This article has been updated since publication to include a statement from the district.
Elected trustees at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District are considering adopting several revisions to language in their instructional material policy, most notably regarding who is allowed to file challenges to the materials. If approved, the change would potentially leave the district in violation of recently passed laws.
Senate Bill 13 explicitly allows “a parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student enrolled in a school district, a person employed by the district, or a person residing in the district” to submit challenges regarding school library materials.
Although all instructional materials are not included in the provisions of SB 13, which focuses solely on books in school libraries, the district policy does note that library books “when used for assignments” are in the district’s definition of “instructional materials.”
According to the upcoming meeting’s agenda, the board is looking to approve striking out “a student who is 18 years of age or older” and “any District resident” amid the list of those who are eligible to file a challenge on school instructional materials.
If approved, the only individuals who would be allowed to file a challenge would be “a district employee or a parent or guardian of a district student.”
The district is also looking to change “challenged material,” to “reconsideration of instructional materials” throughout the text of the policy.
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will meet January 15 to consider these changes during their regular board meeting.
Texas Scorecard reached out to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for comment. A spokesperson for the district said “the Board will consider revising the proposed language in [the policy] to continue to include district residents.”
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