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  4. Book Selection Process

Book Selection Process

Book Selection Process

Challenged Resources

Per Board Policy EF (LOCAL)

Protection from Inappropriate Material

Instructional resources shall not include sexually explicit material as defined by House Bill 900 from the 88th Texas Legislature. 

A district may remove materials because they are pervasively vulgar or based solely upon the educational suitability of the books in question. EF(LEGAL) 

 

Challenged Resources

A parent of a District student, any employee, or any District resident may formally challenge an instructional resource used in the District’s educational program on the basis of appropriateness. 

 

Informal Reconsideration

The school receiving a complaint about the appropriateness of an instructional resource shall try to resolve the matter informally using the following procedure: 

  • The principal or designee shall explain the school’s selection process, the criteria for selection, and the qualifications of the professional staff who selected the questioned resource. 

  • The principal or designee shall explain the intended educational purpose of the resource and any additional information regarding its use. 

  • If appropriate, the principal or designee may offer a concerned parent an alternative instructional resource to be used by that parent’s child in place of the challenged resource. 

  • If the complainant wishes to make a formal challenge, the principal or designee shall provide the complainant a copy of this policy and a form to request a formal reconsideration of the resource. 

 

Internal Reconsideration

When a complaint is made regarding the appropriateness of an instructional resource, District administration may within its discretion conduct an internal reconsideration of the instructional resource by convening a committee to review and consider whether the instructional resource meets the objectives, selection criteria, and guidelines of policies EF, EFA, and EFB. 

 

Formal Reconsideration

A complainant shall make any formal objection to an instructional resource on the form provided by the District and shall submit the completed and signed form to the principal. Upon receipt of the form, the principal shall appoint a reconsideration committee. 

The reconsideration committee shall include at least one member of the instructional staff who has experience using the challenged resource with students or is familiar with the challenged resource’s content. Other members of the committee may include District-level staff, library staff, secondary-level students, parents, and any other appropriate individuals. 

All members of the committee shall review the challenged resource in its entirety. As soon as reasonably possible, the committee shall meet and determine whether the challenged resource conforms to the principles of selection set out in this policy. The committee shall prepare a written report of its findings and provide copies to the principal, the Superintendent or designee, and the complainant.