Instructional Materials and Course Approval

A Clear Process for Reviewing and Adopting Learning Resources

Colorado Springs School District 11 reviews and adopts new instructional resources and courses during the fall and spring of each school year. Proposed resources are available for public review before Board of Education adoption, as required by Board Policy IJJ.

Approval Resources

Review the adoption timeline, Board policies, process flowchart, and district-approved digital resources before beginning a proposal.

Course and Materials Adoption Timeline

Review deadlines for submitting proposals and completing each stage of the adoption process.

View Adoption Timeline

Board Policy IJJ

Review the Board policy governing the selection and adoption of instructional resources.

View Policy IJJ

Board Policy IJJ-R

Review the regulations and procedures supporting the instructional materials approval policy.

View Policy IJJ-R

Approval Process Flowchart

See the instructional materials approval process from initial proposal through Board action.

View Process Flowchart

D11 Digital Resource Approval Directory

Browse digital applications and resources that have already been reviewed and approved for use in Colorado Springs School District 11.

View Approved Digital Resources

General Information

  • The District 11 Board of Education approves learning resources pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)(t).
  • Board Policies IJJ and IJJ-R provide the requirements and guidance for adopting instructional materials and courses.
  • Schools should use approved instructional resources when those resources are required for a student to complete a course successfully.
  • Schools should use only approved courses available in the student information system.

Choose the Appropriate Process

The steps vary depending on whether the proposal is district-wide, school-level, or a course addition or revision.

District-Wide Resource Adoption

  1. Identify the instructional need and funding source.
  2. The designated content facilitator works with District 11 Procurement to release a request for proposal.
  3. The content facilitator forms a resource evaluation committee representing a range of stakeholders.
  4. The committee uses agreed-upon criteria and tools to evaluate, score, and recommend the option that best meets the needs of students and educators.
  5. The recommended resource continues through the adoption process according to the approved timeline.

School-Level Resource Proposal

  1. A teacher, team, department, or school-wide teaching staff identifies a resource.
  2. Obtain approval from the principal and, at the secondary level, the department chair.
  3. Check whether the resource is already district-approved. A copyright update may be appropriate for an existing resource.
  4. If the resource includes digital content, submit a Technology Support ticket for review and approval.
  5. Contact the appropriate subject-area lead by the timeline deadline to receive the online proposal form.
  6. The subject-area lead reviews the proposal and may form a committee for additional review.
  7. After approval, the proposal continues through the remaining adoption process.

Course Adoption, Revision, or Deletion

  1. A teacher, team, department, or school-wide teaching staff identifies the course need.
  2. Obtain approval from the principal and, at the secondary level, the department chair.
  3. Contact the appropriate subject-area lead by the timeline deadline to receive the online proposal form.
  4. The subject-area lead reviews the proposal and may form a committee for additional review.
  5. After approval, the proposal continues through the remaining adoption process.

Public Review and General Assistance

Proposals may be reviewed online or in person at the D11 Academics office, 1115 North El Paso Street, Room 218, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the dates identified in the adoption timeline. For assistance, call 719-520-2045.

Subject Area Contacts

Contact the appropriate subject-area lead before beginning an instructional resource or course proposal. For general assistance, call the D11 Academics office at 719-520-2045.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education

Contact D11 Academics

719-520-2045