Signed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes parents and resident to take part in the selection and review of instructional material made available to students.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a county resident, in addition to a parent, to object to the use or adoption of a specific instructional material through a petition process (Sec. 2).

• Requires school districts to provide parents or residents the opportunity to proffer evidence that a material does not meet the state criteria or contains prohibited content, or is otherwise inappropriate or unsuitable for the grade level and age group for which the material is used (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that for all petitions timely received, at least one open public hearing must be conducted before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer who is not an employee or agent of the school district (Sec. 2).

• Requires each district school board to maintain on its website a current list organized by grade level  of instructional materials purchased, leased, or acquired by the district (Sec. 2).

• Requires transparency in the district-level adoption process and more opportunities for review of materials made available to students (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a district school board is responsible for the content of any material that is made available in a school library, or included on a reading list (Sec. 2).

• Requires a district school board to discontinue the use of a material that the board finds inappropriate or unsuitable (Sec. 2).

• Requires a school district, upon written request, to provide access to any material or book specified in the request that is maintained in a district school system library and is available for review (Sec. 2). .  

• Specifies that, except for a school district or consortium of school districts that implements an instructional materials program, each district school board must use the annual instructional materials allocation only for the purchase of materials that align with state standards and are included on the state-adopted list, except as otherwise authorized (Sec. 4).

• Eliminates the current requirement that at least 50% of the annual instructional materials allocation be used to purchase digital or electronic instructional materials (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that these provisions take effect July 1, 2017 (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes parents and resident to take part in the selection and review of instructional material made available to students.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a county resident, in addition to a parent, to object to the use or adoption of a specific instructional material through a petition process (Sec. 2).

• Requires school districts to provide parents or residents the opportunity to proffer evidence that a material does not meet the state criteria or contains prohibited content, or is otherwise inappropriate or unsuitable for the grade level and age group for which the material is used (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that for all petitions timely received, at least one open public hearing must be conducted before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer who is not an employee or agent of the school district (Sec. 2).

• Requires each district school board to maintain on its website a current list organized by grade level  of instructional materials purchased, leased, or acquired by the district (Sec. 2).

• Requires transparency in the district-level adoption process and more opportunities for review of materials made available to students (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that a district school board is responsible for the content of any material that is made available in a school library, or included on a reading list (Sec. 2).

• Requires a district school board to discontinue the use of a material that the board finds inappropriate or unsuitable (Sec. 2).

• Requires a school district, upon written request, to provide access to any material or book specified in the request that is maintained in a district school system library and is available for review (Sec. 2). .  

• Specifies that, except for a school district or consortium of school districts that implements an instructional materials program, each district school board must use the annual instructional materials allocation only for the purchase of materials that align with state standards and are included on the state-adopted list, except as otherwise authorized (Sec. 4).

• Eliminates the current requirement that at least 50% of the annual instructional materials allocation be used to purchase digital or electronic instructional materials (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that these provisions take effect July 1, 2017 (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text