District Policy
Book:
District Policy
Section:
I - Instructional Program
Title:
Instructional Media Program
Number:
IFA
Status:
Active
Legal:
Adopted:
07/01/1986
Last Revised:
12/12/1991
Last Reviewed:
Policy Detail
Rationale
The Board of Education believes that instructional resources are integral to effective instructional programs and seeks to provide these resources in sufficient quantity to support the state mandated curriculum and the curriculum of the Board and the range of instructional strategies and learning activities for the achievement of educational goals.
Definition
The media center program provides a framework for cooperatively planned, instructionally related, unified media services which are accessible to teachers and students and effectively and efficiently managed by media professionals. Media center programs are composed of materials, equipment, facilities, people, environment, purposes and processes. The program has as its goal the development of lifelong learners.
Staffing
The school media center is staffed by media personnel in accordance with Rule No. 160-5-1.22 (GCB). The facility, staff and resources are available for student and teacher use for media purposes throughout each instructional day of the school year. Media center access is scheduled for simultaneous use by students and teachers in groups or as individuals. Implementation of the media program is based on the role identified for each education position in Roles in Media Program Development: School and Community.
Facilities
Educational specifications for constructing and renovating media centers have been established in accordance with A Guide for Planning and Construction of Public School Facilities in Georgia: Media Center Facilities.
SELECTION, EVALUATION AND UTILIZATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
While the Board is ultimately responsible for the purchase of all instructional materials, it recognizes the student's right of free access to many different types of materials. The Board also recognizes the right of teachers and administrators to select instructional materials in accord with current trends in education and to make them available in the schools. It is, therefore, the policy of the Board to require the materials selected for our schools to be in accord with the following.
Instructional materials shall be chosen for values of interest and enlightenment of all students in the community and shall include multicultural materials.
Every effort will be made to provide materials that present all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times, international, national and local.
Books or other reading matter of sound factual authority shall not be prescribed or removed from library shelves or classrooms because of partisan, doctrinal approval or disapproval.
The final decision for controversial reading matter shall rest with the Board after careful examination and discussion of the material with school officials or anyone else the Board may wish to involve.
No parent or group of parents has the right to determine the reading matter for students other than their own children.
The Board does, however, recognize the right of an individual parent or guardian to request that his/her child not be required to read, view or listen to a given instructional material provided a written request is filed by the parent or guardian with the appropriate School District personnel.
Requests for reconsideration of the use of instructional material must be made in accordance with procedures governing such appeals.
It is the intent of the School System to adhere to the provisions of the copyright law, Public Law 94-553 (1978) and its amendments.
Students and school personnel are accountable for instructional resources provided through the media center
Cross References:
IFA – Instructional Media Program Procedure
Reference: State Standardss
