Reconsideration of Materials Policy
The following Reconsideration of Materials Policy is from Anne Arundel County's Policies and Procedures Manual.
When the appropriateness of instructional materials or library books is questioned by a parent, student, or staff member, resolution begins at the school level.
In the event that a question is raised by an Anne Arundel County Public School resident, parent, student, or staff member about any instructional materials used within a school, the procedure outlined below must be followed in order for such material to be removed.
1. A person with an inquiry/reconsideration will first discuss the concern with the principal of the school involved. If satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, the person may complete a "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials/Library Media" form which can be obtained from the school principal.
2. Upon receipt of the completed form, the principal will notify the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction who will notify the appropriate personnel that an inquiry/reconsideration has been filed.
3. The principal will convene a school-level Materials Evaluation and Selection Committee to reconsider the material in question. The principal may designate a staff member such as the reading teacher or library media specialist to head the committee. The committee will meet within 10 workdays.
4. The person filing the inquiry/reconsideration will be notified of the date, time, and place of the meeting, and may choose to meet with the school-level committee to clarify the written challenge.
5. This decision will be final and not subject to further challenge for that school for the remainder of the school year in which the challenge originated, unless appealed and overturned at a higher level.
6. If the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration is not satisfied with the school-level committee's decision, he/she may request that the completed "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials/Library Media" form be forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and program coordinator within 30 calendar days of the written decision.
7. The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction will refer the appeal to the county-level Materials Evaluation and Selection Committee to reconsider the materials challenged at its next regularly scheduled meeting, but no later than the end of that school year. The county-level committee will be chaired by the appropriate division director who will serve as a non-voting member, and it will include the appropriate program coordinator. If deemed necessary, the county-level committee will be augmented to include an instructional director, library media specialist, and/or other persons who might offer specific expertise.
8. The person filing the inquiry/reconsideration will be notified of the date, time, and place of the county-level committee meeting, and may choose to be present for the purpose of clarifying the written challenge and/or answering questions from the committee.
9. Within 30 workdays following the review, the county-level Materials of Instruction (MOI) committee will provide a written decision to the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration and will inform the school principal of its decision. The program coordinator will maintain a file of all requests and decisions. This decision will be final and binding and will preclude all other requests for the same material for one calendar year, unless the decision is appealed and overturned at a higher level.
10. If the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration is not satisfied with the county-level committee's decision, he/she may direct that the matter be referred to the Superintendent of Schools for reconsideration. This request must be made within ten (10) workdays of the final decision of the county-level committee.
11. The Superintendent of Schools shall provide a written decision to the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration within ten (10) workdays of receiving the completed inquiry/reconsideration form. This decision will be final and binding and will preclude all other requests for the same material for one calendar year, unless the decision is appealed and overturned at a higher level.
12. If the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration is dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the Superintendent of Schools, or if no decision is rendered within ten (10) workdays, he/she may refer the inquiry/reconsideration to the Board of Education within ten (10) workdays. A hearing examiner may be appointed by the Board to hear the appeal. This decision will be final and binding and will preclude all other requests for the same material for five calendar years, unless the decision is appealed and overturned at a higher level.
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/LIBRARY MEDIA FORM
The following information is needed in order to give fair consideration to the instructional materials/library media in question. Instructional materials/library media consist of all types of book and non-book materials, i.e., books, videos, software, pictures, and all other printed or published items. Type of instructional materials/library media, Name of item, Publisher or Producer, and Publication Date.
11. If yes, how and where do you see the item being used in an educational program?
12. What do you suggest be provided to replace the item in question?
13. What would you like your school to do about this material?
When the appropriateness of instructional materials or library books is questioned by a parent, student, or staff member, resolution begins at the school level.
In the event that a question is raised by an Anne Arundel County Public School resident, parent, student, or staff member about any instructional materials used within a school, the procedure outlined below must be followed in order for such material to be removed.
