A Nashville charter school has removed books featuring LGBT themes from its elementary school libraries. The Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Nashville took out books that promote same-sex marriage, according to the First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit legal organization that advocates for religious freedom.
The development comes after the institute reached an agreement with KIPP Nashville to clear the record of Eric Rivera, a teacher who was disciplined for refusing to read a children's book about same-sex parents to his first-grade class. Rivera was issued a "final warning letter" in February after he declined to read the book, citing his sincerely held religious beliefs.
First Liberty Institute's senior counsel, Cliff Martin, said in a statement that the school's decision to remove the books "is a victory for parents' rights under the Constitution and Tennessee law." Martin added that it is "paramount that religious views be respected in schools."
The removal of the books follows a settlement between KIPP Nashville and First Liberty Institute. As part of the agreement, the school agreed to clear Rivera's record and allow teachers to request another employee to read materials that are objectionable to their faith.
KIPP Nashville operates 10 high-performing schools in Nashville for kindergarten through 12th grade.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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