IJ - Instructional Materials and Textbook Selection and Adoption

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Policy IJ

Adopted: May 14, 2009
Amended: October 4, 2018

Source: MASC October 2016

The School Committee believes that instructional materials appropriate to the needs of the school program must be available to each student and teacher.  These will be furnished by the School Committee subject to budgetary constraints.

The task of selecting instructional materials for programs will be delegated to the professional staff of the school district.  Because instructional programs and materials are of great importance, only those that meet the following criteria will be approved by the Committee:

1. They must be appropriate for the learning profiles of the student population.
2. They must present balanced views of international, national, and local issues and problems of the past, present and future.
3. They must provide materials that stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic and ethical values.
4. They must help students develop abilities in critical reading and thinking.
5. They must help develop and foster an appreciation of cultural diversity and development in the United States and throughout the world.
6. They must provide for all students an effective basic education that does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, ability or sexual orientation.
7. They must allow sufficient flexibility for meeting the special needs of individual students and groups of students.

Legal References:

M.G.L. 10R:7; 71:48; 71:49; 71:50; 3087

M.G.L. 8ESE regulations

603 CMR 26.00

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Part 8, Sec. 612(a)(23)(B) and Sec. 613(a)(6)(B)

34 CFR300.172

36 CFR701.10

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS)

Cross Reference:

KEC - Public Complaints about the Curriculum or Instructional Materials

IGD - Curriculum Development and Adoption