Ledyard Public Schools - Policy Manual

Policy 6161.1

Instruction

Textbooks: Provision/Selection

It is the policy of the Board of Education to provide textbooks that support and enrich the curriculum and further the achievement of the district's instructional goals.

The review and selection of basic textbooks (the book or set of instructional materials that serve as the foundation for more than fifty percent of the course content shall be considered the basic textbooks, referred to simply as "textbooks") will be carried on continuously in order to keep up with the great expansion of knowledge and the rapid changes going on in our world today.

Where applicable, all textbooks should present balanced views concerning the international, national and local issues and problems of the past, present and future. Textbooks should:

Stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic and ethical values.
Help students develop abilities in critical reading and thinking.
Develop and foster an appreciation of cultural diversity and development in the United States and throughout the world.
Not be biased with regard to race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex or physical disabilities.
Allow sufficient flexibility for meeting the special needs of individual students and groups of students.

The administration will develop and review administrative rules, outlining a procedure to select textbooks which meet the above criteria. This process will include:

Analysis, evaluation and recommendation by professional staff and
The opportunity for interested citizens in the district to review recommended textbooks.

The Board of Education will make the final textbook selection decision.

The Board of Education shall not change any textbooks used in the public schools except by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the Board. Notice of such intended change shall be given at a meeting of the Board held at least one week prior to the vote on the change.

The disposition of old and obsolete textbooks shall be accomplished under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools in accordance with state and district regulations.

(cf. 1220 - Citizens' Advisory Committees)

(cf. 1312 -Public Complaints)

(cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression)

(cf. 6161.2 - Care of Instructional Materials)

(cf. 6163.1 - Media Center Materials: Provision/Selection)

(cf. 6144 - Controversial Issues)

Legal Reference:

Connecticut General Statues

10-221 Boards of education to prescribe rules.

10-222a Boards to have use of funds derived from repayment for school materials.

10-228 Free textbooks, supplies, materials and equipment. 10-229 Change of textbooks.

President's Council, District 25 v. Community School Board No. 25, 457 F.2d 289 (1972), cert. denied 409 U.S.C. 998 (Nov. 1972).

Minarcini v. Strongsville City School District, 541 F.2d 577 (6th Cir. 1976).

Island Trees Union Free School District Board of Education v Pico, 457 US 853 (1982).

Academic Freedom Policy (adopted by Connecticut State Board of Education, 9/9/81)