KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — The Knox County School Board is calling on state lawmakers to revise Tennessee’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act, following ongoing debate over how books are evaluated in school libraries.
During a meeting Thursday, the board passed a resolution in a narrow 5-4 vote urging the Tennessee General Assembly to amend the law, which restricts materials containing nudity, sexual content, sexual abuse, or excessive violence.
Board members say recent revisions made in 2024 limit how books are reviewed. Previously, librarians and committees could consider a book as a whole, weighing its artistic, historical, or educational value. Under the current law, however, reviewers must focus on specific flagged passages rather than the entire work.
The board is asking lawmakers to restore the ability to evaluate books in their full context, allow for age-based distinctions across grade levels, and extend the timeline for reviews to give districts and the public more time for discussion.
The issue gained attention after Knox County Schools removed “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” from library shelves due to a flagged passage. The district later reversed that decision, reigniting community debate over the law.
School leaders say changes would help ensure students have access to appropriate materials while preserving important historical and cultural works.
For more information, visit Knox County Schools online at: https://www.knoxschools.org
