Garfield Re-2 Policies

File: KEC

Public Concerns/Complaints about Instructional Materials and Library Resources

The Board, though it is ultimately responsible for all curriculum and instructional materials including library resources, recognizes the need and right of students to have free access to many different types of books and materials.  It also recognizes the right of the professional staff to select books and other materials supportive of the district's educational philosophy and goals.

The Board has approved principles governing the selection of all instructional materials including library books and has established policies pertaining to the selection process.  However, the Board wishes to amplify its principles on the selection of books and other materials that present controversial topics or which for other reasons might be challenged.

Material that is challenged usually belongs to one of the three basic categories:  religion, ideology or profanity/obscenity.  Board policies regarding these areas will be as follows:

1. Religion–Factual, unbiased material on all major religions has a place in school libraries.

2. Ideologies–Libraries should, with no thought toward swaying reader judgment, make available a balanced collection of primary and factual material on the level of their students on various ideologies or philosophies which exert or have exerted a strong force, either favorably or unfavorably, in government, current events, politics, education and other phases of life.

3. Profanity/obscenity–Materials will be subjected to a test of literary merit by media specialists and teachers who will take into consideration the maturity of students and the standards of the community.

Criticism of a book or other materials used in the school's library may be expected from time to time.  In such instances:

1. The Board recognizes the right of parent/guardian to request that their child not read a given book.  When such a request is presented, the teacher and/or school administrator should resolve the situation, perhaps by arranging for use of alternative materials meeting essentially the same instructional purpose.  This does not apply, however, to basic program texts and materials that the Board has adopted.

2. The Board will not permit any individual or group to exercise censorship over instructional materials and library collections but recognizes that at times a reevaluation of certain materials may be desirable.  Should an individual or group ask to have any book or other material withdrawn from school use, the procedures outlined in regulations developed by the Board shall be followed.

a. The person who objects to the book or other material will be asked to sign a complaint on a standard form on which that person will document the criticism.

b. Following receipt of the formal complaint, the Superintendent will provide for a reevaluation of the material in question.

c. The reevaluation will be based on the points offered above as well as the principles governing the selection of all instructional materials. Additionally, the Board wishes to emphasize that:

            i.   A book will not be excluded because of the writer's race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, or political or religious views.

            ii. The value of any book or other material will be judged as a whole, taking into account the purpose of the material rather than individual, isolated expressions or incidents in the work.

d. The Superintendent or designee will review the complaint and reevaluation and will render a decision on the matter. Should the solution be unsatisfactory, the complainant may appeal the decision to the Board.

In summary, the Board assumes final responsibility for all books and instructional materials it makes available to students.  It holds its professional staff accountable for their proper selection.  It recognizes the rights of individual parents/guardians with respect to controversial materials used by their own children.  It will provide for the reevaluation of materials in library collections upon formal request.  On the other hand, students' right to learn and the freedom of teachers to teach shall be respected.

Adopted: February 27, 1979

Revised: June 24, 1986

Revised: September 25, 2007

Reviewed: April 23, 2019

Revised: October 22, 2025

CROSS REFS.: IJ, Instructional Resources and Materials

Garfield School District No. Re-2, Rifle, Colorado