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Policy 600.02 – Instructional Materials

POLICY NUMBER:
600.02

ADOPTED: 
5.17.2022

Board Policy

  1. The Board of Education recognizes the need for and value of a coherent instructional program consisting of common instructional materials, targeted instructional priorities, and assessments to effectively teach the Utah Core Standards. 
  2. The design and implementation of the instructional program will be consistent with the Board’s adopted mission and applicable goals, state laws, and State Board of Education rules.
  3. The Board deems it essential that the District regularly develop and update Instructional Guides to provide a common direction of action and to meet changing needs of students and educators.
  4. Instructional materials are a critical component of a coherent instructional program and should be:
    1. Aligned to the Utah Core Standards or specified course standards and CSD Board Policy
    2. Supported by generally accepted standards of evidence
    3. Accurate and factual
    4. Age appropriate
    5. Reflective of contributions from authors, artists, or appropriate experts in the field that represent diverse viewpoints, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and experiences
    6. Representative of diverse cultures
    7. Free of biases or stereotypes related to sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity
    8. Contributes to a balanced perspective
    9. Aligned to support personalized competency-based learning (PCBL)
    10. Compatible with District technology systems
    11. In compliance with Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
    12. Accessible to all students with scaffolding
    13. Free of sensitive materials
  5. While instructional scaffolding is expected to occur to address the unique needs of individual students, that instruction and intervention will be derived in alignment with the Utah Core standards.
  6. The Board authorizes the Superintendent and District Administration to establish administrative regulations consistent with this policy.

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.02-1

APPROVED: 
5.17.2022

Definitions - 600.02-1

  1. Utah Core Standards are established by the Utah State Board of Education in accordance with Title 53E-4-202 to identify the basic knowledge, skills, and competencies each student is expected to acquire or master as the student advances through the public education system.
  2. Print Resources include textbooks, consumable workbooks, fiction and nonfiction books, and any other print resources which students are required to have, use, or access during instruction.
  3. Digital Resources include digital textbooks, electronic documents, digital tools, online applications or programs, software, video clips, websites, learning management systems, instruction and assessment platforms and any other digital resources which students are required to have, use, or access during instruction. Videos that are rated will be subject to CSD Standards for Video Use in Schools (Exhibit 7).
  4. Districtwide Primary Curriculum Materials are instructional materials intended for use by all CSD educators in all schools as the primary source of information for teaching the core standards in a given course. Materials include print and digital resources for educator and student use. Specific resources within the curriculum are mapped to a specific scope and sequence in the Instructional Guide for the course.
  5. Course-level Primary Instructional Materials are the materials used to teach specific elective, Advanced Placement (AP), concurrent enrollment, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses.
  6. Supplemental Materials are instructional materials that enhance primary curriculum materials or are used in combination with other supplemental materials for teaching Utah core standards or course specified standards. Supplemental materials may include print and digital resources for educator or student use. Supplemental materials and requirements for use are outlined in the Instructional Guide for the course.
  7. Intervention Materials are materials intended to build specific skills with students who are below benchmark in reading, language, writing, and/or mathematics.
  8. Teacher-Selected Materials are specific instructional materials selected by teachers or licensed educators to enhance a lesson(s). Teacher-selected materials are not intended for extended use.
  9. Age Appropriate means generally suitable for students of the same age or level of social, emotional, and cognitive development. The context and prevalence of violence, sex, language, and illegal substances as well as the social and cultural factors of the learning communities must be considered when selecting instructional materials.
  10. School setting:  means, for a public school, in a classroom, in a school library, or on school property.  School setting includes the following activities that an organization or individual or organization outside of a public school conducts, if a public school or the District sponsors the activity:
    1. an assembly; 
    2. a guest lecture; 
    3. a live presentation; or
    4. an event.
  11. Sensitive Material:  means an instructional material that is pornographic or indecent material as the term is defined in Utah Code Section 76-10-1235.
    1. Sensitive material does not include an instructional material: the district selected under 53G-10-402 (Health Curriculum Requirements) ; for medical courses; for family and consumer courses; or for another course the state board exempts in board rule. 

