Elmbrook board keeps two contested AP titles, requires parental sign-off

The Elmbrook School District Board of Education voted 4–3 to include The Handmaid's Tale and The Kite Runner in the AP literature primary resources while requiring parents to sign off on the course syllabus.

Supporters of the books — including teachers, students and dozens of parents — told the board that both titles have long been used in AP classrooms, that opt-out procedures exist, and that removing the texts could jeopardize course rigor and students’ preparation for College Board expectations. ‘‘Trust our teachers to teach. Trust our parents to parent. Trust our students to learn,’’ Superintendent Mark Hansen said while urging the board to respect teacher recommendations.

Opponents, including board member Sam Hughes, argued that portions of the books contain explicit descriptions that some families find objectionable and said opt-outs are not always a practical safeguard for students who may feel social pressure. Hughes urged greater transparency, saying he would ‘‘send the parents the information’’ if the board kept the titles. The board ultimately approved Jean Lambert’s amendment to restore the two books with a requirement that parents acknowledge awareness of the course and its syllabus when their child enrolls.

Administrators told the board teachers will provide syllabus-level transparency and that district tools such as Canvas or Infinite Campus could be used to collect parental acknowledgments. Several board members asked administration and the Teaching & Learning Committee to develop consistent procedures for parental notification and to consider whether other classes should receive similar treatment.

What’s next: The approved change takes effect for course materials immediately as a curricular adoption; staff will implement a parental acknowledgment workflow and return with any recommended procedures for managing opt-outs and adult students, and to ensure compliance with College Board requirements.