CENSORSHIP AND CHALLENGED MATERIAL
SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR THE RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN THE NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
I. All school systems shall have in place a system-wide selection policy in compliance with General Statute 115C-98.
II. The Department of Public Instruction recommends that each school have a building-level Media and Technology Advisory Committee whose members are responsible for assisting media and technology professionals in the selection process and the building-level challenge of materials. This committee, appointed by the principal and co-chaired by the school library media coordinator and the technology facilitator, should consist of:
Principal
Representative from each grade level or department
Representative from special areas
Parent representative
Student representative (at the middle and high school levels
All requests for reconsideration of materials should begin at this level with the submission of a Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Resources (see sample).
III.In accordance with GS 115C-98 (b1), a school system’s Community Media Advisory Committee may be appointed by the local board of education to investigate and evaluate challenges. If the appointment is made, the Department of Public Instruction recommends that the committee should consist of:
the superintendent or his/her designee
the media director or his/her designee
the technology director or his/her designee
a media coordinator and technology facilitator/or teacher from each level of school within the system (i.e., elementary, middle, high school)
a principal from each level of school within the system
a parent/community member from each level of school within the system
a parent from the school from which the challenge originates
at least 1 high school student
The chair of this committee should be appointed by the board of education. If the person originating
the challenge at the building level is not satisfied with the building-level recommendation, he/she should submit a Citizen’s Request for Review of Building-Level Recommendation within one week of the publication of the building-level decision.
IV.In accordance with GS 115C-98 (bl), “The local board, at all times, has sole authority and discretion to determine whether a challenge has merit and whether challenged material should be retained or removed.
PROCEDURES FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
Occasional objections to some resources may be voiced by the public despite the care taken in the selection process and despite the qualifications of persons selecting the resources. If a complaint is made the following procedures should be observed:
Inform the complainant of the selection procedures and request that the complainant file his/her objections in writing by completing the Request for the Reconsideration of Instructional Resources form to be submitted to the building-level Media and Technology Advisory Committee. The building-level Media and Technology Advisory Committee will:
examine the item and the objection(s)
survey reviews of the item in professional reviewing sources
determine the extent to which the item supports the curriculum
weigh the merits against the alleged weaknesses, considering the whole item instead of isolated passages
discuss the item and prepare a written report of the findings and recommendations of the committee
send copies of the report to the principal, the media director, and technology director. The media
director and technology director should discuss the report with the superintendent, who may present it to the board.
If the complainant is not satisfied, he/she may file a Citizen’s Request for Review of Building-Level Recommendation with the Community Media Advisory Committee if such a committee exists. Following the steps outlined above, the community-level committee will re-examine all documentation from the original reconsideration decision. They will prepare a written report of their findings and recommendation and report directly to the local school board.
In accordance with GS 115C-98 (bl), “The local board, at all times, has sole authority and discretion to determine whether a challenge has merit and whether challenged material should be retained or removed.”
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES | NAME OF PERSON MAKING REQUEST: ____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________________ TELEPHONE: ________________________Complainant represents: ___ himself/herself or ____ organization How did you acquire this item? __________________________________________ Did you read, view, or listen to the entire item? __________________________________________ Is this item part of a series or set? Yes _____ No _____. To what in the item do you object? (Please be specific: cite pages, frames, etc.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ What do you feel might be the result of a student’s reading, viewing, or listening to this item? __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you aware of any evaluations of this item by authoritative sources? Yes _____ No ___. If yes, did those sources agree with your opinion? Yes ___ No _____. List the sources: _______________________________________________________________________________ Do you want other persons in the community to determine the kind of materials your child may or may Other comments: ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ____________________________ _____ SIGNATURE OF COMPLAINANT DATE |
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CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF BUILDING-LEVEL RECOMMENDATION | NAME OF PERSON MAKING REQUEST: ____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ______________________________________ TELEPHONE: ________________________Complainant represents: ___ himself/herself or ____ organization Are you aware of the reasons for the building-level decision regarding this resource? Yes ____ No ____. What aspects of the decision are you requesting be reviewed? ________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you have additional comments or information about the resource that you did not include on the building level Request for Reconsideration form? Yes _____ No _____. If yes, please include: ________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Other comments: ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ | ____________________________ _____ SIGNATURE OF COMPLAINANT DATE |
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