Polk County Public Schools set to refine policy on responding to book challenges

Lakeland Ledger

Ellen Hopkins' "Tricks" and Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" were among 16 books in Polk County school libraries challenged by a conservative group in 2021. The district is considering changes to its book-challenge process, expanding the types of books that can be challenged and the reasons for such challenges.

Polk County Public Schools is considering a new policy on handling challenges to books held in libraries and classrooms.

Superintendent Frederick Heid and the Polk County School Board discussed the proposed policy during a work session Tuesday. The draft largely responds to laws passed by the Florida Legislature since the district first adopted its policy in October 2022, as well as rules from the Florida Board of Education.