[Libs-Or] Tuesday Topics: Updated OSBA Instructional Materials Policy and ARs

Tue Nov 19 14:35:06 PST 2024

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Hi Folks,
In this Tuesday Topic from the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC), you'll learn about the Oregon School Boards Association's updated instructional materials policy and administrative regulations which relate to some school library policies. The PDF version will be available on the IFC website<https://www.olaweb.org/if-resources> soon.
Best,
Jen

Updated OSBA Instructional Materials Policy and Administrative Rules
Tuesday Topics: November 2024

Welcome to Tuesday Topics, a monthly series covering topics with intellectual freedom implications for libraries of all types. Each message is prepared by a member of OLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) or a guest writer. Questions can be directed to the author of the topic or to the IFC.

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As we know well in library land, and which is supported in annual reports<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/oifc/challenges> from the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, challenges to library materials are at an all-time high. That's especially true for materials in public and school libraries. The Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) of the Oregon Library Association has responded to an increased need for proactive support for libraries in several ways. One example is the development of a model request for reconsideration of materials for public libraries (examples in use by Baker County Library District<https://www.bakerlib.org/files/2596a8ba8/Materials_Review_Request_FORM_2024.pdf> and Deschutes Public Library<https://deschuteslibrary.org/about/adminrules/1.3.1%20Reconsideration%20of%20Library%20Materials.pdf>). Another is that IFC will be presenting in February at the conference of the Special Districts Association of Oregon about policies special districts should have in place.

Additionally, the IFC accepted an invitation from the Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) to approach the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) about collaborating to update their model instructional materials policy and related administrative regulations (ARs). OSBA graciously agreed, and after a lengthy process, those documents have been published! They are available via OSBA's online portal to Oregon school districts, education service districts (ESDs), and charter schools that are members of OSBA - nearly all in the state.

Highlighted Changes and Additions to OSBA Instructional Materials Policy and Administrative Rules
These are some of the major changes or additions between the prior OSBA model policy and ARs and the updated ones.

  *   Classroom libraries are addressed.
  *   Instructional material types are clearly identified and defined, and they are used consistently throughout the documents: core (basal) instructional materials, supplemental instructional materials, school library materials, and classroom library materials.
  *   Who may initiate a materials challenge is clearly stated and is consistent throughout the documents: staff members, students or their parents and guardians, and residents of the district.
  *   The process for reconsideration of board-adopted materials is separate from the process for non-adopted materials.
  *   The policy states that materials involved with a reconsideration/challenge will remain available throughout the reconsideration process.
  *   The reconsideration ARs and form state that before someone can file a formal challenge, they must follow the informal concern process.
  *   The reconsideration ARs state that material/s that went through the reconsideration process cannot be challenged again for [two] calendar years. (The brackets indicate content that should be decided by school boards.)

Call to Action
School library staff - and any interested Oregon school, district, or ESD staff without access to the OSBA portal - may request a copy of the updated instructional materials policy (IIA) and the six related administrative regulations by sending an email to policy at osba.org<mailto:policy at osba.org>. School library staff are encouraged to do so and to compare their existing related policies and administrative regulations with OSBA's updated samples. If you believe your existing policy and ARs are lacking, you are encouraged to start a conversation with a district or ESD librarian, school or district administrator, and/or board member. However, do that when the time is right - when you believe support exists for intellectual freedom.

Policy and Administrative Rules Titles
The prior policy was supported by three ARs while the current version includes six ARs.

  *   Instructional Materials (Policy IIA)
  *   Instructional Materials (IIA-AR1)
  *   Reconsideration of Core Instructional Materials (IIA-AR2)
  *   Reconsideration of Supplemental Instructional Materials (IIA-AR3)
  *   Reconsideration of School or Classroom Library Materials (IIA-AR4)
  *   Request for Reconsideration of Instructional or Library Materials Form (IIA-AR5)
  *   Independent Adoption of Core Instructional Materials (IIA-AR6)

Additional Resources

  *   Addressing Challenged Materials in K-12 Education: Guidance to School Districts<https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/standards/ELA/Documents/Addressing%20Challenged%20Materials%20in%20K-12%20Education_%20Guidance%20to%20School%20Districts.pdf> (Oregon Department of Education and State Library of Oregon)
  *   Intellectual Freedom Committee Toolkit<https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/iftoolkit/home> (Oregon Library Association)
  *   Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, & Academic Libraries<https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit> (American Library Association)
  *   Support during a school library challenge: Start by contacting Marie Felgentrager<mailto:intellectualfreedom at oasl.olaweb.org> (OASL Intellectual Freedom Representative), Jen Maurer<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov> (School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon) or Tamara Ottum<mailto:tamara.ottum at slo.oregon.gov> (Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, State Library of Oregon).

Thank You
Many thanks to these individuals who collaborated on the updated OSBA policy and administrative regulations:

  *   Emily O'Neal, IFC
  *   Jen Maurer, IFC and OASL
  *   Miranda Doyle, IFC (former) and OASL
  *   Jean Gritter, OASL
  *   Leslie Fisher, OSBA
  *   Spencer Lewis, OSBA

Jen Maurer, MLS (she/her)
School Library Consultant, State Library of Oregon
jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:jennifer.maurer at slo.oregon.gov> | 971-375-3540 | https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries

[Logo with this text: State Library of Oregon, Library Support and Development Services]
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