Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects state education board’s authority over public school libraries

By KEN MILLER
Associated Press

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma State Supreme Court has rejected the state Board of Education’s attempt to determine what books are available in public school libraries. The court ruled unanimously against the board Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by a suburban Oklahoma City school district. The court found Board of Education rules approved last year that include bans on pornographic and sexualized content for books violate state law. Edmond Public Schools had challenged the rule after the board recommended it remove two books from its libraries. The system hailed the ruling as protecting the role of locally elected school boards in setting policies for selecting library books. The state’s education superintendent expressed disappointment with the decision.