REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Unified School District Board of Education is set to consider a formal challenge to the King James Version of the Bible during a public hearing Tuesday, marking a new development in ongoing debates over instructional materials in local schools.
Why it matters: This is the second public hearing regarding challenges to instructional material this school year. Tuesday’s hearing will consider an appeal of a district committee’s decision regarding the appropriateness of the Bible for students at elementary, middle and high school grade levels.
Details: The book falls under Section II of the district’s policy, which applies to material alleged to contain “perceived pornography, erotica, graphic descriptions or depictions of sexual acts, and/or sexual violence, or sexually explicit materials,” according to the agenda.
The policy requires a principal to remove a book within three business days of a complaint. A district-level review committee, including the superintendent, the assistant superintendent of educational services, and the director of elementary or secondary education, then reads and evaluates the material using a district rubric.
District scoring rubrics completed as part of the review process show low concern across all categories. Three separate evaluations of the Bible resulted in total scores of 4, 5 and 7 out of a possible 25 — all within the lowest range, which recommends retaining the material without restriction.
Individual reviewers generally rated the text as presenting little to no concern in areas including explicit sexual content, depictions of sexual violence and potential psychological impact on students. One reviewer marked “somewhat” for the presence of explicit sexual content and contextual purpose, while the others rated most categories at the lowest level.
According to the agenda, the board will determine whether the material is suitable for student access and, if so, designate appropriate grade-level availability. If deemed unsuitable for any level, the district would be required to remove the material from those schools and district facilities within five business days.
Zoom out: The challenge comes amid increased scrutiny over books and instructional content in the district, where community members have raised concerns about age-appropriate materials and parental rights. The filing comes as debates continue over how the district’s book review policy is applied.
In December, the board voted 3-2 to remove Push from all school libraries. In a separate 5-0 vote, trustees restricted The Bluest Eye, allowing access only to students 18 or older with parental consent.
District policy allows individuals to file formal complaints about instructional materials, which are first reviewed by staff before being appealed to the board. Public hearings are part of the final stage of that process.
It was not immediately clear from the agenda documents what specific concerns were raised in the complaint regarding the Bible or which passages or uses were cited.
A former broadcast news producer, Stephanie launched CFR in 2023. Originally from Michigan, she’s made Redlands home with her husband and three kids. When she’s not reporting, she’s problem-solving at the climbing gym or trying new local restaurants.
