School Based Decision Making Council toe stub

The Montgomery County High School has a parents versus teachers tiff going over some books that were included in a reading list for a kids in a college track English course. The parents are upset about the suitability of the language and subject matter in the books, which set off this latest round in the never ending book censorship saga.

However, the Kentucky School News and Commentary Blog just provided an entirely different angle concerning the selection of these particular books.

Aside from the raw language and racy material, the reading skills required by some of these books are apparently only elementary school level. One book is rated at third grade difficulty, two at fourth grade difficulty, and the fourth requires only sixth grade level reading skills.

How did such undemanding books wind up in a high school college track English course?

Well, under KERA, the final authority on the curriculum in each school is the School Based Decision Making Council (SBDM) at the school. The SBDM are dominated by teachers, who by law under KERA must have the majority vote.

So, ultimately, this is definitely not a ‘win’ for the Montgomery County High School’s Site Base Council. Why did the council allow books of such low rigor to become part of a college track high school English course?

However, there is another issue. The news reports indicate the books were pulled from the course list by the district superintendent. I don’t think he can do that. My understanding is that only the SBDM has authority in the curriculum area.

So, stay tuned for more on this story. Will the school back their own approved curriculum, or the superintendent?