1) Please include the name of the requester, date of the request, and status of the request.
2) Where the re-evaluation request was submitted using the Request for Reevaluation of Instructional Materials Form I also request a copy of such form.
3) Where possible meeting minutes, notes, and other documents associated with the review of each book to shed light on the rationale for the decision making process.
Responsive to this request, in addition to the records included below, please note, no minutes are taken during review committee meetings. Documentation of review committee member recommendations to retain or remove materials are being withheld under MPIA GP § 4-344, which allows a custodian to deny inspection of confidential opinions, deliberations, advice or recommendations from one governmental employee or official to another for the purpose of assisting the latter in the decision-making function. These records reveal pre-decisional recommendations of the review committee used to inform the final decision by the Superintendent, where release would be contrary to the public interest given its potential to inhibit full and frank discussion in the instructional material review process.
• Requests for Evaluation of Instructional Materials – the complete original entries for reevaluation requests since October 2022. While original entries are not considered by the committee, information regarding school location, grades used, and reasons for objection from this sheet are shared orally with committee members. Under MPIA GP § 4-330, we have redacted sociological information where it contains personal addresses, phone numbers and/or has the potential to pose a risk to individual safety or privacy. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which restricts access to student records, and MPIA GP § 4-313, which prevents disclosure of school district records pertaining to individual students, we have also redacted information regarding individual students. Please note, the hard-copy Request for Reevaluation of Instructional Materials form is no longer used.
• Final decision letters. Under MPIA GP § 4-330, we have redacted sociological information where it contains personal addresses, phone numbers and/or has the potential to pose a risk to individual safety or privacy.