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Home>Learning & Teaching>Curriculum Adoption Information

Considering offering a new class? Deciding to purchase new materials not currently on the list of approved District materials? What about a video you are considering to show your students in conjunction with classroom instruction? Well, you've come to the right place for information!

Here in the Wenatchee School District, we have policies in place that guide how we approve new curriculum, textbooks, and/or classroom materials. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of these policies they can be found under the 2000 series [INSTRUCTION] in the District Policy Manual. You may find a District Policy Manual in each school building office. Listed below is a summary of required steps as you go through the process of having new classes approved, adopting textbooks or other materials, and/or using supplemental materials.

OFFERING NEW COURSES:
Policy 2020 states that, "All new courses or major modifications to existing courses must be approved by the Superintendent prior to implementation. The Superintendent, in turn, shall inform the Board before the new course or major revision to an existing course is implemented." Therefore, if you wish to introduce a new course or significantly modify any current courses, they must first be approved by the Superintendent. Unless the new class comes under the category of a major adoption in the district adoption cycle, all costs incurred must be taken care of with building funds. The District budget provides for planned, major adoptions.

ADOPTING NEW INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
Policy 2020 clearly specifies the requirements that must be met in order for curricular materials to be considered appropriate. The next step is to submit a "Request for Approval of Instructional Materials" to the District Instructional Materials Committee. This committee meets once a quarter and the request form plus materials must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the meeting in order to be considered. The request form and committee dates are available through the Learning & Teaching Department at the Central Administration Office, or at each individual school office.

REMOVING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS:
At times, it may become apparent that a particular text or other instructional material no longer meets the instructional needs of the district or a request may be made to reconsider materials that are deemed inappropriate. In these cases, a "Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials" may be obtained from the Central Office Learning & Teaching Department or at each individual school office. They should be submitted to the Instructional Materials Committee for consideration.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:
Supplemental materials include a wide variety of both print and non-print materials. This may include videotapes, films, laser discs, filmstrips, audiotapes, transparencies, and/or pamphlets or booklets. In selecting supplemental materials the teacher must first use careful professional judgment in choosing such materials by following the guidelines in Policy 2020 mentioned above. If the material contains any potential controversial content, the teacher must review it with the principal and obtain principal approval. If it is deemed that parent permission should be required, a letter similar to the following must be sent home and parent permission granted prior to the material being shared with students.

To: Parents/family of_______________

From: Teacher's Name________________

Re: Use of Supplemental Materials

During an upcoming unit on____________________ , we will be using the following supplemental materials:


Because of the nature of the materials, we are informing you that these materials are available for your preview at our school. If you would prefer to have your student receive an alternative assignment/activity, please sign below.

SUMMARY:
Hopefully, this information provides general guidelines for decisions regarding instructional offerings an materials. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to call the Learning & Teaching Department at 664-3707.