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.02-2

APPROVED: 
5.17.2022

Instructional Guides - 600.02-2

  1. Under the direction of the Director of Instructional Supports Department (ISD), Instructional Guides will be developed to reflect a coherent instructional program for required core courses and select elective courses. Instructional Guides will include: scope and sequence of Utah Core Standards or specified course standards, approved instructional materials or District-adopted curriculum mapped to standards, District instructional priorities and content-specific instructional frameworks, and instructional resources.
  2. Instructional Guides will be reviewed annually by Instructional Supports specialists and educators and adjusted as needed based on student data, implementation feedback, updated standards, updated instructional materials, changes to state rule and District policy, innovations in education, and/or advances in research. 
  3. Instructional Guides will be made public for all stakeholders to view on the District website.

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.02-3

APPROVED: 
5.17.2022

Instructional Materials Selection - 600.02-3

  1. Instructional materials are the resources used by educators to promote student learning. These materials may be commercially available or District-created and include digital resources and print resources. Approved instructional materials are outlined in Instructional Guides. Courses that do not have an Instructional Guide will have approved instructional materials listed in the course disclosure. All instructional materials must be selected in accordance with this section.
  2. District-wide Primary Curriculum Materials are selected by a District Curriculum Committee and approved by the Board of Education. Under the direction of the Director of Instructional Supports Department (ISD), the District Curriculum Committee will follow the Districtwide Primary Curriculum Materials Adoption procedures (Exhibit 1).
    1. The members of the District Curriculum Committee will be selected from and in representation of principals, teachers, instructional support specialists, and other school and district personnel as appropriate according to assignment and subject matter expertise.
  3. Course-Level Primary Instructional Materials are selected at the school level for elective, Advanced Placement (AP), concurrent enrollment, International Baccalaureate (IB) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. The school principal will follow the Course-Level Primary Instructional Materials Selection Procedures (Exhibit 2). Final approval is granted by the Director of Instructional Supports or designee.
  4. Supplemental Instructional Materials are approved by the Director of Instructional Supports or designee.
    1. Supplemental instructional materials are selected by ISD and teachers during the annual review of the Instructional Guides.
    2. Schools may request approval for use of supplemental instructional materials by submitting a Supplemental Instructional Materials Request Form (Exhibit 3).
    3. Supplemental instructional materials will be evaluated using the Instructional Materials Selection Criteria (Exhibit 4).
    4. Fiction and nonfiction books used as supplemental instructional materials must be approved through the Fiction and Nonfiction Book Approval Process (Exhibit 5).
  5. Intervention materials are approved by the Director of Instructional Supports, or designee.
    1. Intervention materials are selected by District departments as needed.
    2. Schools may request approval for use of intervention materials by submitting an Intervention Materials form.
    3. Intervention materials will be evaluated using the Instructional Materials Selection Criteria (Exhibit 4).
  6. Teacher-selected materials are selected by individual teachers for use as part of a particular lesson or lessons. Materials selected should be evaluated using the Instructional Materials Selection Criteria (Exhibit 3). It is recommended that teachers have a colleague or administrator review materials to ensure appropriateness for student use in the classroom.
    1. If materials are part of a planned lesson that involve a controversial issue, teachers must adhere to Policy 600.16—Study of Controversial Issues.
    2. Presentations from individual classroom guest speakers should adhere to the Instructional materials selection criteria.
    3. Instructional material deemed inconsistent with the CSD Instructional Materials Selection Criteria may be removed by the Principal or Superintendent for review by the Department of Instructional Supports.
  7. School assemblies or events utilizing guest lecturers or live presentations for the student-body or District community shall be reviewed and approved by the School Assembly and Guest Presenter Approval Committee.  
  8. Student-led, teacher-led, and principal-led assemblies during the school day will adhere to applicable instructional materials selection criteria.
  9. Sex Education Materials are selected and approved in accordance with Policy 600.05—Sex Education Instruction.

