6:210 - Instructional Materials

All District classrooms and learning centers should be equipped with an evenly-proportioned, wide assortment of instructional materials, including textbooks, workbooks, audio-visual materials, and electronic materials. These materials should provide quality learning experiences for students and:

  1. Enrich and support the curriculum;
  2. Stimulate growth in knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and ethical standards;
  3. Provide background information to enable students to make informed judgments and promote critical reading and thinking;
  4. Depict in an accurate and unbiased way the cultural diversity and pluralistic nature of American society; and
  5. Contribute to a sense of the worth of all people regardless of sex, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other differences that may exist.

Anyone may inspect any textbook or instructional material.

Teachers are encouraged to use age-appropriate supplemental material only when it will enhance, or otherwise illustrate, the subjects being taught. Teachers are to ensure that such material is appropriate. Any movie, documentary, novel, or other instructional material that is not part of any District-adopted instructional materials or does not have a rating must be approved by the Building Principal, or designee before being used by the teacher. All such materials must be previewed by the teacher before asking the Building Principal, or designee for approval for use. No PG-13 movie shall be shown without prior approval from the Building Principal and written permission by a student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). No R-rated and NC-17 (no one 17 and under admitted) rated movies shall be shown under any circumstances. These restrictions apply to television programs and other media with equivalent ratings. Movies should be used primarily for instructional purposes.

Instructional Materials Selection and Adoption

The Superintendent shall approve the selection of all textbooks and instructional materials according to the standards described in this policy. The School Code governs the adoption and purchase of textbooks and instructional materials.

Adopted: November 10, 1997
Revised: May 16, 2011; February 26, 2018
Reviewed: November 14, 2022