Reconsideration+Policy

Reconsideration Process Any resident of the school district [or community] may formally challenge instructional materials used in the district’s educational program on the basis of appropriateness (Keokuk).

NOTE: Subjects which are potential topics of criticism **are subjected to careful consideration and appraisal before selection**. Among these topics are: A. Religion – Factual, unbiased materials representing a diversity of religions may be included in the library media center. B. Ideologies – The library media center should, without making any effort to sway the reader’s judgment, make available basic factual information on a variety of ideologies or philosophies that are of current and continuing interest. This information will be selected with the age appropriate level of the reader being given full consideration. C. Sex – the library media specialist will be careful not to include media which contains sensational, overly-dramatic or graphically explicit sex scenes presented in a lewd or pornographic way. However, the fact of sexual incidents appearing should not automatically disqualify any material. The decision as to whether a specific item will be included in the collection should be made on its value as a whole as it fills a need of the curriculum or students, and falls within their maturation levels. D. Profanity – The fact that profanity appears in material will not automatically disqualify any material. Care will be taken to exclude materials using profanity excessively or using it in a lewd or detrimental way. E. Science – Scientific knowledge suitable to the developmental level of students should be presented without any biased selection of facts (Richmond).


 * If a complaint (formally or informally) is made, the following procedures should be followed.**
 * 1) Inform the complainant of the selection practices and procedures and make no commitments (Keokuk).
 * 2) Attempt to resolve the issue informally in a private, personal conference with the complainant (Keokuk).
 * A [parent, guardian, or student] has the right to reject the use of particular materials for their student which are incompatible with his/her values or beliefs . Alternate sources of information may be chosen. **However, no parent, guardian, or student has the right to determine what is appropriate reading material for any other person** (Richmond).
 * 1) If the complainant is not satisfied with the explanation given, then request that the person submit a formal “Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of a Work (available from the media specialist) to the building principal and library media specialist(Keokuk).
 * If the formal request for reconsideration has not been received by the principal within two weeks, it shall be considered closed. If the request is returned, the reasons for selection of the specific work shall be reestablished by the appropriate staff (Suring).
 * In accordance with statement of philosophy, no questioned materials shall be removed from the school pending a final decision. Pending the outcome of the request for reconsideration, however, access to questioned materials can be denied to the child (or children) of a parent making such a request, if he/she so desires (Suring).


 * If a formal complaint is made using a "Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of a Work":**
 * 1) Inform the Principal, Superintendent, and other appropriate personnel (Keokuk and Richmond).
 * 2) The principal will convene a committee of [at least] five to consider the complaint. This committee shall consist of the following people from the school involved: the principal(s), the library media specialist, a member of the curriculum committee, a teacher of the grade level of the questioned material, and a Parent Group representative (Suring).

i. To take no removal action. ii. To remove all or part of the challenged material from the school. iii. To limit the educational use of challenged material (Keokuk).
 * Procedures for Reconsideration Committee:**
 * 1) **On the first meeting:**
 * Distribute copies of written request form
 * Distribute copies of challenged material, as available, to be read, viewed, or listened to by the next meeting.
 * Distribute copies of reputable, professional prepared reviews of the material when available [using a non-biased selection]
 * Give complainant or group spokesperson an opportunity to talk about and expand on the request form (Keokuk)
 * 1) **On the second or subsequent meeting**
 * Have a discussion on the work to be reconsidered. Committee must use the following as a guide:
 * Bear in mind the principles of freedom to learn and to read, and base your decision on these broad principles rather than on defense of individual materials. Freedom of inquiry is vital to education and democracy.
 * The general acceptance of materials should be checked by consulting standard evaluation aids and holdings in other area schools.
 * Passages or parts should not be pulled out of context. Values and faults should be weighed against each other and the opinions based on the materials as a whole (Suring).
 * Arrive at a recommendation to present to the Superintendent concerning action to be taken.
 * The committee may make its decision in either open or closed session
 * The committee’s recommendations will be one of the following [with documented reasons for each decision]:


 * Continued Complaints:**
 * 1) Should the complainant still not be satisfied, the person will be invited to file the written complaint to the Board of Education. The final decision will rest with the Board of Education, [who will also use the same procedures as the Reconsideration Committee].
 * 2) The Board of Education subscribes in principle to the statements of policy on library philosophy as expressed in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association.
 * 3) A file of the complaint and its resolution will be kept for future reference (Richmond).

Works Cited //Keokuk Community School District: Challenge of Instructional Materials.// Web. 5 Nov. 2001. <[]>.

//Richmond School District Policy Statement: Reconsideration.// 10 Nov. 2008. Web. 5 Nov. 2001. <[]>.

//Suring School District: Material Selection/Reconsideration Policy.// 14 Feb. 2007. Web. 5 Nov. 2011. <[]>.