Ministry Policy Site

Withdrawal of Recommended Learning Resources

Issued and in effect June 1, 2000.

Learning resources will retain Recommended status for five years, after which time continued status as a Recommended learning resource will be subject, but not limited to, criteria such as curriculum relevance, currency and availability.

This policy provides information relating to the termination of the Recommended status granted to learning resources. This will provide clarity for teachers and school districts in their selection and management of learning resources to support curriculum initiatives.

Under the authority of the School Act, Section 168 (2) (e):

168 (2) The minister may make orders for the purpose of carrying out any of the minister's powers, duties or functions under this Act and, without restriction, may make orders…

(e) governing educational resource materials in support of educational programs

Section 3 of Ministerial Order 333/99, the Educational Program Guide Order, should be referred to in conjunction with this policy:

3. (1) A board or francophone education authority may only use the following educational resource materials:

(a) resource materials in an educational program guide specified in section 1 of this Order;

(b) resource materials in a document referred to in column 1 of Table 1;

(c) the educational resource materials referred to as authorized or recommended in the most recent "Catalogue of Learning Resources," published from time to time by the Ministry of Education;

(d) other educational resource materials that, subsequent to the publication of the Catalogue referred to in paragraph (c), are designated by the minister as authorized or recommended; and

(e) educational resource materials that the board or francophone education authority considers are appropriate for individual students or groups of students.

(2) Before a board or francophone education authority uses educational resource materials referred to in subsection (1) (e), the board or francophone education authority must approve those educational resource materials in accordance with evaluation and selection criteria and procedures established by the board or francophone education authority.

Also see policies regarding:

• Provincial Approval of Learning Resources
• Challenges to the Use of Recommended Learning Resources

Definition - "Challenge:" A formal complaint to the Ministry concerning the appropriateness of a Recommended learning resource.

Definition - "Recommended:" The legal status granted to a learning resource, which has been evaluated and approved by the Ministry for use in all B.C. schools and designated by the Minister as Recommended.

Definition - "Withdrawal:" The termination of the Recommended status of a learning resource.

Resources will retain their Recommended status for five years after which time they may be withdrawn from Recommended status.A withdrawal earlier than five years will occur if there is a successful challenge to the learning resource or the learning resource has been determined to be unsuitable as a result of a Ministry review. Schools may continue to use a learning resource after withdrawal provided local school district approval is then obtained for the continued use of the learning resource pursuant to Section 3 of Ministerial Order 333/99, the Educational Program Guide Order.

Education Standards Unit is responsible for the withdrawal of learning resources and will identify learning resources for withdrawal from Recommended status and the grade collections.

For more information, consult Evaluating, Selecting and Managing Learning Resources: A Guide. [unavailable pending revisions]

If you have any questions relating to the Withdrawal of Recommended Learning Resources Policy, please contact Education Standards Unit.