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Panel aligns school library-selection duties and cites Freedom-to-Read statements
Summary
Committee endorsed changes clarifying that school boards set library material policies while superintendents (or heads of independent schools) establish reconsideration and retention procedures; the draft also cites the 2002 ALA Freedom to Read statement and the 2024 Vermont Freedom to Read statement.
MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Senate Education Committee reviewed a technical amendment on May 6 that clarifies responsibility for school library material policies and procedures and adds references to national and state freedom-to-read statements.
The draft requires that each school board adopt a policy for library material selection, and that each superintendent or head of an approved independent school adopt procedures for reconsideration and retention of materials. The change mirrors parallel language in the committee’s school safety sections that distinguish policy (board responsibility) and procedure (superintendent responsibility).
The amendment also inserts references to the 2002 American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement and the 2024 Vermont Freedom to Read statement, at the request of the School Boards Association. Sandra Cameron, associate executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, told the committee she supported the draft language.
Committee members checked off the section during the hearing.
