School boards would review parents’ complaints about school materials

Each local school board would adopt and post a policy for handling parent or guardian complaints about material alleged to be obscene and harmful to minors. The policy covers material provided by the school district, including print, images, online content, performances, and recordings. The policy must include the law’s definition of material harmful to minors, which sets out standards about sexual content and serious value. Boards would have to adopt the policy by November 1, 2026.

Each local school board would adopt and post a procedure for reviewing parent or guardian complaints and deciding what action, if any, to take. The procedure covers complaints about material alleged to be harmful to minors, age-inappropriate, or otherwise offensive or inappropriate for use in a child’s school. A parent or guardian must submit a written complaint to the superintendent or designee, describe the material in reasonable detail, and propose an action. The superintendent or designee must investigate and decide whether the material is harmful to minors, age-inappropriate, or otherwise inappropriate for the child’s school or the way it is used. The decision may leave access unchanged, remove or restrict the material, modify it, or take another action. Boards would have to adopt the procedure by November 1, 2027. The superintendent or designee would investigate within 10 school days and decide within 25 school days after notice of the complaint, unless both sides agree to more time. A written response would be due within 5 calendar days after the decision.

A parent or guardian could appeal the superintendent’s or designee’s decision to the school board, which would issue a written decision. The appeal is for a parent or guardian who complained about material used in the child’s school. The board must let the parent or guardian speak at a regularly scheduled meeting. The written decision must explain the board’s reasons and show how each member voted. Decisions and related communications would be public records. An appeal would be due within 30 calendar days after the superintendent’s decision or by the next regular board meeting, whichever comes first. The board would issue its written decision within 30 calendar days after the appeal meeting.