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Talbot County board advances library policy revisions to align with Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act
Summary
Board members moved Policy 9.23 and accompanying administrative regulation to second reader after staff said revisions align local procedures with the Freedom to Read Act and add clearer timelines and a requirement that materials under reconsideration remain available until a final decision.
Talbot County Board of Education members moved proposed revisions to Policy 9.23 (library material selection) and its administrative regulation to second reader, saying the changes will bring district procedures into compliance with the state’s Freedom to Read Act.
Dr. Reinhart, presenting the updates, told the board the revisions ‘‘use the language reflected in the Freedom to Read Act’’ and that the administrative regulation updates focus on current review sources, clearer reconsideration timelines and appeals procedures. He said the AR specifies a 45-business-day target for a review committee resolution and a seven-day window for appeals of the review committee’s decision.
The most substantive operational change, Dr. Reinhart said, is that ‘‘during the reconsideration process, the material that’s being reviewed and being requested to be reviewed now must remain available to students and staff until a final decision is made.’’ Previously, the district removed materials while they were under review; the new approach mirrors requirements in state guidance.
The proposed AR also updates membership of the review committee to include the library and media supervisor and adds a Citizens Advisory Committee member in place of a PTO representative, reflecting varying family-organization structures across schools. Presenters said appeals from the review committee would next go to the district’s director of teaching and learning — a post added since the 2010 policy was written.
Board members asked no substantive questions about the legal alignment; the policy was scheduled to move to second reader next month and to be shared with the Citizens Advisory Committee for additional feedback beforehand.
The board did not take a final vote during the May 21 meeting. The administration recommended the revisions to ensure compliance by the June 30 statutory deadline for updating local reconsideration procedures.
