Dec. 3, 2025 – School board members have approved updates to Board Policy 4.30, which outlines the district’s procedures for reviewing challenged materials.
The updated policy, approved at the Board’s December meeting, provides clearer guidance on who reviews these challenges and the steps involved in the process.
The Process to Challenge Materials
Stakeholders can submit written complaints or challenges to materials — such as books, recordings, and films — through the district’s online reconsideration form. Once submitted, forms are received by the district’s Supervisor of Media Services and Instructional Materials, who then initiates the review process.
Under the updated policy, if a challenge is based on “pornography” or “sexual conduct” as defined by Florida Statute, the materials must be made unavailable to students within five school days and remain unavailable until the objection is resolved.
The Material Review Committee
Updates to Board Policy 4.30 also clarify who reviews and evaluates complaints after they are received. That responsibility falls to the board-appointed Material Review Committee (MRC). According to the updated policy:
The MRC will consist of nine members: seven voting members and two non-voting members.
Voting members: Each board member will appoint one voting member. This individual must be a parent with a child attending a traditional district school in that board member’s district.
Non-voting members: Both will be district-level administrators, including one who is a media specialist or holds a valid educational media certificate.
MRC members must demonstrate a clear understanding of district-level review procedures.
MRC members will serve for 12 months, with the option to serve a second term at the recommendation of the appointing board member.
Committee members will select a chair for each meeting. The chair will determine when and how often the committee meets.
Procedures and Outcomes
As outlined in Board Policy 4.30, MRC members must follow specific procedures when evaluating challenged materials. These include:
Ensuring all meetings are publicly noticed and accessible.
Notifying the author, publisher, or sponsor of the material about the complaint and allowing them to submit information for consideration.
Submitting a signed, written report to the School Board within 30 days of the MRC review.
Once the School Board takes action, the decision goes into effect immediately. The complainant — as well as impacted parents — will be notified of the decision. According to the updated policy, the Board may not consider additional challenges to the same material within 24 months unless required by state law.
The updated policy also outlines revised procedures for parents to appeal a decision. Learn more by reviewing the updated Board Policy 4.30.