Austin, TX, Release: April 14, 2023 — For Immediate Release

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) scored a major victory for Texas parents and children today by rejecting the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) proposed revisions to Chapter 19 of the Texas Administrative Code by a vote of 10-5. These standards included outsourcing the Texas Librarians’ Code of Ethics to the woke American Library Association (ALA), which has actively fought against parents and sought to provide sexually explicit books to children. The ALA Bill of Rights states, “Libraries and their library governing bodies should not resort to age restrictions…” They also admit, “Parents challenge materials more often than any other group.” The ALA has gone so far as to promote a “Banned Book Week,” where children are encouraged to read pornography and other graphic materials. The SBOE rightly exercised its constitutional authority and instructed the SBEC to remove the ALA Code of Ethics from their proposed revisions.

Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi said, “We commend the Republican-controlled State Board of Education for standing up for parents, protecting children, and rejecting woke ideology.”

Christin Bentley, Subcommittee Chairwoman for the Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids Legislative Priority said, “Our libraries are filled with filthy books promoted by the American Library Association over the reasonable objection of Texas parents. I am proud to see the bold action of the State Board of Education in rejecting these woke standards. It demonstrates the importance of the SBOE’s veto power.”

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