Iowa book ban: Iowa Board of Education sets rules for Senate File 496
The state Board of Education finalized rules for a law that would keep some books out of classrooms.
requires schools to remove books that contain descriptions or visual depictions of a sex act. School districts are required to have a public list of every book available to students in libraries.
The rules also lay out what can happen to school staff who don't comply. The first violation is a written warning. After that, districts and licensed school staff could face disciplinary action.
School districts are also not allowed to provide any instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation from kindergarten through Grade 6. Neutral statements about sexual orientation or gender identity would not violate the rules.
The rules go into effect on April 9.
vlog reached out to several school districts in Central Iowa to learn where they stood on the book removal process and complying with the rules.
A spokesperson with the Johnston Community School District tells vlog the district has been in compliance since last August, when an injunction blocking the law was lifted. The district removed more than 200 books from its libraries and a list of books that are available on school websites.
West Des Moines Community School District's spokesperson says upon the passing of Senate File 496, the district removed 64 books and short stories to comply with the law. The libraries in the school buildings provide comprehensive lists of all books available to students on each school's website.
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