Your Classroom and Library Materials: What Texas SB 13 Means for School Employees

Starting this school year, Texas Senate Bill 13 (SB 13) introduces significant new requirements for school library materials, including those in your classroom. For employees of school districts and open enrollment charter schools, understanding these changes is crucial for compliance and navigating this new legal landscape.

Scope of SB 13

The law broadly defines “library material,” and this definition extends to more than just books on the shelves of the school library. The rules apply to all materials available for student use or display, which includes:

• Physical books
• E-books and online catalogs
• Materials in classroom libraries and reading corners
• Any material with links or QR codes that direct students to prohibited content

Key changes under SB 13

1. New rules for challenging books
   
   Expanded list of challengers: Under SB 13, district employees, parents, and any other person residing in the district can formally challenge library materials. Challenges must be filed on a standardized form created by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
   
   Immediate access restrictions: If a book in the district library catalog is challenged, access to that material must be blocked for all students across the district. This restriction lasts until the school board makes a final determination on the challenge.
   
   Board action: If your district has a Local School Library Advisory Council (LSLAC), it must review the challenge and provide a recommendation within 90 days. Regardless of whether a LSLAC exists, the school board must act on the challenge at its first open meeting after the 90-day period.

2. New process for acquiring and adding new materials
   
   Board approval required: The process for acquiring new materials has become more centralized and public. All newly purchased or donated library materials—even for classroom libraries—must now be publicly posted for at least 30 days before being approved by the school board in an open meeting.
   
   LSLAC involvement: If your district has a LSLAC, it will provide recommendations on new materials before the board vote.

• New standards for “prohibited content”
  
  SB 13 mandates new standards for school library collection development. This includes prohibiting materials that are:
  
  
• Deemed “profane,” “indecent,” or “harmful”
• Considered “Pervasively vulgar” or “educationally unsuitable”
• Rated as sexually explicit by a vendor

4. Expanded parent rights
   
   Access to checkout records: School districts and open-enrollment charter schools that use a learning management system (LMS) or online learning portal are required to provide parents with a record of every library material their child checks out. The record must include the title, author, and genre of the material.
   
   Parent opt-out lists: Parents can submit a list of materials they do not want their child to access. Districts and open enrollment charter schools must create a system to track these opt-out lists and prevent the student from checking out or accessing those specific items. This applies to use both inside and outside the library. 

What this means for teachers and librarians

Classroom library compliance: Catalog your classroom library and ensure the materials are aligned with district-approved policy. All materials in classroom libraries should be included in the district’s library catalog. Do not add donated books to your classroom library without following the 30-day public review and board-approval process. ATPE members may log in to the ATPE Online Community to download a one-page guide to electronic tools for cataloging classroom libraries.

Stay informed: Keep up to date on your district’s specific implementation of SB 13. Your district may have voluntarily formed a LSLAC or may do so in response to a parent petition. Parent opt-out lists apply to classroom library materials as well, so keep track of parental preferences. Pay attention to any communications regarding challenged books to ensure you remove any restricted materials from your classroom library or circulation in the school library.

Understand the challenge process: If a challenge is raised, understand the restrictions on student access that will immediately go into effect.

Engage with the process: If you are a librarian, you may play a key role in supporting the LSLAC or guiding the district’s acquisition and challenge process. You may also be called upon to provide expert input during the review of challenged books.

Navigating the new regulations

SB 13 is a substantial change for Texas school districts and their employees. Being proactive and informed is the best way to navigate the new regulations. Familiarize yourself with your district’s new policies, stay current on which books are being challenged, and understand your role in the new acquisition and review process.