During a recent government meeting, the board discussed the second reading of policy KNBA, which addresses complaints regarding instructional materials in schools. Jen Crowley, representing the administration, presented the updated policy, which is necessary to comply with the South Carolina Board of Education's regulation 43170, effective June 25, 2024.

The revised policy allows individuals who have made a good faith effort to address concerns about instructional materials at the school or district level to file complaints with the district board of trustees. These complaints can request the discontinuation of specific materials for any grade level or age group, or require parental consent for their use.

Key updates to the policy include a clear definition of instructional materials, which encompasses all resources used in K-12 classrooms, school libraries, and digital platforms. The board is tasked with reviewing these materials based on criteria such as educational rigor, accuracy, and appropriateness, while ensuring that decisions are not influenced by personal disagreements with the viewpoints expressed in the materials.

Board member discussions highlighted the importance of aligning the policy with legal requirements and the need for administrative rules to guide its implementation. Concerns were raised about the policy's approval process, noting that it was adopted by the state board without a vote from the general assembly, which left some uncertainty regarding legislative support.

The policy mandates that the district board must hold a public meeting within 90 days of receiving a complaint to consider it, with decisions communicated within 10 days. Additionally, complainants have the right to appeal the board's decision to the state board.

The board ultimately moved to adopt the amended policy, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to established regulations in handling complaints about instructional materials.