Alvin ISD’s board of trustees approved an updated policy on library materials at its special meeting Aug. 6 for the 2025-26 school year.

The overview

The new policy clarifies procedures for procuring library materials and establishes an access plan for parental involvement in their child’s library books.

The policy was required to be adopted after Senate Bill 13 passed in Texas' 89th legislative session. SB 13 requires school districts across the state to adopt a policy for library material procurement processes and expanded parental access.



The details

According to board agenda documents, key revisions to the policy include:

• Prior to requesting board approval, a list of requested materials will be made accessible to the public for 30 days.
• School online library catalogs are made available to the public.
• Parents may submit to the principal a list of materials that their child may not check out from the school library.

Another key revision is the challenge process for a library book, in which a district resident may now challenge library materials, alongside parents and staff members, according to district documents.

Student access to challenged material must also be restricted during the challenge process.

To submit a challenge, the district will administer a form by the Texas Education Agency on the district’s website.

From there, the superintendent will be notified, and a challenge committee will be formed to review the entire book.