AGO Opinion Topics: EVALUATION TEACHING MATERIALS SCHOOL BOARDS

(1) Evaluations of teaching materials by a school district in public hearing pursuant to RCW 28A.58.758(2)(f) may be conducted either by the school board or by the administrative staff of a school district.  (2) RCW 28A.58.758(2)(f) and RCW 28A.58.103(1)(e) do not provide alternative means for processing complaints registered by parents, guardians or custodians of students with respect to teaching materials deemed by them to be objectionable. (3) Films used for teaching purposes are included within the term "teaching materials" as used in RCW 28A.58.758(2)(f). (4) The legislature has not prescribed any particular rules of procedure to govern the conduct of an evaluation of teaching materials in public hearing pursuant to RCW 28A.58.758(2)(f); instead, each school district board of directors should be viewed as having the power to establish its own rules of procedure within the confines of judicially approved standards.