shall be provided in writing to the complainant and the Reconsideration Committee. After the hearing, the Board will communicate its decision to the complainant and the Reconsideration Committee.
8. Requests to reconsider materials that have been previously reviewed must receive approval of a majority of the committee before the materials will again be reconsidered.

• Cross Reference: Board Policy 604.7 Selection of Instructional Materials; 604.8 Professional & Curriculum Library

• Legal Reference: Code of Iowa §279.8, Chapter 301

• By action of the Board 11/8/76, 6/13/83, Revised 8/12/85, 8/9/93, 4/11/94, 11/14/94; Revised 1/22/96; Revised 3/13/00

• Edited 3/00

DAVENPORT COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

RECONSIDERATION REQUEST FORM

Citizen's Request For Re-evaluation of Specific Educational Materials

Item Description

Author

Title

Publisher Copyright Date

Type of Material book, filmstrip, etc.)

School(s) in which item is used

Request Initiated by

Telephone Address

City Zip

Complainant Represents:

her/himself

group or organization

name of group

address of group

1. Did you read, view, or listen to the entire work?

If not, what sections did you read, view, or hear?:

2. To what in the material do you object? Please be specific; cite pages, pictures, etc.

3. In your opinion, what harmful effects upon pupils might result from use of this item?

(over)

4. Do you perceive any instructional value in the use of this work?

5. What do you believe is the theme or purpose of this work?

6. In the place of this item would you care to recommend other material which you consider to be of equal or superior quality for the purpose intended?

7. What would you like to have done about this material?

Do not assign or lend it to my child.

Discontinue using it as text or supplementary text material.

Remove it from the media centers.

Other (specify)

8. Would you like to meet with the Reconsideration Committee?

yes           no

Signature                                           Date

Return to your building principal or:

Associate Superintendent for Learning Services

Administration Service Center

1606 Brady Street

Davenport, IA 52803-4714

604.11

INSTRUCTION

Professional and Curriculum Library

The administration shall arrange to have access to a current Professional and Curriculum Library through the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, for use by the professionals of the school district. The staff shall be allowed to suggest books and periodicals to expand this library.

If the MBAEA ceases to provide such a Professional and Curriculum Library, the administration shall organize and keep current a Professional and Curriculum Library in the school district, or shall provide for a comparable service through a cost effective means.

• By action of the Board 11/8/76; Revised 6/13/83, 11/12/90; Renumbered and Revised 2/14/00

• Edited 2/00

604.12

INSTRUCTION

Balanced Enrollment

The Balanced Enrollment concept recommends class sizes in grades K-5, reduces budgetary needs related to staffing elementary schools, and maintains the board goal of lower class sizes. 

Procedures for balanced enrollment apply when enrollment at a grade level exceeds District guidelines (see Policy 603.01 Class Size--Elementary). In such instances the parents shall select another school within the same attendance zone instead of their neighborhood school. 

The District shall provide transportation if needed to accommodate attendance at a site other than the neighborhood school. Guidelines for parents include the option to return to their neighborhood school when space becomes available.

For the highly mobile student, after the family's third move within a school year, the Deputy Superintendent or Director of Administrative Services will consult with the family to arrange a school for their student(s) to attend on a permanent basis in order to provide the best educational stability. 

Buildings shall follow the guidelines for lower class sizes and enroll students based upon implementation strategies for balanced enrollment. The administration shall develop procedures to ensure the program is handled equitably from school to school. The implementation of the procedures shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or superintendent's designee. The administration shall report annually on the effects of the program on individual buildings, the teaching staff, families, and the budget. 

The Superintendent or superintendent's designee shall be responsible for effectively communicating balanced enrollment procedures to parents and the community. Procedures for balanced enrollment shall be evaluated on an annual basis.

• Cross Refererence: Board Policy 603.01--Class Size; 305.05 School Bus Transportation

• By Board action: Adopted 5/8/00

• Edited 5/00