Collections + Challenges
The AISD Board of Trustees has approved a policy for Instructional Resources which applies to materials in the campus library collection as well as all supplemental (i.e., not State-adopted) materials used in the classroom, including books that students are assigned to read (e.g., whole class or reading circle titles), materials available in classroom book collections, and any media used in the classroom (e.g., DVDs, streaming video, websites, computer programs, etc.) The policy specifies who is responsible for selection of these materials, states the criteria for selection, and provides a procedure for requesting reconsideration of a resource (a process often referred to as a "book challenge").
The AISD Instructional Resources policy can be found on the TASB website HERE.
NOTE: Per HB 900, the selection policy for student choice reading materials (campus library collection and classroom book collections) will be revised to reflect new standards that the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) published in January of 2024. AISD is currently evaluate this policy and update as necessary. Until then, the current selection policy will continue to apply.
Click the link for additional information and resources regarding Texas HB 900 and scroll to the bottom of this page for links to additional resources.
CURRENT STATUS - on 4/23/24, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reconsider their previous decision which blocked HB 900's requirements for booksellers to rate books for sexual content and prohibition of any materials deemed "sexually explicit" from Texas public schools. So...
The part of the law related to vendor ratings and associated activities (i.e., removing, labeling, and restricting access to certain titles based on vendor ratings, and publishing an annual list of books with certain ratings for each school) are NOT currently in effect. The part of the law related to new requirements for collection development policies IS still in effect. Library Media Services is working in conjunction with Legal to update our policy accordingly. The new policy will be in place for Fall, 2024, and campuses will receive information accordingly.
Appeals are still in process. It has not been determined yet what the next step will be or when that will take place.
1/17/24 - The Fifth Circuit Court reinstated the injunction on some parts of HB 900, specifically the requirement for book vendors to rate books for sexual content. Consequently, the other pieces of the law that are dependent on the vendor ratings (i.e., removing, labeling, and restricting access to certain titles based on vendor ratings, and publishing an annual list of books in each library with a certain rating) are also NOT currently in effect.
10/12/23 - The Fifth Circuit Court announced it will hear oral arguments on November 28th.
10/5/23 - The appeals court declined to lift the temporary stay, so the injunction remains "stayed" and the implementation continues pending the hearing of the appeal.
9/25/23 - A panel of judges has issued a temporary stay on the injunction, meaning that the implementation of the law can proceed for now while the appeal and counter-appeal to the suit are being heard by the court. The timeline remains unchanged.
8/31/23 - A judge has issued an injunction which prevents the state from implementing any aspect of HB 900, which was to take effect on September 1. This was in response to a suit against the state filed by two book vendors and various organizations, alleging that the law violates free speech (and other things). Appeals are expected.
NOTE: HB 900 does not preempt or supersede the procedures for book challenges described below. HB 900 will require campuses to remove books designated by vendors as "sexually explicit" but this provision will not take effect until after April 1, 2024. HB 900 does NOT direct or authorize the removal of any other materials without due process, as described below.
Book Challenges
A challenge or "request for reconsideration" of materials happens when someone - most often a parent, but sometimes a student, teacher, or other community member - believes that a book or resource in a school is not appropriate for the students who have access to it. Parents always have the right to make decisions for their own child, but when parents or other persons want to restrict access to groups of students or the entire campus, that is a different situation.
While the thought of facing a challenge can be daunting, it's important to remember that this process is a necessary part of public education in a diverse and democratic society, and that there are established policies, procedures, and people to help you.
What To Do If It Happens to You
Remain calm and remember that a book challenge is not a personal attack on you.
Listen to the concern, but do NOT immediately remove the resource from the library or classroom.
Follow the steps shown below, depending on the type of resource involved.
Report all challenges to campus administration, even if there is no further action taken by the complainant.
Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Material
Instructional materials include resources (books, audio and visual material, online resources, etc.) that students are assigned to read or that are used in direct instruction.
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The teacher (and an administrator, if appropriate) should speak with the concerned person to explain the rationale for using the instructional material in question.
If the explanation does not resolve the concern, provide the person with the Request for Alternative Resources form and be prepared to offer an alternative assignment.
