AB 638

This bill requires a school board to comply with a school district resident's

written request to inspect a textbook, curriculum, or instructional material within

14 days.

Under the bill, a school board must comply with a school district resident's

written request to inspect curricula or instructional materials used in a school in the

school district by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written

request. The bill also requires each school board to adopt procedures under which

the school board is able to produce for inspection any curriculum or instructional

material used in a school in the school district in fewer than 14 days. The bill defines

“curriculum” as a curriculum plan adopted by a school board to comply with state law

and defines “instructional material” as any course content or resource included in a

curriculum.

Similarly, the bill requires a school board to comply with a school district

resident's written request to inspect a textbook on the school board's list of adopted

textbooks by no later than 14 days after the school board receives the written request.

Under the bill, a school board must also adopt procedures under which the school

board is capable of producing for inspection any textbook included on the school

board's list of adopted textbooks in no more than 14 days. Current law requires each

school board to adopt all textbooks necessary for use in schools in the school district

and file a list of adopted textbooks with the school district clerk. Under the bill, each

school board must also post the list of adopted textbooks on the school board's

website.

Finally, the bill specifies that nothing in the bill may be construed to require a

school board to take an action that would violate federal copyright law and that the

bill does not limit any rights a school district resident has to inspect or copy records

under open records law.