School board approves updates to instructional materials policies to reflect state law

At a regular meeting in the Manassas Park City Schools Board Chambers, the Manassas Park City Schools Board of Education approved updates to policies IIA (Instructional Materials) and IIAB (Supplementary Materials) to align with requirements created by Senate Bill 656 and guidance from the Virginia Department of Education. Pam Kelso, a district staff member who presented the item, recommended approval. The revisions implement VDOE-directed provisions requiring parental notification when assigned instructional material includes sexually explicit content and giving parents the right to review such material and request non-explicit alternatives for their students. The updated policy also states that materials shall not be designated as sexually explicit solely because of a character's sexual orientation and that the provisions should not be construed as authorizing censorship of books in schools. Pam Kelso, staff member, summarized the changes and the statutory source: "Both policies include updates based on Senate Bill 656, which was enacted by the 2022 General Assembly, and outline requirements for the VDOE to develop and make available policies for ensuring parental notification of any assigned instructional material that includes sexually explicit content," she said. Kelso also told the board the policy permits parents to review the specific instructional material and request alternatives. Board members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the presentation. When the board moved and seconded approval of the two policies as a package, members voted in favor and the motion carried. The board's approval was recorded as a second reading and adoption of the updated policies; staff will implement the notification and review procedures as written in the district policies and in line with VDOE guidance.