If the alternative assignment does not resolve the concern, follow the procedure for a formal challenge provided here : Policies and Procedures for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials. This document includes the Request for Reconsideration form and Committee Guidelines for reconsideration of an instructional resource.
Report challenges of instructional materials to the Secondary Humanities Director, even if they are resolved without a formal Request for Reconsideration being filed.
Request for Reconsideration of Student Choice Material
Student Choice materials include resources that students can access in the campus library or a classroom book collection, but are not required reading or used in direct instruction.
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The campus librarian or the teacher in whose room the resource is located (and an administrator, if appropriate) should speak with the concerned person to explain the rationale for having the resource in the collection.
If the explanation does not resolve the concern, follow the procedure for a formal challenge provided here: Policies and Procedures for Reconsideration of Student Choice Reading Materials. This document includes the Request for Reconsideration form and Committee Guidelines for reconsideration of student choice reading materials.
Report challenges of student choice reading materials to the Library Coordinator and the Secondary Humanities Director, even if they are resolved without a formal Request for Reconsideration being filed.
TIPS FOR HANDLING CHALLENGES
Be Prepared!
Be familiar with the AISD Instructional Resources Policy and the processes described above, and stay informed on related issues in the city and state, such as HB 900, so that you can respond rather than react to a challenge.
Work with your administration proactively to put together a list of persons willing to serve on a reconsideration committee before you need it. This list should include campus staff, District staff, parents, and students (if appropriate).
Think about what you might say if faced with a challenge. Practice reacting calmly and professionally.
Educate your campus community (including students, as appropriate for their level) about intellectual freedom, students' right to read, diversity and representation, and the policies, procedures, and philosophies that guide your choices when selecting resources for the library or classroom.
Be Transparent!
The AISD library catalog is openly accessible online. You can provide the link to your campus library catalog on the library or campus website for parents and students to access.
Communicate proactively with families about materials that will be used for direct instruction, particularly when topics might be considered controversial. Consider providing a list of the instructional materials to be used in an upcoming unit with a summary of each resource, and ask parents/guardians to approve materials for use in advance using this form.
Consider engaging students in choice novel studies rather than whole class novel studies.
Be Calm!
Keep calm and remain professional. A book challenge is not a personal attack on you!
Do not immediately remove a challenged resource. Per the EF Local policy, a resource is NOT to be removed from the collection or the location during the reconsideration process.
You do not have to respond to a challenge on the spot. It may be better to schedule a meeting in the future to listen to the concerns and explain the policy and rationale for selecting the resource; this will give you time to gather information and notify your administration. Try to choose a meeting time when you won't be interrupted or rushed.
Be Professional!
Collect information about the resource in question, including reviews from professional journals, awards the book has received, and/or reading lists on which is it included. Librarians have access to vendor websites which provide full-text reviews from School Library Journal, The Horn Book, Kirkus, Booklist, and other respected journals.
The Instructional Resources Policy covers not only the selection of materials, but also deselection, or "weeding". This is not censorship - it is a normal and necessary part of collection development for campus libraries and classroom collections, and of curriculum development for classroom instruction.
If you review a resource and determine in your professional judgement as an educator that it actually is inappropriate for the age, maturity level, or culture of your campus, or if it meets other legitimate criteria for deselection, you may remove the resource without convening a committee to review it.
However, if a resource would not be a candidate for deselection for any other reason, you should not remove it from the collection solely to resolve a controversy or avoid a challenge.
Quick Links
AISD Instructional Resources Policy
Request for Alternative Resource Form (instructional resources)
Policies and Procedures for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials (includes policy, form, and committee guidelines)
Policies and Procedures for Reconsideration of Student Choice Reading Materials (includes policy, form, and committee guidelines)
Additional Resources
NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English): Intellectual Freedom Center
NCTE: Guidelines for Dealing with Censorship of Instructional Materials
NCTE: Book Rationale Database (tools for making and defending book selections for the classroom or library)
NCAC: Book Censorship Action Kit
Book Resumes (supporting information for frequently challenged titles)
Texas #FReadom Fighters (coalition of Texas librarians supporting intellectual freedom)
School Library Journal: Series of Articles on Censorship by Pat Scales