Overview
- The ruling restores the superintendent’s earlier decision to keep the graphic novel in secondary school libraries.
- It marks the first state intervention in a local book removal since Maryland’s 2024 Freedom to Read Act, setting a potential procedural precedent.
- State board members said the Harford County board offered no evidence that the committee’s and superintendent’s reviews were flawed.
- The state directed Harford County Public Schools to revise procedures to ensure transparency, public notice, and opportunities for community participation.
- Harford’s superintendent will determine whether the book returns to shelves as the district works on policy updates following a June 5–3 closed-door vote to remove it.