State Seeks Delicate Balance in Approving Books for Schools - 1997-08-01

Although California's Department of Education has the responsibility to make sure that books are consistent with certain social content laws -- so they do not proselytize for a religion or reinforce stereotypes, for instance -- the state sets few other restrictions on how schools can spend about a third of the textbook money it doles out.
And there are virtually no restrictions on what books can be used by charter schools -- such as the one now proposed in Los Angeles by educators hoping to give students textbooks inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
State officials said this week that although a charter school cannot be tied to a religion, and cannot proselytize for any faith, it would be free to buy the Hubbard books or any others.