Parents’ Bill of Rights  

District Procedures for Submission of Written Concerns  

• Instructional materials: Concerns about instructional materials, particularly those containing sexuality content. HB 8 requires schools to notify parents of their right to review such materials and potentially request alternative instruction. 
• Student health and well-being: Concerns regarding your child's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, or changes in related services or monitoring. 
• Other topics covered by House Bill 8. 

1. Initial Objection: The material in question shall remain in use unless removed through the procedure in this section.  If a concern is lifted, the Principal or designee should:  
   • Listen to the parent/guardian's concerns  and make reasonable efforts to resolve the issue;  
   • Explain the selection process utilized and offer alternative assignments if appropriate and consistent with curriculum requirements; 
   • Refrain from voicing a personal opinion; 
   • The Principal or designee should document this concern 
   • If the parent/guardian raising the concern is not satisfied with this initial resolution of the situation, the Principal or designee should direct the parent/guardian to file a written concern using the “Parents’ Bill of Rights Submission of Written Concern Form” while refraining from expressing personal opinion. 
2. Formal Complaint:  If, after consultation, the parent/guardian desires to submit a written concern, a copy of the “Parents’ Bill of Rights Submission of Written Concern Form” should be given to the person by the Principal or designee. 
   • The  “Parents’ Bill of Rights Submission of Written Concern Form” should be: 
     • Completed by the parent/guardian expressing the concern 
     • Once completed, the form will automatically be sent to the Deputy Chiefs of Teaching and Learning and Schools, the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and the Director of Library/Media Services. 
   • Upon completion of the “Parents’ Bill of Rights Submission of Written Concern Form”, the parent/guardian expressing the concern will be automatically notified in writing that the form has been received and that the District’s review process has been initiated. 
   • A parent/guardian expressing a concern may request alternative assignments for his/her student. Any alternative assignments must be appropriate and consistent with curriculum requirements. 
   • Review of Written Concerns:  The review process is as follows: 
     • Any action taken related to challenged materials should be taken by action of the entire Parents’ Bill of Rights Review Committee and not by an individual, including the Principal. 
     • The Parents’ Bill of Rights Review Committee will be comprised of the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Library/Media Services, four Community, College, and Career Center Coordinators (5 C’s), and the Executive Director of Integrated Health 
     • The Parents’ Bill of Rights Review Committee should meet and render a decision after receipt of the “Parents’ Bill of Rights Submission of Written Concern Form”.  The concern should be resolved within 30 days of receipt of the completed form. 
     • Before evaluating the concern, Committee members should: 
       1. Read, view, or listen to the material in question in its entirety, 
       2. Read the “Parents’ Bill of Rights Submission of Written Concern Form” completed by the complainant, 
       3. Read available professional evaluations about the material under review.   The Director of Library/Media Services should compile necessary professional evaluations of the material in question. 
     • When Committee members have completed the steps outlined above, the School Parents’ Bill of Rights Review Committee should meet to: 
       1. Review the concerns expressed, 
       2. Discuss the materials relative to appropriateness to grade level and curriculum. In determining the suitability and value of the material, the Committee should consider the following: 
          • Relevance; 
          • Pervasive vulgarity; 
          • Quality, content, and manner of presentation, and appropriateness to age, sophistication, and grade level of students; and  
          • Space limitations and obsolescence. 
       3. Render a majority decision relative to requested actions as long as a quorum is present. The decision should be communicated to the Principal and may be to: 
          • Take no removal action; 
          • Remove the material of concern from the local school if the Committee finds the material is pervasively vulgar and/or lacking in educational value throughout; 
          • Place the material at another school level; 
          • Regulate the assignment of the material. 
   • Notification: Within five (5) working days of the Parents’ Bill of Rights Review Committee’s decision, the final decision will be sent to the parent/guardian and principal in writing. 
   • Implementation of a decision rendered by the school or Parents’ Bill of Rights Review Committee should be upheld.  
3. Review of Selection and Appeal Procedures
   • The Director of Library/Media Services should annually communicate selection criteria and the written concern procedures with all library media specialists and Principals. 
   • The Principal or designee should review the selection criteria and written concern procedures with all staff annually. 
   • The staff should be reminded that the right to object to the material is granted by House Bill 8. 
   • The Director of Library/Media Services should annually review the selection procedures to determine if revisions are needed.