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.02-4

APPROVED: 
5.17.2022

Review of Instructional Materials for Sensitive Material - 600.02-4

  1. Sensitive material is prohibited in the school setting.  A school may not adopt, distribute, provide a student access to, or maintain in the school setting sensitive materials, or permit a speaker or presenter in the school setting to display or distribute sensitive materials.
  2. If a parent/legal guardian of a student believes instructional materials meet the definition of a “sensitive material,” the parent/legal guardian will contact the principal to complete a Review of Sensitive Materials Form.  The completed form will be provided to the Director of Instructional Supports.
    1. For concerns regarding school library materials please refer to Policy—600.06—School Library Materials Selection and Review.
  3. The Director of instructional Supports or designee will form a Committee to review the Instructional Materials for sensitive material.
    1. The Committee will include the following:
      1. A school administrator;
      2. A teacher at the school level;
      3. The content specialist selected by the Director of ISD or designee;   
      4. Two parent/legal guardians reflective of the school community. 
    2. The Committee will read, view or listen to the instructional materials and determine if the instructional material is sensitive material as that term is defined in Utah Code 76-10-1235.  The Committee is allotted ten (10) school days to organize and review the material.
      1. The District will take reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality of the sensitive material review process and committee members (i.e., names and other personally identifiable information).
      2. The committee may consult with the District’s Legal Services Office and shall refer to trainings and guidance issued from USBE and the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
      3. The committee’s determination will be communicated to the Superintendent and Director of Instructional Supports for proper recording.
      4. The parent/legal guardian will be notified of the determination within a reasonable time period, within three (3) school days after a decision is reached.
      5. The same instructional material cannot be resubmitted for review for a period of (three) 3 years.
      6. An administrative record of the Committee decision will be maintained in the Instructional Supports Department.
      7. A decision made by the Committee is the final decision.   
      8. Following the Committee decision there is no further administrative action.  

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:
600.02-5

APPROVED: 
5.17.2022

Request for Waivers - 600.02-5

  1. If a parent of a student, or a secondary student, determines that the student’s participation in a portion of the curriculum or in an activity would require the student to affirm or deny a religious belief or right of conscience, or engage or refrain from engaging in a practice forbidden or required in the exercise of a religious right or right of conscience, the parent or the secondary student may request:
    1. A waiver of the requirement to participate; or
    2. A reasonable alternative that requires reasonably equivalent performance by the student of the secular objectives of the curriculum or activity in question.
  2. The school shall promptly notify a student’s parent if the secondary student If makes a request for a waiver or reasonable alternative.
  3. If a request is made for a waiver or reasonable alternative, the school shall: 1. Waive the participation requirement; 2. Provide a reasonable alternative to the requirement; or 3. Notify the requesting party that participation is required.
  4. A student’s academic or citizenship performance may not be penalized if the secondary student or the student’s parent chooses to exercise a religious right or right of conscience in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Forms

None

Document History

Revised – Policy—600.02—Instructional Materials was updated to comply with H.B. 374 Sensitive Materials in Schools (2022) which requires a District to include parents reflective of a school’s community when determining  whether an instructional material is sensitive.  A sensitive material as outlined in H.B. 374, “means an instructional material that is pornographic or indecent material as that term is defined in Section 76-10-1235.  Sensitive material does not include an instructional material: the district selected under 53G-10-402 (Health Curriculum Requirements); for medical courses; for family and consumer courses; or for another course the state board exempts in board rule.”  

The policy update includes statutory definitions of school setting and sensitive material to the policy.  The policy update adds to the District’s instructional materials selection criteria that instructional materials selected will be free from sensitive materials.  A new administrative regulation outlines the District’s process for review of sensitive materials, which establishes a committee for review of sensitive materials that includes parents reflective of the school community.  Language was also added to protect the confidentiality of the review committee members. 

Revised – 1.4.2022.  Policy – 600.02 – Curriculum Adoption required substantive revisions to outline the District’s curriculum adoption process.  The policy was retitled Instructional Materials and revised as follows:  

  • A new Board Policy Statement
  • A comprehensive Instructional Material adoption criteria
  • Definitions of the following: Utah Core Standards; Districtwide Primary Curriculum Materials; Print and Digital Resources; Course Level Primary Instructional Materials: Supplemental Materials; Intervention Materials; and Teacher-Selected Materials
  • The policy outlines a process for adoption of each level of Instructional Materials with specific Exhibits to describe instructional materials adoption.
  • The policy includes a Waiver of Participation, where a parent/legal guardian may request a waiver for participation in a portion of the curriculum or activity as outlined in state statute. (See, Utah Code 53G-10-205 (4)). 

 

Adopted – 1.3.2012.

This online presentation is an electronic representation of the Canyons School District’s currently adopted policy manual. It does not reflect updating activities in progress. The official, authoritative manual is available for inspection in the office of the Superintendent located at 9361 South 300 East Sandy, UT 84070.

