Overview
- The board voted 5-2 to take the Maryland State Board of Education’s reversal to Harford County Circuit Court.
- Board counsel Gregory Szoka warned the odds of winning are under 20% and noted a 30-day window to act.
- The state decision kept the superintendent’s ruling to retain the book in secondary libraries and told HCPS to strengthen transparency in its reconsideration process.
- Earlier, a local review panel and the superintendent backed retaining the book, but the board voted 5-3 in a closed June session to remove it for age-appropriateness.
- Members remain divided over age suitability and local control, as supporters highlight the book’s message of survival and parents can still opt out for their own children.