Due Process Principles Applied to the Development of Reconsideration Policies

Policies and procedures designed to meet selection of and challenges to instructional materials are in existence in many school districts. Often, however, these policies fail to outline clear procedures for evaluation and review of the selection process itself through involvement of teachers, students, librarians, administrators, and parents. As professionals intimately involved with the selection and utilization of instructional materials, librarians have a professional responsibility to assist in the development of a policy which is: 1. promoted for the awareness and education of all parties involved; 2. utilized with the intent for all interested parties to have the opportunity to provide constructive input; 3. practiced so that procedures can be documented and therefore understood and supported by the governing powers of the school system.