Media Center Classroom Library Materials Objection Procedures 2024-2025

Media Center/Classroom Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Procedures Library Materials Objection Procedures 2024 2024- -2025 2025

Purpose Purpose In accordance with state statute, the District School Board has in place a policy regarding objections to instructional materials, including those in the media center and/or a classroom library, by a parent or a resident of the county MCPS has established a procedure for review of challenged media center/classroom library materials to ensure that they are age appropriate and aligned with statutory standards

MCPS Media Center/Classroom Library MCPS Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Procedure Materials Objection Review Procedure MCPS media center/classroom library materials objection review procedure considers all relevant state statutes and District policy 1006.28(2)(a)(2b) 847.001 847.012 Board Policy 2521 Primary considerations: Florida Statute 847.001 defines obscenity and harmful to minors. Ensuring books in our Media Centers are: free from obscenity not harmful to minors

MCPS Media Center/Classroom Library Materials MCPS Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Procedure (Continued) Objection Review Procedure (Continued) Harmful to minors means any reproduction, imitation, characterization, description, exhibition, presentation, or representation, of whatever kind or form, depicting nudity, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement when it: Predominantly appeals to a prurient, shameful, or morbid interest Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material or conduct for minors Taken as a whole, is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors Obscene , means the status of material which: The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest Depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value

How to Submit a Media Center/Classroom How to Submit a Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Library Materials Objection A parent or resident seeking to object to media center/classroom library material must complete the District's Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Form (Objection Form) which is located on the District's Library Media Services web page Objectors may contact the Department of Instructional Materials prior to completing the form to determine whether the specific book is contained in a District Media Center or a classroom library The Objection Form will need to be completed in its entirety, including identification of the specific pages of concern in the book being objected to, with an explanation of the reasons for the objection Upon completion, the parent or resident will submit the form to a district school site or the Department of Instructional Materials

How to Submit a Media Center/Classroom How to Submit a Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection (Continued) Library Materials Objection (Continued) In the order of receipt, a staff member will convene a Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Review Committee to review the challenged book Objections will be reviewed in the order in which they are received The forms for the objection process can be found at the Marion County Public School website, under Library Media Services

Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Review Committee Application Process Review Committee Application Process Individuals seeking to serve on the Review Committee must complete an application located on the District website on the Library Media Services page Members will be randomly selected to serve on the committee The applicant will be notified in writing whether or not he/she has been accepted to serve as a member of the committee Parents with students who attend a secondary school are preferred for Secondary Review Committees; parents with students who attend an elementary school are preferred for Elementary Review Committees All Review Committee members will be trained on the process for review

Media Center/Classroom Libraries Materials Media Center/Classroom Libraries Materials Objection Review Committee Composition Objection Review Committee Composition Media Book Objection Review Committees will be comprised of: Marion County parents Community member that is a resident of Marion County Certified Media Specialist ELA instructional staff member (teacher or CAS) District ELA representative staff member School or District Administrator

Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Committee Timeline Objection Review Committee Timeline Upon receipt of an objection, a Review Committee will be convened: Committee members will be given a specific time frame (typically 2-3 weeks) in which to read the book; this will be based on the length and complexity of the book All committee members will utilize the MCPS "Checklist for Media Center/ Classroom Library Materials Evaluation Form" The Media Center Book Objection Review Committee will convene in a publicly noticed meeting to discuss the book and make a recommendation The committee chair person will complete the "Final Report of School Media Resources Committee" form

Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Committee Timeline Objection Review Committee Timeline The recommendation of the Review Committee will be transmitted to the Office of Instructional Materials The Office of Instructional Materials will review the committee's recommendation and completeness in accordance with the administrative procedure Following the quality control review, the recommendation will either move forward to the Superintendent for final consideration or will be returned to the Review Committee for additional review

Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Committee Process Objection Review Committee Process 1. Media Center/Classroom Library materials objection received 2. Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Committee convened 3. Committee members read the book and consider statutory criteria 4. Publicly noticed Media Center/Classroom Materials Objection Review Committee meeting 5. Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Committee recommendation 6. Committee recommendation transmitted to the Office of Instructional Materials

Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Review Committee Process (Continued) Review Committee Process (Continued) 7. Office of Instructional Materials Reviews recommendation 8. Determination made to proceed or return for further review 9. Final recommendation transmitted to the Superintendent 10. Media Center/Classroom Library Materials will be removed, restricted, or retained

Media Center/Classroom Library Materials Objection Timeline The process for review, analysis, and notification of the objecting parent or Marion County resident, commencing with the date of a given submission, will be processed in the order received However, if the instructional school year comes to an end, or the objection is received during non-instructional days, the objection process will resume when instructional personnel return