NWESD Policy Manual & Administrative Procedures

2020 – Selection of Instructional Materials

NWESD 189 Materials

The Board establishes the following principles for selection of NWESD 189 instructional materials. Staff shall rely on reason and professional judgement in the selection of materials of high quality that comprise a comprehensive collection appropriate for the member district’s instructional programs. Instructional materials selected shall include, but not be limited to those which:

1. Enrich and support educational curricula (especially of the State Essential Academic Learning Requirements [EALRs], Grade Level Expectations [GLEs], and or the Common Core State Standards), taking into consideration the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the students served and inservice uses.
2. Can be utilized by districts and special programs in the service area.
3. Avoid content that promotes discrimination with respect to any individual’s gender, race, religion, ethnic heritage, age, and/or disabling conditions. These materials will be purchased on the basis of district staff requests, recommendations identified by reviewers in professional publications, and staff providing support to teaching and learning.
4. Are able to stimulate growth in conceptual thinking, factual knowledge (especially of the State Essential Academic Learning Requirements [EALRs], Grade Level Expectations [GLEs], and/or the Common Core State Standards), literary and ethical standards. These materials should provide a background of information which will enable learners to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives, now and in their futures.
5. Provide sufficient variety so as to present opposing views of controversial issues, in order that students and staff may develop the skills of critical analysis and informed decision making.
6. Contribute to the development of an understanding of the ethnic, cultural, and occupational diversity of American life.
7. Objectively present the concerns of both genders and build upon their contributions, current and historical, and of members of religious, ethnic, and cultural groups. The NWESD 189 recognizes that under certain conditions biased materials may represent appropriate resources in presenting contrasting and differing points of view.
8. Provide models which may be used as vehicles for the development of self-respect, ethnic pride, and appreciation of cultural differences, based on respect for the worth, dignity, and personal values of every individual.
9. Eliminate in all textbooks and instructional materials including reference materials and audio-visual materials, bias pertaining to sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identify, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.

Any requests from organizations which provide instructional materials and/or aides must be examined to insure that such materials meet the criteria above. The appropriate program director(s) (e.g., T&L) shall review for accuracy and educational value all materials or activities proposed by outside sources for student or staff use.

K-8 Member District Materials

For NWESD 189 member districts without a high school, the Superintendent shall serve, or appoint a designee to serve, on each district’s instructional materials committee. His/her responsibility shall be to assure a correlation between the instructional materials of those elementary districts with those of the high school districts which serve their students.

First Reading:

Second Reading: 11/23/81 (as 6210)
Revised: 03/25/92 (as 6210)
Revised: 03/27/97 (as 6210)
Revised: 03/28/01 (recodified 2020)
Revised: 06/28/05
Revised: 08/24/11
Revised: 04/25/12
Revised: 01/27/16

Reference:

RCW 28A.310.180
RCW 28A.320.155
RCW 28A.640
RCW 28A.642
WAC 392-190-055

Date Revised: 1/27/16