Instructional Materials - 2311

The Board of Directors of the Federal Way Public Schools has the legal responsibility to provide and select the instructional materials for all students in the district.

The instructional materials shall be selected to support approved curriculum, enhance student learning and assist students in attaining district goals and student grade level expectations.

The Board of Directors also has the responsibility to provide age-appropriate instructional materials for all students devoid of gratuitous sexual situations and/or excessive, gratuitous violence. The Superintendent/designee will develop procedures for review of current instructional materials and recommendation for adoption of new materials. The process will provide for:

• Subject area committees
• Instructional Materials Committee, whose membership is approved by the board in accordance with RCW 28A.320.230 
• Board adoption of required instructional materials, (e.g., textbooks, workbooks, and other classroom materials for the basic education program)

Individual schools may choose from the Board adopted menu of required instructional material(s) which best meet the needs of students. Schools choosing to require the use of instructional materials not adopted by the board must request and receive approval from the board. The request should include available research-based evidence of student achievement using requested materials.

All materials shall be made available for community inspection.

Instructional materials for use on a trial basis (up to two years), enrichment, temporary use, or to meet special needs (i.e., students whose needs may not be met entirely with the materials adopted for the basic education program) may be purchased with the approval of the Superintendent/designee.

Citizens of the district who have complaints regarding instructional materials used by the district may make such complaints known by completing Form 2311 "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials" and returning that form to the school principal or Superintendent.

AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS

Educational Value

The Board recognizes that films and videos can be valuable resources in the classroom. The showing of full-length feature films during regular instructional hours is strongly discouraged; rather, films should be assigned as homework where possible. Any film, video or DVD resource used in the school must have content that is age-appropriate, educational, relevant to the subject being taught, and must support class curriculum. Educational value will be determined by the teacher and approved by the principal. Use of films as a "lesson plan" for a substitute teacher shall not be allowed unless the film was previously scheduled.

Content and Age

Age-appropriate content will be determined by the industry accepted rating system of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA):

• No film with an MPAA rating greater than ‘G’ will be shown in grades K – 5.
• Films rated ‘PG’ may be shown for grades 6 and up.
• Films rated ‘PG-13’ may be shown for grades 9 and up.
• Films rated ‘R’ or ‘NC-17’ are not authorized to be shown on Federal Way School District property at any time.

Staff may apply to the Board for an exception to these categories by following the steps outlined in Procedure 1330P, Waiver Policy.

Permissions

For any and all feature films, or portion of a feature film, written approval must be granted by the principal. Prior to viewing any film or video with a restriction greater than an MPAA rating of “G”, students must have written parent or legal guardian permission. If permission is declined or a student does not return a permission slip, an appropriate educational experience will be provided to the student. Simply sending the student to another location (such as the library) does not meet this obligation.

Monitoring

The Superintendent/designee will maintain a list of all movies shown in the schools and will produce an annual report for the Board prior to June 30 of each school year.

Legal References:

RCW 28A.320.230  Instructional materials--Instructional materials committee

RCW 28A.150.230  Basic Education Act of 1977--District school directors as accountable for proper operation of district--Scope--Responsibilities--Publication of Guide

RCW 28A.640 Sexual Equality Mandated for Public Schools

WAC 392-190-055  Textbooks and instructional materials

Adopted: 5/24/05