Administrative​ ​Procedure​ ​251

INSTRUCTIONAL​ ​RESOURCES Background The​ ​district​ ​follows​ ​Alberta​ ​Education​ ​requirements​ ​and​ ​criteria​ ​in​ ​the​ ​selection​ ​and​ ​adoption​ ​of instructional​ ​resources.​ ​The​ ​use​ ​of​ ​instructional​ ​materials​ ​must​ ​always​ ​reflect​ ​the​ ​provincially mandated​ ​Programs​ ​of​ ​Study​ ​in​ ​each​ ​subject​ ​area​ ​and​ ​be​ ​consistent​ ​with​ ​the​ ​teachings​ ​of​ ​the Catholic​ ​Church. Procedure 1. The​ ​resources​ ​play​ ​a​ ​significant​ ​role​ ​in​ ​the​ ​achievement​ ​of​ ​success​ ​for​ ​students​ ​enrolled​ ​in educational​ ​initiatives.​ ​The​ ​primary​ ​objective​ ​of​ ​these​ ​materials​ ​is​ ​to​ ​help​ ​implement,​ ​enrich and​ ​support​ ​the​ ​educational​ ​program​ ​of​ ​the​ ​school.​ ​The​ ​instructional​ ​resources​ ​complement a​ ​whole​ ​range​ ​of​ ​activities​ ​that​ ​take​ ​place​ ​within​ ​the​ ​educational​ ​environment​ ​of​ ​teaching and​ ​learning. 2. Instructional​ ​materials​ ​contribute​ ​significantly​ ​to​ ​the​ ​achievement​ ​of​ ​outcomes​ ​stated​ ​in courses,​ ​Programs​ ​of​ ​Study​ ​or​ ​educational​ ​initiatives. 3. Curriculum​ ​support​ ​is​ ​a​ ​responsibility​ ​shared​ ​by​ ​the​ ​district​ ​and​ ​Alberta​ ​Education.​ ​In selecting​ ​both​ ​print​ ​and​ ​digital​ ​resources,​ ​teachers​ ​will​ ​take​ ​into​ ​account​ ​resources recommended​ ​by​ ​the​ ​district​ ​and​ ​Alberta​ ​Education.​ ​Resources​ ​must​ ​be​ ​in​ ​alignment​ ​with teachings​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Catholic​ ​Church. 4. The​ ​district​ ​in​ ​collaboration​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Bishop​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Diocese​ ​of​ ​Calgary​ ​determines​ ​the resources​ ​for​ ​Religious​ ​Education.​ ​The​ ​Bishop,​ ​in​ ​consultation​ ​with​ ​district​ ​leadership, parents/legal​ ​guardians​ ​and​ ​teachers,​ ​mandates​ ​the​ ​Religious​ ​Education​ ​curriculum, including​ ​the​ ​human​ ​sexuality​ ​component.​ ​All​ ​other​ ​resources​ ​must​ ​be​ ​approved​ ​by​ ​the superintendent,​ ​Instructional​ ​Services. 5. Instructional​ ​materials​ ​containing​ ​advertising​ ​will​ ​not​ ​be​ ​accepted​ ​without​ ​the​ ​authorization of​ ​the​ ​superintendent,​ ​Instructional​ ​Services. 6. Student​ ​Resources 6.1

Resources​ ​may​ ​be​ ​in​ ​the​ ​format​ ​of​ ​print,​ ​non-print,​ ​multimedia,​ ​online,​ ​manipulatives and/or​ ​consumable​ ​materials.

6.2

In​ ​the​ ​selection​ ​of​ ​resources,​ ​sufficient​ ​quantities​ ​will​ ​be​ ​provided​ ​to​ ​accommodate the​ ​developmental​ ​levels​ ​and​ ​needs​ ​of​ ​the​ ​students.

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7. Procedures​ ​for​ ​Dealing​ ​with​ ​Challenged​ ​Materials 7.1

Teachers​ ​and​ ​learning​ ​commons​ ​personnel​ ​will​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​they​ ​consult​ ​the​ E ​ nglish Language​ ​Arts:​ ​Authorized​ ​Novels​ ​&​ ​Non-fiction​ ​Annotated​ ​List​ ​(Grade​ ​4-12) (​https://archive.education.alberta.ca/media/645826/front.pdf​)​ ​when​ ​making​ ​decisions related​ ​to​ ​instructional​ ​materials.

