Pages tagged "Katy ISD"
Press Release: Katy ISD Board to Vote on "Gender Fluidity" Book Ban Proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2024
(Katy, TEXAS, USA)- Texas Freedom to Read Project strongly opposes the EFB Local Policy Revisions to be voted on by the Katy Independent School District School Board of Trustees on Monday, August 26.
The proposed revision to EFB Local: Instructional Resources Library Materials states, “No materials in elementary and junior high libraries shall contain material adopting, supporting, or promoting gender fluidity as defined in Local Policy FA. Material in any high school library collection that adopts, supports, or promotes gender fluidity requires parental opt in for student access.”
Texas Freedom to Read Project believes adoption of school library book policies like this miss the point of libraries. In a school district like Katy ISD where nearly 40% of students are identified as economically disadvantaged, the school library may provide a student’s only access to books outside of those available in their classrooms.
Further, school library books accessible to students for voluntary inquiry and self-selection are not required reading and should not be treated as such. School libraries provide opportunities for students to safely explore and encounter ideas, perspectives, and stories they may not otherwise have access to, and should not be subject to ideological censorship by the government.
Katy ISD’s current EFB Local Policy states “The District recognizes that parents hold an essential role in the education of their children and have the right to guide what their children read” and that “the ultimate determination of appropriateness lies with the parent.”
Katy ISD mom and Texas Freedom to Read Project co-founder Anne Russey says, “I trust my children’s Katy ISD librarians to select age relevant books for our school’s library. My elementary school aged daughters understand if they don’t like a library book, they can return it and pick a different one. Parents who wish to opt their own children out of library access, or access to certain book titles continue to have every right to do so. Restricting and banning library books because of ideas they contain takes away my right, as a parent, to determine what books are appropriate for my kids.”
Another proposed EFB Local policy revision reads, “All vendors selected by the District shall adhere to the District’s library guidelines and Board Policy. This includes vendors and fundraisers selected for book fairs or the distribution of literature.” This change may create obstacles to partnerships with local booksellers and fundraising partners like Scholastic or Literati whose retail inventories may include “gender fluidity books,” limiting fundraising potential and opportunities during a time when Texas public school districts are facing a budget crisis.
Texas Freedom to Read Project encourages Katy ISD community members to register their concerns about the proposed policy revisions to EFB Local at the school board meeting scheduled for Monday, August 26 at 5pm, or to email the board of trustees. Speaker sign up instructions can be found on the Katy ISD website.
To learn more, get involved, and support the work of Texas Freedom to Read Project, visit www.txftrp.org. Follow and connect with Texas Freedom to Read Project on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Threads and Facebook. (@txfreedomread)
About Texas Freedom to Read Project
Texas Freedom to Read Project strives to defend, protect and preserve the rights of every Texan, especially public school students, to freely read and access information and ideas. We are parent founded and parent led. Our mission is to support, connect and mobilize parent & community member led initiatives fighting for student rights and against censorship and book bans in Texas.
And while this should go without saying, Texas Freedom to Read Project does not believe pornography belongs in schools. In cases where a parent has a genuine concern about a book they believe is not age relevant or appropriate for any students, we advocate strongly for parents and school districts to follow board-approved policies to request formal reconsideration of the material.
Katy ISD Board Proposes "Gender Fluidity" Book Ban
The Katy ISD School Board plans to discuss an EFB Local Policy revision on Monday, August 19, that will entirely prohibit library books in elementary school and junior high, that they believe "adopt, support or promote gender fluidity" and to require parental opt in, for high school students. The Board could vote on proposed changes as soon as Monday, August 26.
The proposed policy revision also includes a section that appears to target vendors and "fundraising partners" (likely Scholastic Book Fairs) by requiring them to adhere to Katy ISD's local board approved library policies- even if they are likely discriminatory and unconstitutional. Remember, those driving these ideological book bans, strongly prefer vendors with a Christian Nationalist bent like SkyTree Books. More on SkyTree Books by our co-founder Frank Strong, here.
Read MoreWhat happens when serial challengers hijack the internal book review process
112 book titles were on the Katy ISD “internal review” cue between October 23, 2023 - January 11, 2024. 62 of those titles were submitted to the District for “internal review” by one parent.
A district administrator told me that there is nothing unusual about sourcing “internal review” ideas from parents. However, as someone who has looked at thousands of emails about internal and formal book reviews in Katy ISD, I can tell you- this is not normal.
Read More