Board reviews first reading of updated policy on instructional materials and parental notification

Pam Kelso presented a first reading of updated policies IIA (instructional materials) and IIAA (supplementary materials) that align with VDOE's model policy produced in response to Senate Bill 656 (2022). The proposed updates add a definition for "explicit" content, require advance parental notification when an assigned instructional material contains content meeting that definition, and offer parents the option to request alternate, non-explicit assignments for their children.

Kelso said the instructional team and building administrators will review secondary materials during the second semester and identify any assigned short stories, novels or supplementary materials that contain explicit content under the new definitions. She said those materials would be listed on the district website and that principals would provide parental notification when an identified item is assigned. Kelso said alternative assignments would be developed jointly by teachers, administrators and the instructional team.

Board members asked whether nonresponse by a parent constitutes implied consent (discussion noted some districts include notification in syllabi and others are explicit about consent policy). Members asked whether the policy will affect existing approved novels; Kelso said she did not expect a large curricular change but gave "1984" as an example of a title that could be flagged next semester. The board also discussed how the policy applies to library collections: Kelso said the policy applies to assigned instructional materials and not to voluntary library choices, though the district will inventory library holdings as part of broader curricular work.

Several members raised concerns about intellectual freedom, potential chilling effects on librarians and collection development, and the need to guard against operations that would "exclude" students. Kelso and other speakers emphasized the policy is intended to provide notification and alternatives, not to remove materials from classroom or library collections. The board scheduled the second reading and approval process for an upcoming meeting and discussed whether to move the second reading to a regular meeting on Jan. 23 to allow public input.

No formal vote was taken on the policy updates at this first reading.