The Board of School Directors is currently considering proposed Policies 109 and 109.1 related to the selection, review, maintenance, and age-appropriateness of library and instructional materials available to students.
To help provide clarity and accurate information, the District has compiled the following frequently asked questions and responses. The information below is intended to explain the proposed policies, address common misconceptions, and provide additional context regarding how the policies would be implemented if approved by the Board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Policies 109 and 109.1 being proposed?
The Board has expressed concerns regarding age-appropriate standards for library and instructional materials for several years. The purpose of these policies is to provide clearer guidance regarding the selection, review, and maintenance of materials available to students and to establish age-appropriate standards for content in school libraries and instructional resources.
Why is a separate Policy 109.1 needed?
The two policies serve different purposes.
Policy 109 establishes the process for selecting, reviewing, challenging, maintaining, and removing library materials.
Policy 109.1 establishes age-appropriate content standards that administrators may use when evaluating materials.
Separating the process from the content standards provides greater clarity and consistency when questions arise regarding library or instructional materials.
Is this policy about banning books?
No.
The policies establish standards for materials that are selected and maintained within district libraries and instructional settings. Like all school districts, the district curates its library collection based on educational suitability, age appropriateness, and available resources. These policies provide guidance regarding how those decisions are made.
Is this policy about political viewpoints or ideology?
No.
The policies focus on processes and age-appropriateness of content, not viewpoints.
Policy 109 specifically recognizes that materials should not be removed because of the ideas they express. The purpose of the policies is to establish standards regarding educational suitability and age-appropriate content, particularly with respect to sexually explicit material.
Will these policies reduce the diversity of viewpoints and perspectives available to students?
No.
Policy 109 specifically states that library materials should provide a well-balanced and well-rounded collection that includes a variety of subjects, formats, and perspectives. The policy further provides that materials should include various and opposing points of view concerning historical and contemporary issues so that students can develop critical reading and thinking skills.
The policy also states that, wherever possible, library materials should represent varied segments of society, including different religious, ethnic, cultural, and other perspectives and their contributions to our shared heritage.
Policies 109 and 109.1 do not limit viewpoints or restrict discussion of ideas. Rather, they establish processes and age-appropriate standards for materials provided by the district while continuing to maintain a diverse and educationally valuable collection that supports student learning.
What is the purpose of a school library?
A school library exists to support the district's educational goals and the learning needs of minor students. School libraries are curated collections designed to support instruction, literacy development, research, and student learning.
Why doesn't the district simply rely on state law regarding materials that are harmful to minors?
The Board believes that educational suitability and age appropriateness involve considerations beyond the minimum legal standards established by criminal law.
The question for a school district is not simply whether a particular material is legal to give to minors. The question is whether it is appropriate for inclusion in a school library or instructional setting serving minor students.
Policy 109.1 establishes standards intended to help administrators make those determinations.
What types of content are addressed in Policy 109.1?
Policy 109.1 establishes age-appropriate standards regarding sexually explicit content, depictions of sex acts, nudity, and other content that the Board believes may be inappropriate for students in school settings.
The standards vary by grade level and recognize differences in age and maturity among elementary, middle, and high school students.
Can community members who are not parents raise concerns about library materials?
Yes.
Policy 109 allows concerns regarding library materials to be raised by parents, students, staff members, and other stakeholders. As a public school district, the Board recognizes that community members and taxpayers have a legitimate interest in district operations and educational resources.
However, the ability to raise a concern does not mean that an individual can determine whether a book is removed, retained, or restricted. The policy establishes a structured review process, and final decisions remain the responsibility of district administration applying the standards established by Board policy.
Individuals raising concerns must identify the material in question, cite specific content, and explain the basis for their concern. Materials are reviewed according to established district standards rather than personal preference or individual disagreement with a book's viewpoint.
The policy is designed to promote transparency and community input while continuing to place decision-making authority with educational professionals and district administration.
Who decides whether a material meets district standards?
The policies place primary responsibility on district administration and professional staff.
Administrators, librarians, and educators are expected to apply the standards established by Board policy and use professional judgment when evaluating materials.
In certain cases, additional review may be conducted to assist in making a determination.
What are "borderline materials"?
The policy recognizes that some materials may not clearly fall within or outside established standards.
In those situations, administrators will use professional judgment to evaluate educational value, age appropriateness, intended audience, and other relevant factors identified in district policy.
The policy also allows for additional review when necessary.
How can a concern about a library material be raised?
Policy 109 establishes both informal and formal processes for raising concerns regarding library materials.
Individuals who have concerns about a material are encouraged to discuss the matter with school administration. If concerns remain unresolved, a formal review process is available that requires identification of the material, citation of specific content, and an explanation of the concern.
