Oklahoma Superintendent Can’t Remove Sexualized Books From School Libraries: State Supreme Court

School districts have the power to decide which books shall be placed in school libraries, and state officials cannot order any of the books removed, according to a June 11 ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The ruling was issued after the Oklahoma State Board of Education directed Edmond Public Schools to remove two books from its library because the board’s advisory committee found they contained pornographic or sexualized content. The board acted under new rules that Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, approved in 2023. The rules state in part that the board “recognizes its duty and responsibility to protect minor students from accessing pornographic materials and sexualized content and will implement this duty by exercising the State Board of Education’s authority to adopt policies and make rules for public schools.”...