Background
Grasslands Public Schools is committed to providing a safe, caring and respectful learning and working environment for all students, staff and community members. This commitment extends to the selection and management of all learning resources, including books or electronic materials in schools. Grasslands also recognizes the importance of providing students with access to a wide range of information and ideas that support and enrich the curriculum.
This administrative procedure outlines the process for the selection, reconsideration, and management of literary materials available to children or students, with a specific focus on ensuring age-appropriateness, particularly concerning content related to visual depictions of sexual acts, in accordance with the Education Act and Ministerial Order: Standards for the Selection, Availability, and Access of School Literary Materials (#034/2025).
Definitions
Age-appropriate: shall refer to resources where content, themes, language, and complexity are suitable for the developmental stage, maturity, and understanding of the students for whom they are intended, taking into consideration curriculum goals and the educational context.
Member of the School Community: shall refer to an individual who has a recognized relationship with the school, including a child or student enrolled in the school, a school authority employee, a parent or legal guardian of a child or student enrolled in the school, a member of the school council, or a member of the broader community with a direct connection to the school.
School Literary Materials: materials, including books, magazines, comics, graphic novels or other literary or graphic materials, whether in physical or electronic form, that are accessible to students.
Classroom collection: a teacher's collection of literary materials, including books, magazines, comics, graphic novels or other literary or graphic materials, whether in physical or electronic form that are selected, and curated by the teacher and are available to students in the teacher's classroom.
Visual Depiction: A visual or graphic representation, such as a drawing or painting, an illustration, a photographic or digital image or a video file.
Sexual Act: An activity or action of a distinctly sexual nature as specifically outlined in Ministerial Order 034/25, Standards for the Selection, Availability and Access of School Literary Materials.
Procedures
Standards for School Literacy Materials
The Principal shall ensure that any school literary materials containing explicit visual depictions of sexual acts, as outlined in Ministerial Order 034/25, Standards for the Selection, Availability and Access of School Literary Materials, are not selected or made available to children or students within a school;
1.1. Further, the Principal shall ensure that no such school literary materials are selected for inclusion in a school library, unless such materials are for information or reference, such as technical materials, dictionaries or encyclopedias, that are not narrative in nature.
The Principal shall ensure that all school literary collections are reviewed on a continual basis to ensure compliance with this procedure and Ministerial Order 034/25.
Each school shall establish and maintain a publicly available catalogue of all school literary materials. Grasslands School Library catalogues can be publicly viewed by following THIS LINK.
3.1. Classroom Collections are exempt from public catalogue but must be disclosed to parents of students who access them in either a physical or electronic form at the teachers' discretion. Some examples could include but are not limited to:
3.1.1. Collection made available for in person viewing/review during a specific time (e.g. Parent Teacher Interviews);
3.1.2. A video/images of the titles/covers of the materials in the classroom;
3.1.3. An electronic list of titles shared via email or other means; or
3.1.4. A digital catalog or database.
Selection and Availability of Literary Resources
Principals and school literacy staff shall be responsible for selecting and making available learning resources and materials that support the curriculum, consider the context of the communities they serve, promote the Division's values, and are age-appropriate for the students they serve.
Teachers shall be responsible for selecting and curating individual classroom literacy resources and materials that support the curriculum, consider the context of the communities they serve, promote the Division's values, and are age-appropriate for the students they serve.
Selection shall be guided by professional reviews, curriculum alignment, literary and educational merit, accuracy, and representation of diverse viewpoints.
Consideration shall be given to the overall context, purpose, and impact of the material, rather than isolated passages.
Request for Reconsideration of Literary Resources:
Any individual with a direct tie to the school and who has a concern about the suitability of a specific school literacy material as outlined in section 1.1 of this Administrative Procedure and within the constraints of the Ministerial Order 034/2, may initiate a Request for Reconsideration.
8.1. Initial concerns must first be discussed with the Principal to seek clarification and potential resolution.
If the concern is not resolved, the complainant shall submit a completed "Formal Request for Reconsideration Form" (Appendix A) to the Principal.
The challenged material shall remain in circulation during the reconsideration process.
Formation and Role of the Reconsideration Committee:
Upon receipt of a formal written Request for Reconsideration Form, the Principal shall establish a Reconsideration Committee within ten (10) school days.
The Reconsideration Committee shall typically include:
12.1. School Principal (Chair);
12.2. School Librarian or Library EA;
12.3. Relevant Grade Level Teacher(s);
12.4. A parent representative from the school community; and
12.5. A District-level representative (e.g., curriculum specialist, instructional coach or teacher with a graduate degree in or specialization in the subject at hand and who has been recommended by the Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services).
The committee's responsibilities include:
13.1. Reading and reviewing the challenged material in its entirety;
13.2. Reviewing the Division's learning resource selection policies and criteria;
13.3. Considering professional reviews and awards for the material;
13.4. Meeting with the complainant to understand their concerns;
13.5. Discussing the material in relation to its age-appropriateness, educational value, and the needs of the school community; and
13.6. Preparing a written report with findings and a recommendation.
Decision and Communication:
The Reconsideration Committee shall submit its written report and recommendation to the Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services or designate within thirty (30) school days of the committee's formation.
The Assistant Superintendent of Learning or designate shall review the committee's recommendation and make a final decision.
The Assistant Superintendent of Learning or designate shall communicate the decision in writing to the complainant, providing a rationale for the outcome, within ten (10) school days of receiving the committee's report.
Appeal Process:
- An individual not satisfied with the decision of the Superintendent or designate may appeal, in writing, according to Policy 910: Appeals Concerning Student Matters.
Reference:
Ministerial Order 034/25, Standards for the Selection, Availability and Access of School Literary Materials
Education Act, 2025
Policy 910: Appeals Concerning Student Matters
Appendix A
FORMAL REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF A SCHOOL LIBRARY, CLASSROOM LIBRARY OR LEARNING COMMONS RESOURCE
CONTACT INFORMATION
Date Submitted: ______________________ Date Received: ______________________
Initiated By: ____________________________________________
Contact Number: ______________________ Email: ______________________
Address: ____________________________________________
Name of School: ____________________________________________
Are you representing an organization? (Please circle YES or NO) YES NO
If Yes, please provide the name of the organization you are representing: ______________________
PROCEDURE DETAILS
Have you followed the steps within A.P. 8XX School Libraries, Learning Commons and Classroom Libraries? YES NO
Is the Principal of your child's school aware of your concerns regarding the library resource? YES NO
LEARNING RESOURCE DETAILS
Please respond to the following questions. If additional space is required, please use, and attach, additional sheets of paper to this form.
Name of Resource: ____________________________________________
Author/Publisher: ____________________________________________
Type of Media (circle) Novel Graphic Novel Online Video News/Magazine Other:
Did you read, view or listen to the entire item? If not, what sections did you review?
What concerns do you have about this media? Please be specific - cite pages, passages ect.
What do you beleive is the purpose of this learning resource in our school(s)?
In your opinion, what is the main idea conveyed through this learning resource?
In your opinion, what might be the result of a student's exposure to this learning resource?
What do you see as the merits of this learning resource?
What judgements of this media by professional critics are appropriate to this discussion?
In your opinion, for which age group would this learning resource be appropriate?
Please recommend an alternative learning resource that you consider providing the appropriate information and perspective on this topic.
Completed forms can be submitted directly to Grasslands Division Office at 745-2nd Avenue East, Brooks Alberta, T1R 1L2 care of the Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services. You can also scan and email it to info@grasslands.ab.ca