The following individuals may contest the adoption of specific instructional material or object to the use of specific material used in a classroom, made available in a school library, or otherwise included on a reading list:

A. Parent of a student in the District; and

B. resident of the county

For purposes of this policy, "parent" means a parent of a student enrolled in the District's schools.  "Resident" means a person residing in the county who has maintained their residence in Florida for the preceding year, has purchased a home that is occupied by them as their residence, or has established a domicile in Florida pursuant to F.S. 222.17.

Contest of School Board's Adoption

Filing a Petition

A parent or resident must file a petition with the Board within thirty (30) calendar days after the Board's adoption of specific instructional material,  on a form provided by the Board. The petition form shall be publicly available by visiting any school in person or by accessing the link on the Board's website.  The petition must be signed by the parent or resident, include the required contact information, and state the objection to the instructional material based on the criteria set forth in F.S. 1006.31(2) or 1006.40(3)(d).

Timeframe for Hearing

When the thirty (30) calendar day period following Board adoption of the instructional material in question has expired, the Board will conduct at least one (1) open public hearing before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer for all timely petitions received.

Hearing Officers

Hearing officers are not employees or agents of the District with the exception of any agreement entered into for purposes of conducting the hearings set forth herein. The hearing officer shall be appointed by the Superintendent.

Procedures for Hearings

Petitioners will have an adequate and fair opportunity to be heard and present evidence to the hearing officer. Hearings shall be conducted as follows:

1. The petitioner may make an opening statement.
    
2. The District's representative may make an opening statement.
    
3. The petitioner may present evidence (including documents and testimony from witnesses) that instructional material does not meet the criteria of F.S. 1006.31(2) or 1006.40(3)(d) if it was selected for use in a course or otherwise made available to students in the School District but was not subject to the public notice, review, comment, and hearing procedures under F.S. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9., and 11.
    
4. The District representative may present evidence (including documents and testimony from witnesses) that the instructional material does meet the criteria of F.S. 1006.31(2) or 1006.40(3)(d) if it was selected for use in a course or otherwise made available to students in the School District but was not subject to the public notice, review, comment, and hearing procedures under F.S. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9., and 11.
    
5. The petitioner may make a closing statement.
    
6. The District representative may make a closing statement.

Within fourteen (14) days of the date of the hearing, the hearing officer shall submit a recommended order to the Board. The Board shall consider the recommended order and enter a final order at a publicly noticed Board meeting. If the petitioner proves that the instructional material does not meet the criteria required under F.S. 1006.28, or contains prohibited material under that statute, the material shall be removed in accordance with Florida law. The Board's decision is final and not subject to further petition or review.

Hearings under this policy are not subject to the provisions of F.S. Chapter 120.