On Monday, the St. Francis School District agreed to return banned books to school shelves!
In March, the ACLU-MN and pro bono counsel Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP sued the school district on behalf of students who were unable to access important works of literature that had been removed from the library and classrooms due to an unlawful policy passed in November of 2024 that violated important protections under the Minnesota Constitution and the law prohibiting schools from banning books based on viewpoint. The policy depended solely on the ratings of a website called “Book Looks” to determine which books were and were not allowed in the district. Notably, Book Looks was originally started as a “book committee” by Moms for Liberty, a group with a far-right Christian viewpoint. The Book Looks policy resulted in challenges to and removal of at least 46 books, including “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini, “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison,” and “The Handmaid's Tale,” by Margaret Atwood.
Along with returning books to shelves, the settlement rescinds the Book Looks policy, adopts the Minnesota School Boards Association model policy, and agrees that the district will not amend its library policy and procedures for three years. The school district also agreed that if the board considers overruling the review committee's decision to retain a book that is challenged, they must put their reasons for doing so in writing and present them at an open board meeting agenda before voting on whether or not to remove the book.
“Children have the right to read and receive information," said ACLU-MN Staff Attorney Alicia Granse. "It's our responsibility as a society to ensure that they have access to materials that help them think critically about the world we live in and that teach them about other people and places. Librarians and educators—not politicized groups—know best what materials belong on library shelves and in classrooms.”
“I'm so relieved this chapter is closed,” said St. Francis parent Nikki Kruse-Dye. “The freedom to read has prevailed. This experience has taught me that there are a lot more people in my community who are willing to stand up for the right thing. Our community has grown stronger, closer, and more empathetic. While I still don't fully trust our school board, they finally made the right decision, and I'm hopeful that they will do the work to restore our trust in them. We will be watching them closely and holding them accountable to make sure that all kids are supported and loved and have the right to read and learn about the diverse world.”