7.2

In​ ​maintaining​ ​and​ ​adding​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wide​ ​range​ ​of​ ​titles​ ​in​ ​a​ ​learning​ ​commons collection,​ ​the​ ​district​ ​considers: 7.2.1

The​ ​link​ ​to​ ​curricular​ ​outcomes;

7.2.2

Instructionally​ ​focused​ ​resources;

7.2.3

Student​ ​interest;

7.2.4

Support​ ​for​ ​literacy.

7.3

With​ ​regard​ ​to​ ​any​ ​sensitive​ ​or​ ​controversial​ ​titles,​ ​learning​ ​commons​ ​personnel​ ​will bring​ ​any​ ​concerns​ ​to​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​teacher​ ​and​ ​teachers​ ​will​ ​bring​ ​the sensitivity​ ​to​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians,​ ​when​ ​appropriate. Occasionally,​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians​ ​will​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​resource​ ​to​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the teacher​ ​or​ ​school​ ​because​ ​of​ ​disagreement​ ​or​ ​concern​ ​about​ ​the​ ​content​ ​of​ ​the material.​ ​When​ ​this​ ​happens​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​process​ ​in​ ​place​ ​to​ ​address​ ​these​ ​concerns.

7.4

An​ ​informal​ ​reconsideration​ ​may​ ​take​ ​place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​school​ ​level​ ​or​ ​a​ ​formal reconsideration​ ​may​ ​take​ ​place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​district​ ​level.​ ​In​ ​both​ ​situations,​ ​the​ ​school​ ​or the​ ​district​ ​may​ ​decide​ ​to​ ​temporarily​ ​remove​ ​the​ ​material​ ​from​ ​public​ ​use​ ​to​ ​provide an​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​serious​ ​reflection​ ​and​ ​review​ ​of​ ​the​ ​content​ ​of​ ​the​ ​material.

7.5

All​ ​instructional​ ​resources​ ​utilized​ ​in​ ​the​ ​classroom​ ​are​ ​viewed​ ​with​ ​the​ ​lens​ ​of permeation​ ​of​ ​Catholicity.​ ​In​ ​cases​ ​where​ ​questions​ ​emerge​ ​in​ ​relation​ ​to​ ​how particular​ ​resources​ ​fit​ ​into​ ​this​ ​context​ ​of​ ​permeation,​ ​other​ ​support​ ​materials​ ​and resources​ ​are​ ​identified​ ​and​ ​made​ ​available​ ​to​ ​staff​ ​and​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians.​ ​All textual​ ​items,​ ​including​ ​novels​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​learning​ ​commons​ ​are​ ​considered​ ​part​ ​of the​ ​instructional​ ​resource​ ​collection​ ​available​ ​to​ ​teachers​ ​to​ ​support​ ​classroom instruction.

7.6

The​ ​district​ ​encourages​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians​ ​to​ ​read​ ​and​ ​review​ ​materials​ ​that their​ ​children​ ​are​ ​currently​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​their​ ​ongoing​ ​role​ ​as​ ​primary educators.​ ​To​ ​support​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians​ ​in​ ​this​ ​role,​ ​the​ ​district​ ​and​ ​local schools​ ​will​ ​bring​ ​to​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​parents/legal​ ​guardians​ ​resources​ ​available​ ​to assist​ ​them​ ​in​ ​understanding​ ​sensitive​ ​topics​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​responding​ ​to​ ​their​ ​children’s questions.

8. Informal​ ​Reconsideration 8.1

The​ ​principal​ ​receiving​ ​a​ ​complaint​ ​regarding​ ​an​ ​instructional​ ​material​ ​will​ ​try​ ​to resolve​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​informally​ ​as​ ​follows: 8.1.1

The​ ​principal​ ​or​ ​appropriate​ ​staff​ ​member​ ​will​ ​explain​ ​to​ ​the​ ​questioner​ ​the school's​ ​selection​ ​procedure,​ ​criteria​ ​and​ ​qualifications​ ​of​ ​those​ ​persons selecting​ ​the​ ​material.

8.1.2

The​ ​principal​ ​or​ ​appropriate​ ​staff​ ​member​ ​will​ ​explain​ ​the​ ​particular​ ​place​ ​the

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questioned​ ​material​ ​occupies​ ​in​ ​the​ ​educational​ ​program,​ ​its​ ​intended educational​ ​usefulness,​ ​consistency​ ​with​ ​Catholic​ ​teachings​ ​and​ ​additional information​ ​regarding​ ​its​ ​use,​ ​or​ ​refer​ ​the​ ​party​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​can​ ​identify and​ ​explain​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​the​ ​material. 8.2

If​ ​the​ ​questioner​ ​is​ ​dissatisfied​ ​with​ ​the​ ​informal​ ​explanation​ ​and​ ​wishes​ ​to​ ​file​ ​a formal​ ​challenge,​ ​they​ ​would​ ​complete​ ​Form​ ​251-1​​ ​Request​ ​for​ ​Reconsideration​ ​of Instructional​ ​Material.

