AAPS SHEAC Curriculum Review Process
All curriculum materials and resources[1] used in teaching sexual health education must be reviewed and approved by the Ann Arbor Public Schools Sexual Health Education Advisory Committee (AAPS SHEAC) for recommendation to the AAPS Board of Education. All materials must be approved by the AAPS Board of Education before they can be used or presented in the public schools.
Who can submit materials?
Materials can be submitted for review by teachers and other school district staff, students, parents, community organizations and professionals, and other interested parties.
How should they be submitted?
- Materials can either be submitted accompanied by a written description or individuals can request time to present materials at a SHEAC meeting.
- Submissions of printed or video materials must include, at a minimum, at least one complete copy of the resource. Prior to submission, the necessary number of copies for the particular resource should be discussed with the SHEAC co-chair designated with responsibility for curriculum review. Provision of multiple copies of the materials will speed the review process.
- If the request is for a presentation or workshop, the materials provided should include as much detail as possible (e.g., outlines of content, copies of PowerPoint or slide presentations, copies of handouts, tapes or videos of presentations if available).
- Presentations to the committee will be limited to 10 minutes, followed by questions from the committee.
What is the review process?
SHEAC Committee Review:
- SHEAC members will individually review and evaluate the submitted materials according to the standards outlined in the AAPS SHEAC Curriculum Review Criteria.
- SHEAC members will discuss the submitted materials as a group at either a regularly scheduled or specially scheduled SHEAC meeting. Following discussion, committee members will vote on whether to recommend the resource for Board approval, not adopt the resource, or gather additional information about the resource (e.g., request additional information, attend a workshop). SHEAC rules governing voting procedures will be followed (see AAPS SHEAC By-Laws, Article J).
- The SHEAC will provide written feedback regarding the submission of any resources that are not approved for recommendation, explaining the reasons for the committee's decision.
Public Comment:
- All materials approved by the SHEAC for recommendation to the AAPS Board of Education will be made available for public comment in a series of two public feedback sessions, along with being presented to the AAPS Board of Education for approval.
- A minimum of one series (two sessions) of public feedback sessions will be held during each semester of the school year. Additional series may be scheduled if the need arises.
- The public will be notified about the sessions in at least two of the following manners, a minimum of one week prior to the first session. Notification may be:
- Posted on the Ann Arbor Public Schools Website;
- Posted on Annarbor.com;
- Sent home from the Ann Arbor public schools using either "backpack mail" or the US Postal Service; and/or
- Communicated through AAPS mail, email, or phone distribution mechanisms (e.g., posted in school newsletters).
- Comments received at public feedback sessions will be summarized and presented to the AAPS Board of Education along with the SHEAC recommendations.
Recommendation to AAPS Board of Education:
Following review and public comments recommendations will be made to the AAPS Board of Education.
How quickly will they be reviewed?
The SHEAC will make every effort to review resources/materials in a timely manner. The provision of multiple copies of written materials, CDs and videos will help us to review materials more quickly.
November 9, 2009
[1] The term "materials" and "resources" will be used interchangeably to refer to all types of curriculum resources that may be submitted.