Board Meeting Schedule

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the Board of Education for Canyons School District will hold a regular study session and public business meeting at the Canyons District Office building, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, UT each month unless otherwise posted. The Board may determine to conduct some business during a study session. All business meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m. unless changed by the Board and appropriately posted for the public.

Please note that ALL DATES, TIMES and LOCATIONS listed on this scheduled are TENTATIVE and are subject to change at any time.  Please check this schedule often to be informed of any changes.

Unless otherwise specified, all meetings in the schedule below will take place as the Canyons District Office located at 9361 S. 300 E. in Sandy, Utah.

District Leaders

Dr. Rick Robins

Superintendent

Dr. Rick L. Robins is the superintendent of Canyons School District. Dr. Robins, who was selected by the Canyons Board of Education after a national search, brings 24 years of experience as an educator to his role as the chief executive officer of Utah’s fifth-largest school district. Prior to joining Canyons, Dr. Robins, who earned an Ed.D. from the University of Las Vegas, for six years was Superintendent of the Juab School District, based in Nephi, Utah. While there, Dr. Robins, who also was the Juab High School Principal from 2009-2013, helped oversee efforts to improve the district’s graduation rate to 97 percent, a double-digit increase over a 10-year period. Other innovations he led in Juab included a partnership with Arizona State University for blended-learning opportunities; the launch of a districtwide competency-based personalized learning model driven by a 1:1 technology initiative and standards-based reporting system; and the construction of the STEM-focused West Campus Innovations Center, funded largely through private and corporate sponsorships. Dr. Robins began his career as a history teacher at Copper Hills High in the Jordan School District and has worked as an assistant principal and principal in the Alpine, Nebo and Juab school districts. He was the 2012 Utah High School Principal of the Year for the Utah Association of Secondary School Principals, and in 2014 earned the Lexington Institute Superintendent Fellowship Award presented to innovative superintendents across the country. Dr. Robins was starting quarterback for the football team at Southern Utah University Thunderbirds from 1991-1995, and in 2013 was inducted into SUU’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He has four children and one grandchild.

Leon Wilcox

Business Administrator and CFO

Leon Wilcox is a seasoned professional with 20 years of governmental accounting experience, with an emphasis on financial reporting, budgeting, and auditing. As Canyons District’ Director of Accounting from 2009-2013, Wilcox was intricately involved with the 2009 division of $1.5 billion in assets of the former Jordan School District, and was responsible for establishing Canyons’ original and subsequent budgets. Wilcox, a certified public accountant who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Utah State University, also has worked nine years in the Granite School District and six years in the State Auditor’s Office.

Supervises:  Accounting and Budget Services, Facilities and Maintenance, Insurance, New Construction Budget, Nutrition Services, Purchasing, Payroll

Dr. Robert M. Dowdle

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and School Performance

Robert Dowdle has a Doctor of Education degree with an emphasis in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah, and more than 31 years of experience as a teacher and educational leader. He began his career at Mount Jordan Middle School, where he taught Earth Science, English and Social Studies. He later taught Advanced Placement Economics, U.S. History and World History at Bingham High School, and served as Principal of Jordan High School and Assistant Principal for Alta High School and Brighton High School. Dowdle has served in the District office for 11 years as Assistant Superintendent. This role has included various leadership responsibilities, including Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Dowdle currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and School Performance.

Lucie Chamberlain

Alta View Elementary

If a movie about super teachers were ever made, Lucie Chamberlain would be a prime candidate for a leading role. Fortunately for her kindergarten students at Alta View Elementary, she already thrives in a supporting role for them. Parents thank her for being a “super teacher.” She is also described as an “amazing colleague.” Whether students need help in the classroom or from home while sick, Lucie goes above and beyond to help them learn, overcome fears, and feel important and cared for. Lucie is the reason a number of kids went from hating school to loving it, according to parents. The way she exudes patience, sweetness, positive energy, and love for her students with special needs melts is appreciated and admired. One parent noted: “Both my kids wish she could be their teacher forever.” Another added:  “She treats every student like their learning and their feelings are her priority.” Super teacher, indeed!

Specialty Schools

High Schools

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Canyons School District is committed to making this website compliant with the ADA. At this time, we recognize that not all areas of this website may be ADA compliant. We are currently in the process of redesigning and creating new website content to be compliant with the W3C Level Two guidelines. If you are experiencing issues with this website, please contact us here communications@canyonsdistrict.org

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