Under Texas Education Code (TEC) §33.027, a parent, district employee, or person residing in a school district may submit a written challenge to any library material in a school’s library catalog. To submit a written challenge, an eligible individual must complete and submit the Library Materials Challenge Form. In accordance with TEC §33.027, an individual completing the form must identify how the challenged library material violates library standards adopted by the Texas State Library and Archive Commission (TSLAC).
Pearland Independent School District has established challenge procedures to address concerns about library resources. Before completing this form and as part of the challenge request, the complainant is expected to read the resource in its entirety. Please review the following information from EFB(LOCAL) outlining the principles of a formal challenge of library materials.
Upon receipt of a Library Materials Challenge Form, the following principles shall guide the review of a challenge of library material:
- An individual may challenge a library material used in the District's library program, despite the fact that the professional staff and the Board followed the proper procedure, and adhered to the objectives and criteria for recommending and procuring library materials set out in this policy.
- Access to challenged material shall be restricted during the challenge process.
An individual may submit an appeal to the board of trustees regarding a district’s response to a written challenge.
The board must take action on a written challenge at the first open meeting held after the 90th day after receipt of a written challenge. In addition to compliance with state law and EFB (Local) policy, a criterion for the final decision on challenged library materials is the appropriateness of the material for its intended use. No challenged library material shall be removed solely because of the ideas expressed in the library material or the personal background of the library material's author or the personal background of the characters in the material.