9. Formal​ ​Reconsideration 9.1

Preliminary​ ​Procedures 9.1.1

Principals​ ​will​ ​redirect​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​questioner​ ​to​ ​e-mail​ ​the​ ​superintendent, Instructional​ ​Services​ ​the​ ​completed​ ​Form​ ​251-1​​ ​Request​ ​for Reconsideration​ ​of​ ​Instructional​ ​Material​ ​explaining​ ​the​ ​resource​ ​material issue.

9.1.2

The​ ​request​ ​will​ ​be​ ​referred​ ​to​ ​an​ ​Instructional​ ​Services​ ​supervisor​ ​at​ ​the district​ ​level​ ​for​ ​re-evaluation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​resource.

9.2

The​ ​responsibility​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Instructional​ ​Services​ ​supervisor​ ​will​ ​be​ ​to​ ​review​ ​the challenged​ ​material,​ ​to​ ​judge​ ​whether​ ​it​ ​conforms​ ​to​ ​the​ ​principles​ ​of​ ​selection outlined​ ​in​ ​the​ ​district's​ ​selection​ ​of​ ​instructional​ ​materials​ ​procedures​ ​and​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a written​ ​summary​ ​to​ ​the​ ​principal.​ ​The​ ​Instructional​ ​Services​ ​supervisor​ ​may​ ​choose to​ ​consult​ ​district​ ​staff​ ​and/or​ ​community​ ​persons​ ​with​ ​related​ ​professional knowledge.

9.3

Resolution 9.3.1

The​ ​Instructional​ ​Services​ ​supervisor​ ​will​ ​proceed,​ ​within​ ​the​ ​guidelines​ ​of related​ ​administrative​ ​procedures,​ ​to: 9.3.1.1

Examine​ ​the​ ​challenged​ ​material;

9.3.1.2

Determine​ ​professional​ ​acceptance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​material​ ​by​ ​reading critical​ ​reviews​ ​of​ ​the​ ​resource;

9.3.1.3

Weigh​ ​values​ ​and​ ​faults,​ ​and​ ​evaluate​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​the​ ​resource has​ ​instructional​ ​merits​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​material​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​rather than​ ​on​ ​words,​ ​passages,​ ​or​ ​sections​ ​taken​ ​out​ ​of​ ​context;

9.3.1.4

Discuss​ ​the​ ​challenged​ ​material​ ​in​ ​the​ ​context​ ​of​ ​the​ ​educational program​ ​and​ ​Church​ ​teachings​ ​and​ ​Gospel​ ​values;

9.3.1.5

Discuss​ ​the​ ​challenged​ ​item​ ​with​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​questioner​ ​when appropriate;

9.3.1.6

Prepare​ ​a​ ​written​ ​response​ ​of​ ​findings​ ​and​ ​conclusions.

9.3.2

The​ ​written​ ​response​ ​will​ ​be​ ​submitted​ ​to​ ​the​ ​principal​ ​with​ ​a​ ​copy​ ​forwarded to​ ​the​ ​superintendent,​ ​Instructional​ ​Services.

9.3.3

The​ ​written​ ​response​ ​will​ ​be​ ​discussed​ ​with​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​questioner​ ​who requested​ ​the​ ​review.

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9.3.4

Written​ ​responses​ ​are​ ​confidential​ ​and​ ​available​ ​for​ ​examination​ ​by appropriate​ ​officials.

10. Materials​ ​Circulated​ ​from​ ​Instructional​ ​Media​ ​Centre 10.1

When​ ​the​ ​challenged​ ​resource​ ​is​ ​from​ ​the​ ​loan​ ​collection​ ​circulated​ ​by​ ​the Instructional​ ​Media​ ​Centre,​ ​the​ ​procedures​ ​above​ ​will​ ​be​ ​followed​ ​led​ ​by​ ​an Instructional​ ​Services​ ​supervisor​.

Approval​ ​Date:

April​ ​12,​ ​2016

Reference:

Section​ ​16.2,​ ​18,​ ​20,​ ​39,​ ​60,​ ​61,​ ​113​ ​School​ ​Act Guide​ ​to​ ​Education​ ​ECS​ ​to​ ​Grade​ ​12 Ministerial​ ​Order​ ​on​ ​Student​ ​Learning

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