Policy for Supplemental AV Materials

Policy 6161.1

The Governing Board encourages teachers to use supplementary audio/visual instructional materials that are relevant to curriculum standards and compatible with district goals and objectives.  By using such materials, teachers can introduce content and use instructional strategies that enrich the curriculum, enhance learning, help students make critical judgments, and stimulate intellectual growth.

Schools and parents share the responsibility of their students’ education and ensure maximum learning by supporting one another’s educational decisions.  Teachers shall carefully preview all pre-recorded supplementary audio/visual materials in order to ensure that, in their professional judgment, the materials are both:

1.   Directly related to the course of study and/or related to the grade-level standards in which they are being used.

and

2.   Appropriate for students’ ages and maturity levels.

Questions concerning the appropriateness of materials MUST be discussed with the site administrator or designee prior to the showing of materials.  The site administrator or designee will be informed if audio/visual materials requiring positive parental permission are intended to be shown.

Parents will receive notification, a minimum of five days prior to showing, only when audio/visual materials do not parallel the age appropriate industry guidelines as follows:

G         General Audiences                                 Appropriate for all ages.

PG      Parental Guidance Suggested               Some material may not be suitable for children.

PG13  Parents Strongly Cautioned                  Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

R         Restricted                                                 Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian.

Positive parent response is required; otherwise the student will be exempt from the audio/visual activity.  An alternative assignment, relevant to the curriculum and no more time consuming than the viewing of audio/visual materials, will be provided.

When using supplementary materials, teachers will provide appropriate introductory and follow- up activities. In addition, teachers shall ensure the supplementary materials do not supplant the use of basic texts or teaching activities.

Supplemental audio/visual materials must be used within the constraints of United States Copyright Law.  The use of purchased or rented pre-recorded materials must satisfy these conditions:

1.   The use must take place in a non-profit educational institution.

2.   The use must occur in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction.

3.   The use must be part of a regularly scheduled course (thus ruling out extra-curricular or recreational use).

4.   The use must be exclusively by the instructor and the students in the course of face- to-face teaching activities.

Materials recorded off-air should be used within the first ten consecutive school days after broadcast and no off-air recordings should be retained for more than forty-five calendar days after the date of recording unless extended rights are in effect.

*which may include but not be limited to audios, videos, cd-roms, TV broadcasts, etc. January 2002