Considering recent controversy in Leander ISD concerning diversity and inclusion training for staff and request for curriculum change in relation to reading material, we hereby make the following statements:

• We support inclusion in LISD schools.
• We support diversity and inclusion training for LISD staff. Total and genuine inclusion of our diverse body of students and staff can only be achieved when we all accept that discrimination, implicit bias and exclusion does occur. The way to recognize and reckon with unconscious bias is through proper training. Training staff for inclusion isn’t political. Teaching students tolerance isn’t political.
  The notion that affirming one group means to discriminate against another is a false choice pushed by groups with limiting and divisive agendas. We reject this false choice.
• We support the offering of inclusive books and diverse authors to our students.
• Moreover, we support the 2020-21 list of powerful and diverse books included in the high school language arts curriculum. These books offer our young readers a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences in life. We believe every human experience to be unique and valuable. Through the process of sharing those experiences, we all grow.
• We support the right for students to choose the books they read. No one should ever be forced to read a book and students should be allowed accommodations to reading lists when that’s the case. We condemn any suggestion of censorship of age-appropriate books for all students, as it goes against the sacrosanct right of Free Speech upheld by the U.S. Constitution.