Textbooks
Selection
and Adoption
The Montgomery County School Board shall adopt textbooks subject to regulations of the Virginia Board of Education. The Virginia Board of Education publishes a multiple list of textbooks for each grade level and subjects that are correlated with the Virginia Standards of Learning and from which the School Board adopts textbooks for use in the school division. The School Board may adopt books that are not on the state-adopted list, provided the selection is in accordance with specified guidelines.
The evaluation of textbooks shall be conducted by an adoption committee that is representative of the central office supervisor staff, building administrators, classroom teachers, and parents of students in the subject fields in which the adoptions are to be made.
All teachers of the subject fields in which adoptions are to be made shall make textbooks being considered for adoption available for review and evaluation. Textbooks being considered for adoption also shall be available for review by parents and community members. The School Board will adopt textbooks for use in Montgomery County Public Schools based upon evaluation information and recommendations of the adoption committee as presented by the division superintendent.
Free textbooks shall be provided for students in Montgomery County Public Schools. Each student who has been in attendance in the school division shall return all books, or payment shall be made for books missing or damaged.
Instructional Materials
Teachers are encouraged to use a
variety of instructional materials at the appropriate levels to introduce,
reinforce, and assess learning in the classroom. The purpose of this policy
is to promote a collaborative review of materials that, like textbooks, will be
utilized on a broad
basis across the school division. The
purpose of this policy is not to restrict individual teachers in their selection of daily instructional
materials.
The
School Board shall review and approve guidelines and procedures for the
selection, evaluation, approval, and use of instructional materials. The
division superintendent or his/her designee will periodically review guidelines
and procedures and bring recommendations for changes to the School Board.
The
process for the review and selection of instructional materials (other than
textbooks) that are to be used on a
division-wide basis shall involve an evaluation committee that includes
professional staff, citizens, and, when appropriate, students.
Supplementary Materials Selection and Use
The School Board delegates the responsibility for the selection and use of supplemental materials other than those selected for division-wide use to individual teachers and schools. Selection and use shall be in accordance with policies and regulations of the Virginia Board of Education. The same care shall be exercised in the selection of supplemental materials as in the selection of other types of instructional materials.
Materials used by students under the guidance of teachers to extend, expand, and supplement basal materials constitute an integral part of the instructional program. Supplemental materials are used to assist the teaching and learning process and include such items as magazines, newspapers, charts, pictures, workbooks, kits, videos, and computer software. Materials selected for supplemental use must relate directly to the established objectives of the course or content area in which they are used.
Teachers must carefully review
materials prior to use and exercise a high degree of professional judgment in
their selection and use of supplemental materials to ensure that the use of
such materials serves to both support and complement the basic educational
objectives within the specific subject areas and classrooms. All materials selected will be appropriate
to the age level of the children and shall not contain subject matter not suitable
for the public school environment, such as sexually explicit material.
Principals shall approve all videos to be shown in classrooms to ensure
that their content is appropriate and aligned with instructional objectives. Any such
supplemental materials shall only be used at times not otherwise scheduled or required for curriculum-based instruction.
The principal and/or division superintendent or his/her designee shall have final authority to determine whether instructional staff will use specific materials.
LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-238 through 22.1-253; Virginia Board of Education Regulations Governing Instructional Materials – Selection and Utilization by Local School Board, 8 VAC 20-170-10; and Regulations Governing Textbook Adoption Local Level, 8 VAC 20-230-10; and Regulations Governing Textbooks – Free or Rental Systems State Aid, 8 VAC 20-190-10.
Adopted: April 2004
Revised: September2006