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SUGGESTED POLICY REVISIONS BASED ON CABE MODEL POLICY
1312P
COMMUNITY/BOARD OPERATIONS
GENERAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
The public will be encouraged to resolve complaints with the individual to whom the
complaint is directed.
No member of the community shall be denied the right to petition the Board of
Education to remedy a complaint. Keeping this in mind, all complaints shall be first
referred back through the proper administrative channels for solution before
investigation and/or action by the Superintendent or the Board of Education.
Exceptions are complaints that fall within the Board’s jurisdiction by statute or Board
policy.
The Board advises the public that the proper channeling of complaints involving
instruction, discipline, information technology, cafeteria, buses, or learning materials is
as follows:
1. Teacher, School-based Staff
2. School Administrator or Director
3. Superintendent or her/his designee
4. Board of Education: Should a member of the public not be satisfied with the
response to a complaint after following the channels above, he/she may submit
a written request for a meeting with the Board of Education. The Board will
consider the written complaint, in executive session if appropriate, and will
respond to the requesting party promptly, generally within thirty (30) days of
receipt of the written complaint.
Challenged Material (See Policy 6163.1 Library Materials)
A procedure for processing and responding to criticism of approved materials shall be
established and followed. This procedure shall include a formal, signed complaint of
standard format and an appointed committee to re evaluate the material in question.
GENERAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES Page 1 of 3
In all cases, the decision to retain or reject shall be made on the basis of whether the
material represents life in its true proportions, whether circumstances are realistically
dealt with, and whether the material has literary or social value. Factual material shall
be included in all instructional material collections.
Complaints Regarding Books and/or Other Educational Materials
The Board of Education has established the following guidelines for addressing
complaints regarding the utilization of books and/or other educational materials in the
instructional program of the Colchester Public Schools.
1. A parent and/or legal guardian has the right to request that his/her child not
read, view or hear given material, provided a written request is made to the
appropriate teacher. The teacher will confer with the school administrator and
will discuss the request and its impact on the student’s participation in the
curriculum. After such discussion, the teacher will notify the parent and/or legal
guardian in writing of the alternative educational activity. No parent and/or
legal guardian has the right to determine instructional materials for students
other than his/her own children.
2. If there is parental and/or legal guardian concern about a particular book or
instructional material, the parent a nd/or legal guardian will be given the
opportunity t o complete a “Request for Review of Book or Other Instructional
Material” form (Policy/Regulation 6163.1 Form 1). This request will be reviewed
by the teacher giving the assignment, the appropriate department chair, and the
school administrator. If a question arises concerning the suitability of a library
book or other library material, the same form will be used to register parental
and/or legal guardian concern and the form will be reviewed by the
library-media specialist, the appropriate department chair, and the school
administrator. The school administrator will discuss the results of the review
with the Director of Curriculum and provide an answer, giving the district’s
position, to the parent and/or legal guardian. If the parent and/or legal guardian
are not satisfied with the district’s position, he/she may appeal to the
Superintendent.
Legal Reference: Keyishian v. Board of Regents, 385 U.S. 589.603 (1967)
President’s Council, District 25 v. Community School Board No.
25, 457 F.2d 289 (1972). cert/denied 409 U.S. 998 (1976)
Minarcini v Strongsville City School District, 541 F.2d 577
(6th Cir. 1976).
GENERAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES Page 2 of 3
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26
57 U.S. 853 (1982).
v. Pico, 4
Academic Freedom Policy (adopted by Connecticut State Board of
education, 9/9/81).
Connecticut General Statutes
10-238 Petition for hearing by Board of Education
Policy Adopted: April 8, 2008
Policy Revised: March 30, 2021
COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut
GENERAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES Page 3 of 3