Francis Howell School District

The school board voted 5-2 in favor of the policy to allow hate speech, false science and false historical claims if a book is “educationally suitable.” But books will still be banned for containing drug use, descriptions of crime and sexual conduct.

If the policy amendment passes, "hate speech, false science, and false historical claims” would be allowed in educational materials — but books would still be banned for containing drug use, descriptions of crime and sexual conduct.

The new policy bans books that include excessive violence, drug use and sexual content. Another measure aims to keep students and teachers from talking about gender identity in the classroom.

Opponents of the policies are threatening legal action if the board passes measures requiring students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match the sex on their birth certificates.

Students, parents and teachers protested proposals to prohibit discussions on gender identity and allow people to request books be banned. But the school board introduced the measures over those objections, with final votes coming as early as July.

One of the proposals the school board will introduce would allow anyone who lives in the district to call for bans on books and classroom materials — and prohibit books that lack school board approval.

The Francis Howell School Board approved new curricula for its Black history and literature classes Thursday. It comes after the board voted to pull the classes last December, objecting to Southern Poverty Law Center social justice standards in the courses.

The Francis Howell School Board plans to vote this month on the new curricula for its Black history and literature courses the district threatened to pull unless social justice standards from the Southern Poverty Law Center were removed. Some parents say while the changes aren’t bad, they’re worried the board won't approve them.

Dozens of students walked out of Francis Howell North High School as part of a protest against the school board’s decision to alter the Black history and Black literature courses after initially removing them.

Parents and students in the Francis Howell School District say they're concerned that the school board’s decision to change Black history and literature courses could “whitewash” Black history.