AR 6161.1
Instruction
Selection and Evaluation
of Instructional Materials
Criteria for Selection
and Adoption of Instructional Materials
Instructional materials
adopted by the Board shall:
1. For instructional materials in high schools, be provided by publishers
who comply with the requirements of
Education Code 60040- 60048, 60060-60062, and 60226
(Education Code 60400)
2. Not reflect adversely upon persons because of their race,
color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, or occupation, or
contain any sectarian or
denominational doctrine or propaganda contrary to law (Education Code 60044)
3. With the exception of literature and trade books, use proper
grammar and spelling (Education Code 60045)
4. Not provide any exposure to a commercial brand name,
product, or corporate or company logo unless the Board makes a specific finding that the use is appropriate
based on one of the following:
(Education
a. The
commercial brand name, product, or corporate or company logo is used in text
for an educational purpose as defined
in guidelines or frameworks adopted by the SBE.
b. The
appearance of a commercial brand name, product, or corporate or company logo in
an illustration is incidental to the
general nature of the illustration.
5. Support the district’s adopted courses
of study and curricular goals
Instructional Materials
Evaluation Committee
The Superintendent or
designee may establish an instructional materials evaluation committee to
evaluate and recommend instructional materials for Board approval. This committee
shall consist of a majority of teachers and may also include administrators,
other staff who have subject-matter expertise, parents/guardians, community
members, and students as appropriate.
The committee shall review
instructional materials and shall provide the Board with documentation
supporting its recommendations.
Conflict of Interest
To ensure integrity and
impartiality in the evaluation and selection of instructional materials, any
district employee participating in the evaluation of instructional materials
shall not:
1. Accept any emolument, money, or other valuable thing or
inducement, to directly or indirectly introduce, recommend, vote for, or otherwise influence the adoption or
purchase of any instructional material (Education Code 60072)
Sample copies of instructional materials are excepted from this prohibition. (Education Code 60075)
2. Be employed by or receive compensation from any person,
firm, organization, or any of its subsidiaries or controlling entities
submitting instructional materials
to the district
3. Have or negotiate a contractual relationship with any
person, firm, or organization or any of its subsidiaries or controlling entities
submitting instructional materials to the
district
4. Have an interest as a contributor, author, editor, or
consultant in any textbook or other instructional material submitted to the
district
The following procedures
will be used in the selection and adoption of new textbooks:
1. The CCOC director shall certify on Form 6161.1B, Recommendation for Textbook
Adoption Form, that the textbook proposed for adoption complies with requirements of
Education Code Section 60040. A copy of the proposed textbook must
accompany the request for Board adoption.
2. Upon receipt of a recommendation for textbook adoption from
the director, the Superintendent or designee will place the recommendation on the agenda of the
Governing Board. The textbook will be
made available to members of the Board for review.
3. The final action of the Governing Board on a recommendation
for textbook adoption shall be reported to the requesting director as
soon after the action as possible.
Adopted:
Revised: