Request Information
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Please confirm the Instructional Resource is available via the classroom or the library.
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Please confirm the type of Instructional Resource to be considered.
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Identify Other Instructional Resource
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Please confirm the title of the Instructional Resource to be considered.
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Please list the name of the author, editor, or other.
Please list the name of the publisher (if applicable).
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First Name of Person requesting a Reconsideration of an Instructional Resource.
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Last Name of Person requesting a Reconsideration of an Instructional Resource.
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Email Address
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Phone Number
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Address
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City
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State
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Zip
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Complainant Represents
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Name of Organization
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Identify Other Group
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1. Did you read/review the entirety of the
material that is requested for reconsideration?
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Yes - Entire material reviewed
No - Reviewed only parts
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2. Please explain the reason for the committee to reconsider the
material. You may cite pages, chapters, etc.
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3. Please explain why this
material may be harmful for student access.
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4. What is the outcome you are seeking in regards to this
material?
In review of the Selection Criteria Review, please check Yes/No/NA regarding the library material.
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1. Enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration students’ varied interests, abilities, learning styles, and maturity levels.
Yes
No
N/A
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2. Stimulate growth in factual knowledge, enjoyment of reading, literary appreciation, aesthetic values, and societal standards.
Yes
No
N/A
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3. Develop a balanced collection presenting multiple viewpoints related to controversial issues to foster critical thinking skills and encourage discussion based on rational analysis [see EMB regarding instruction about controversial issues].
Yes
No
N/A
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4. Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, intellectual development, and ability level of the students for whom the materials are selected.
Yes
No
N/A
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5. Represent many ethnic, religious, and cultural groups and their contributions to the national heritage and world community.
Yes
No
N/A
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6. Demonstrate literary merit, quality, value, and significance.
Yes
No
N/A
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7. For non-fiction resources, include accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative sources.
Yes
No
N/A
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8. Balance cost with need.
Yes
No
N/A
No instructional materials in elementary schools shall contain depictions of sexual acts or simulations of such acts, implied or otherwise. This includes explicit or non-explicit written descriptions, depictions, or illustrations of sexual acts, except for the purposes of teaching students (as may be approved by parents) to avoid and report molestation. See Texas Education Code 33.021. No instructional materials shall include visual depictions or illustrations of explicit frontal nudity.
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Is the library material at an elementary school?
Yes
No
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Does the library material contain any of the above items?
Yes
No
Does the library material include “harmful” material as defined by Penal Code 43.24(a)(2)?
Penal Code 43.24(a)(2)
(2) “Harmful material” means material whose dominant theme taken as a whole:
(A) appeals to the prurient interest of a minor, in sex, nudity, or excretion;
(B) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for minors; and
(C) is utterly without redeeming social value for minors.
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Is the library material “harmful”?
Yes
No
Does the library material include “obscene” material as defined by Penal Code 43.21(a)(1)?
Penal Code 43.21(a)(1)
a) In this subchapter:
(1) "Obscene" means material or a performance that:
(A) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest in sex;
(B) depicts or describes:
(i) patently offensive representations or descriptions of ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including sexual intercourse, sodomy, and sexual bestiality; or
(ii) patently offensive representations or descriptions of masturbation, excretory functions, sadism, masochism, lewd exhibition of the genitals, the male or female genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal, covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state or a device designed and marketed as useful primarily for stimulation of the human genital organs; and
(C) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value.
Is the library material “obscene”?
Yes
No
Does the library material include “sexually explicit” material as defined by Texas Education Code 33.021(a)?
“In this section, "sexually explicit material" means any communication, language, or material, including a written description, illustration, photographic image, video image, or audio file, other than library material directly related to the curriculum required under Section 28.002(a), that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25, Penal Code, in a way that is patently offensive, as defined by Section 43.21, Penal Code.
TX Penal Code 43.21 (See Section D.)
TX Penal Code 43.25 (2)
"Sexual conduct" means sexual contact, actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sado-masochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals, the anus, or any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola.
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Is the library material “sexually explicit”?
Yes
No
In review of the Selection Criteria Review, please check Yes/No/NA regarding the instructional material.
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1. Enrich and support the curriculum consistent with the general educational goals of the state and District, the aims and objectives of individual schools and specific courses, and the District and campus improvement plans.
Yes
No
N/A
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2. Are appropriate for the subject area and for the age, ability level, learning styles, interests, and social and emotional development of the students for whom they are selected.
Yes
No
N/A
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3. Meet high standards for artistic quality, literary style, authenticity, educational significance, factual content, physical format, presentation, readability, and technical quality.
Yes
No
N/A
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4. Present various sides of controversial issues so that students have an opportunity to develop, under guidance, skills in critical analysis and in making informed judgments in their daily lives. [See also EMB regarding instruction about controversial issues.]
Yes
No
N/A
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5. Promote literacy.
Yes
No
N/A
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6. Balance cost with need.
Yes
No
N/A
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7. To the extent possible, while ensuring instruction in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), be designed to develop each student's civil knowledge according to Texas Education Code 28.002 (h), (h-1) and (h-2), including:
a. An understanding of:
(1) The fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government;
(2) The history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic engagement in the United States;
(3) The structure, function, and processes of government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; and
(4) The founding documents of the United States;
b. The ability to:
(1) Analyze and determine the reliability of information sources;
(2) Formulate and articulate reasoned positions;
(3) Understand the manner in which local, state, and federal government works and operates through the use of simulations and models of governmental and democratic processes;
(4) Actively listen and engage in civil discourse, including discourse with those with different viewpoints; and
(5) Participate as a citizen in a constitutional democracy by voting.
c. An appreciation of:
(1) The importance and responsibility of participating in civic life;
(2) A commitment to the United States and its form of government; and
(3) A commitment to free speech and civil discourse.
Yes
No
N/A
No instructional materials in elementary schools shall contain depictions of sexual acts or simulations of such acts, implied or otherwise. This includes explicit or non-explicit written descriptions, depictions, or illustrations of sexual acts, except for the purposes of teaching students (as may be approved by parents) to avoid and report molestation. See Texas Education Code 33.021. No instructional materials shall include visual depictions or illustrations of explicit frontal nudity.
*
Is the instructional material at an elementary school?
Yes
No
*
Does the instructional material contain any of the above items?
Yes
No
Does the material include “harmful” material as defined by Penal Code 43.24(a)(2)?
Penal Code 43.24(a)(2)
(2) “Harmful material” means material whose dominant theme taken as a whole:
(A) appeals to the prurient interest of a minor, in sex, nudity, or excretion;
(B) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for minors; and
(C) is utterly without redeeming social value for minors.
*
Is the instructional material “harmful”?
Yes
No
Does the material include “obscene” material as defined by Penal Code 43.21(a)(1)?
Penal Code 43.21(a)(1)
a) In this subchapter:
(1) "Obscene" means material or a performance that:
(A) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest in sex;
(B) depicts or describes:
(i) patently offensive representations or descriptions of ultimate sexual acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including sexual intercourse, sodomy, and sexual bestiality; or
(ii) patently offensive representations or descriptions of masturbation, excretory functions, sadism, masochism, lewd exhibition of the genitals, the male or female genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal, covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state or a device designed and marketed as useful primarily for stimulation of the human genital organs; and
(C) taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, and scientific value.
Is the instructional material “obscene?”
Yes
No
Does the material include “sexually explicit” material as defined by Texas Education Code 33.021(a)?
“In this section, "sexually explicit material" means any communication, language, or material, including a written description, illustration, photographic image, video image, or audio file, other than library material directly related to the curriculum required under Section 28.002(a), that describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct, as defined by Section 43.25, Penal Code, in a way that is patently offensive, as defined by Section 43.21, Penal Code.
TX Penal Code 43.21 (See Section D.)
TX Penal Code 43.25 (2)
"Sexual conduct" means sexual contact, actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual bestiality, masturbation, sado-masochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals, the anus, or any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola.
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Is the instructional material “sexually explicit”?
Yes
No