Literature Selection Review

The Literature Selection Review process guides teachers of grades 6-12 in selecting literature to keep Olentangy’s curriculum updated to support student engagement with reading and literature, while maintaining open, transparent communication with families. It begins when a teacher selects a text and completes a two-page form to outline how the text meets Ohio Department of Education (ODE) standards and the rationale for the text selection. The English Language Arts (ELA) department chair, a building administrator, and a district administrator each review and approve or deny the form. After the literature selection is approved, the teacher communicates the literature titles with the supporting forms to families, and the forms are posted to this page. The forms include alternate text titles for families to consider for their children. 

Several complementary factors, perspectives and sets of requirements drive the literature selection process for the purpose of maximizing student learning. ODE provides ten literature standards and ten additional reading standards, and Olentangy Schools Board of Education Policy 2520.01 on Literature Selection states that courses may at times address topics that some parents find objectionable, so parents must always be informed and have the opportunity to select an alternate text. The Olentangy Literature Selection Review process is focused on parent partnership with teachers to facilitate maximum learning for students in the English Language Arts classroom.