1. A person with an inquiry/reconsideration will first discuss the concern with the principal of the school involved. If satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, the person may complete a "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials/Library Media" form which can be obtained from the school principal.
2. Upon receipt of the completed form, the principal will notify the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction who will notify the appropriate personnel that an inquiry/reconsideration has been filed.
3. The principal will convene a school-level Materials Evaluation and Selection Committee to reconsider the material in question. The principal may designate a staff member such as the reading teacher or library media specialist to head the committee. The committee will meet within 10 workdays.
4. The person filing the inquiry/reconsideration will be notified of the date, time, and place of the meeting, and may choose to meet with the school-level committee to clarify the written challenge.
5. This decision will be final and not subject to further challenge for that school for the remainder of the school year in which the challenge originated, unless appealed and overturned at a higher level.
6. If the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration is not satisfied with the school-level committee's decision, he/she may request that the completed "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials/Library Media" form be forwarded to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and program coordinator within 30 calendar days of the written decision.
7. The Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction will refer the appeal to the county-level Materials Evaluation and Selection Committee to reconsider the materials challenged at its next regularly scheduled meeting, but no later than the end of that school year. The county-level committee will be chaired by the appropriate division director who will serve as a non-voting member, and it will include the appropriate program coordinator. If deemed necessary, the county-level committee will be augmented to include an instructional director, library media specialist, and/or other persons who might offer specific expertise.
8. The person filing the inquiry/reconsideration will be notified of the date, time, and place of the county-level committee meeting, and may choose to be present for the purpose of clarifying the written challenge and/or answering questions from the committee.
9. Within 30 workdays following the review, the county-level Materials of Instruction (MOI) committee will provide a written decision to the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration and will inform the school principal of its decision. The program coordinator will maintain a file of all requests and decisions. This decision will be final and binding and will preclude all other requests for the same material for one calendar year, unless the decision is appealed and overturned at a higher level.
10. If the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration is not satisfied with the county-level committee's decision, he/she may direct that the matter be referred to the Superintendent of Schools for reconsideration. This request must be made within ten (10) workdays of the final decision of the county-level committee.
11. The Superintendent of Schools shall provide a written decision to the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration within ten (10) workdays of receiving the completed inquiry/reconsideration form. This decision will be final and binding and will preclude all other requests for the same material for one calendar year, unless the decision is appealed and overturned at a higher level.
12. If the person filing the inquiry/reconsideration is dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the Superintendent of Schools, or if no decision is rendered within ten (10) workdays, he/she may refer the inquiry/reconsideration to the Board of Education within ten (10) workdays. A hearing examiner may be appointed by the Board to hear the appeal. This decision will be final and binding and will preclude all other requests for the same material for five calendar years, unless the decision is appealed and overturned at a higher level.
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS/LIBRARY MEDIA FORM
The following information is needed in order to give fair consideration to the instructional materials/library media in question. Instructional materials/library media consist of all types of book and non-book materials, i.e., books, videos, software, pictures, and all other printed or published items. Type of instructional materials/library media, Name of item, Publisher or Producer, and Publication Date.
- Did you read, view or listen to the complete item?
- How was the item acquired? (Assignment, free selection, from a friend, etc.)
- Where in the total program is the material being used?
- Is the item part of a set or series?
- If yes, did you read, view, or listen to all of the set or series?
- What did you find objectionable about the item and why? (Be specific)
- Did you locate reviews of the item?
- If yes, please cite them
- If yes, did the review(s) confirm your feelings?
11. If yes, how and where do you see the item being used in an educational program?
12. What do you suggest be provided to replace the item in question?
13. What would you like your school to do about this material?
Work Cited
“Library Media / Overview.” / Overview, https://www.aacps.org/librarymedia.
“Library Media / Overview.” / Overview, https://www.aacps.org/librarymedia.
Created by Stacey Phillips
Last updated July 2022
Last updated July 2022