Procedure For Examination Of School Library Material

Books for Review at School-Level

Books Reviewed at School-Level

This state's policy for the selection of school library materials states that any parent, guardian, student with parental consent, community member, or employee of the district may formally challenge library materials used in the district's educational program. This policy further allows those persons in the school or the school community, who are not directly involved in the selection of library materials to make their opinions known. The focus of the examination procedure is to provide an open forum for making an informed decision. School personnel are expected to be courteous and advise the complainant to arrange a conference with the principal.

Procedures for Challenging Library Materials

According to s. 1006.28 any parent or resident of Polk County may formally challenge library materials used in the district’s educational program. The focus of the examination procedure is to provide an open forum for making an informed decision. When a challenge is made, school personnel are expected to be courteous and advise the complainant to arrange a conference with the principal.  The school will follow the timeline, based on book availability and PCPS calendars (i.e. school breaks, holidays, and summer).   Books are reviewed in the order the Request for Examination of Materials Form is received. Only one book will be reviewed at a time.

Timeline

District Appeal Process

If the original complainant wishes to appeal the committee’s decision, the principal will refer the matter to their immediate supervisor.

The Superintendent or their designee, but not members of the original library media committee, will then convene. This committee will be made of members that represent the school district and will include the following:

• Supervisor of the school bringing the challenge or their designee
• Library Media Services Designee
• Senior Director of Curriculum and Instruction and/or designee
• A teacher from the appropriate content area and level – Secondary should have an English/Language Arts teacher
• A Library Media Specialist for the grade level of the material in question
• Minimum of three (3) parents and two (2) community members from the committee pool
• Students, if the material being reviewed is made available in a secondary school, selected from the committee pool.

Parents, students, and community members interested in representing their district and participating in the appeals process must apply to the applicant pool.  As appeals are received, members will be randomly selected from the pool for the committee. The decision by this committee shall determine if the material is to be used by the local school. The District Review Committee follows the Procedure for Examination of School Library Material using the timeline below, based on book availability and PCPS calendars (i.e. school breaks, holidays, and summer).  Books are reviewed in the order the appeal is received.

Books for Review at District-Level

Timeline

Documents