Will the district review every book currently in its libraries?
No.
The policy does not require an immediate review of the district's entire collection.
Existing materials will generally be reviewed through normal collection maintenance and weeding processes or when a concern regarding a specific material is raised.
Can parents see what books are available in district libraries?
Yes.
Policy 109 requires that library inventories be maintained and made available to students, parents/guardians, staff, Board members, and community members.
The policy is intended to promote transparency regarding materials available within district libraries.
What rights do parents have under these policies?
Parents play an important role in guiding their children's reading choices.
The policies provide opportunities for parents to:
- Review available library materials.
- Review their child's library records as permitted by law.
- Communicate concerns regarding materials.
- Request restrictions for their own child regarding specific library materials.
The Board believes parents should remain actively involved in decisions regarding their children's reading and educational experiences.
Will librarians be required to rate books or maintain extensive opt-out systems?
No.
The policies were intentionally designed to avoid extensive book-rating systems, content-labeling requirements, or large-scale opt-out management systems.
Instead, the policies establish baseline standards for materials included in district collections while continuing to rely on professional judgment and existing administrative procedures.
Do these policies apply only to school libraries?
While Policy 109 primarily addresses the selection, maintenance, and review of library materials, Policy 109.1 applies to materials made available to students through school libraries, classroom libraries, and curricular resources.
The Board believes that age-appropriate standards should be applied consistently regardless of whether materials are located in a school library, a classroom library, or are provided as part of instruction.
The intent is not to limit educational opportunities or classroom discussion, but to ensure that materials made available to students through district programs and resources are consistent with the age-appropriate standards established by Board policy.
Does Policy 109.1 apply to materials used for classroom instruction?
Yes.
Policy 109.1 applies to library materials, classroom library collections, and curricular resources provided by the district. The policy establishes age-appropriate standards that are intended to be applied consistently across district-provided materials.
Teachers and administrators will continue to exercise professional judgment in selecting instructional resources, while doing so within the standards established by Board policy.
What is the overall goal of these policies?
The goal of Policies 109 and 109.1 is to support student learning by maintaining library and instructional materials that are educationally valuable, age-appropriate, transparent to parents, and consistent with the district's educational mission.
Why not simply continue using book ratings and parental opt-outs?
The Board's primary concern was ensuring that materials made available through district libraries, classroom libraries, and instructional resources are consistent with age-appropriate standards established by Board policy. The Board concluded that questions of age appropriateness should be addressed through standards governing the selection and maintenance of district-provided materials rather than relying primarily on ratings or parental restrictions after materials have already been added to district collections.
The Board also considered limitations of the previous approach. Book-rating systems can be difficult to apply and maintain consistently because library books do not have universally accepted rating classifications. In addition, some parents found that broad opt-out categories did not always provide the flexibility they desired and could result in students losing access to a large number of materials because of concerns about only a small number of titles.
For these reasons, the Board determined that establishing age-appropriate standards together with a transparent review process was a more effective approach.
What do Policies 109 and 109.1 not do?
There has been significant discussion regarding the proposed policies. To provide additional clarity, it may be helpful to understand what the policies do not do.
The policies do not:
- Remove books because of the ideas they express.
- Allow a single individual to determine whether a book is retained, restricted, or removed.
- Require the district to immediately review every book currently in its libraries.
- Establish a system of labeling or rating every library book.
- Replace the professional judgment of administrators, librarians, and educators.
- Limit the district's commitment to maintaining a diverse collection of materials representing a variety of subjects, experiences, and viewpoints.
Rather, the purpose of the policies is to establish consistent processes and age-appropriate standards for materials provided through district libraries, classroom libraries, and instructional resources while continuing to support student learning, literacy, critical thinking, and parental transparency.
Why did the Board consult the Independence Law Center (ILC) during development of these policies?
School boards routinely review resources and model policies from a variety of organizations when considering policy revisions.
In this case, the Independence Law Center (ILC) had an existing attorney-client relationship with the district and had existing model policies and resources addressing age-appropriate standards for library materials, which aligned with the issues the Board was seeking to evaluate. Those resources provided a useful starting point for discussion and policy development.
Additionally, the ILC was able to provide policy development assistance at no cost to the district, allowing the Board to explore potential policy options without incurring any legal expenses.
As with any proposed policy, the Board remains responsible for evaluating, revising, and ultimately adopting the policy language. The policies presented for consideration reflect the Board's judgment regarding the standards it wishes to establish for district libraries and instructional materials.
How were Policies 109 and 109.1 developed?
As with all district policies, the development work occurred through the Policy Committee process before being brought forward to the full Board for public review, discussion, and consideration.