Vermont § 1624 - School library material selection policy

§ 1624. School library material selection policy

• (a) Each school board and each approved independent school shall develop, adopt, ensure
  the enforcement of, and make available in the manner described under subdivision 563(1) of this title a library material selection policy. Each superintendent and head of school of an
  approved independent school shall develop and implement procedures for the reconsideration
  and retention of materials. The policy and procedures shall affirm the importance
  of intellectual freedom and be guided by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Vermont laws prohibiting discrimination in places
  of public accommodation, the 2004 American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement,
  the 2024 Vermont Freedom to Read Statement, and reflect Vermont’s diverse people and
  history, including diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation,
  disability status, religion, and political beliefs. (b) In order to ensure a student’s First Amendment rights are protected and all students’
  identities are affirmed and dignity respected, the policy and procedures required
  under subsection (a) of this section shall prohibit the removal of school library
  materials for the following reasons: (1) partisan approval or disapproval; (2) the author’s race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, political views,
  or religious views; (3) school board members’ or members of the public’s discomfort, personal morality, political
  views, or religious views; (4) the author’s point of view concerning the problems and issues of our time, whether
  international, national, or local; (5) the race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, political views, or religious
  views of the protagonist or other characters; or (6) content related to sexual health that addresses physical, mental, emotional, or social
  dimensions of human sexuality, including puberty, sex, and relationships. (c) The policy and procedures required under subsection (a) of this section shall ensure
  that school library staff are responsible for curating and developing collections
  that provide students with access to a wide array of materials that are relevant to
  students’ research, independent reading interests, and educational needs, as well
  as ensuring such materials are tailored to the cognitive and emotional levels of the
  children served by the school. (Added 2023, No. 150 (Adj. Sess.), § 7a, eff. July 1, 2025; amended 2025, No. 72, § 15, eff. June 27, 2025.)