State officials investigating whether a North Texas district has ‘sexually explicit’ books in school

Keller ISD is under state investigation after a complaint about library books with “sexually explicit content,” according to a letter sent to the district in late November.

The Texas Education Agency will examine whether the district failed to properly review and monitor library books, leading to students having access to inappropriate content. TEA may refer matters to other law enforcement agencies if necessary, wrote Rebecca Clevlen with the agency’s special investigations unit. The Dallas Morning News obtained a copy of Clevlen’s letter.

Keller officials confirmed the investigation but did not immediately provide further comment.

Gov. Greg Abbott last month called on the TEA, the State Board of Education and Texas’ library and archives commission to develop standards to prevent the presence of “pornography and other obscene content” in schools — though he didn’t specify what kind of standards. The state agencies said they would comply with his request.

At the time, Abbott referenced a report that Keller ISD had removed Gender Queer: a Memoir by Maia Kobabe after complaints that the book contained pornographic drawings.

Education and free speech advocates have decried the governor’s action and accused him of targeting books that explore LGBT relationships. Authors have spoken out to say their work is important for making sure students can see themselves in literature, while also getting exposure to stories that aren’t aligned with their own.

The Republican governor intensified his push with a letter to Education Commissioner Mike Morath, saying that officials should investigate whether pornography is available in public schools and to notify law enforcement if such material is accessible.

“As you are aware, a growing number of parents of Texas students are rightfully outraged about highly inappropriate books and other content in public school libraries,” Abbott wrote to Morath and others. “The most disturbing cases include material that is clearly pornographic, which has absolutely no place in the Texas public education system.”

In response to the governor’s letter, Morath said the agency he oversees would take seriously Abbott’s call for action.

The investigation in Keller appears to be the first time this threat is coming to fruition.

Keller ISD has assembled committees to review books parents and community members deem inappropriate. They have so far considered several, noting that some are “no longer in the district/campus circulation.”

Meetings to discuss the book challenges are not open to the public.

The state investigation comes amid a broader backlash against books in school libraries, specifically targeting titles that deal with race, gender and sexuality.

Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, sent several superintendents a letter with a list of more than 800 books attached. Among the most contemporary titles, the vast majority were written by women, people of color and LGBTQ authors.

The lawmaker -- who is the chairman of the House’s investigations committee and briefly considered a run for attorney general -- asked the superintendents to identify where the books were located and how much money was spent on them. He also asked district leaders to identify any other books that address human sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, or any material that “might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress” because of their race or sex.

Officials with the Texas Education Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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