Storylabs launches as a language-learning app
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}He’s back! Former Rep. Ken Ivory will return to the Utah Legislature
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He’s back! Former Rep. Ken Ivory will return to the Utah Legislature Ivory, who courted controversy during his 9 years in office, will replace Steve Christiansen who resigned suddenly last month (Bryan Schott | Salt Lake Tribune) Ken Ivory won a special election in HD47 on Monday, November 15. He returns to the Utah House of Representatives after retiring in 2019. Ivory replaces Steve Christiansen who resigned abruptly in October. By Bryan Schott | Nov. 15, 2021, 8:38 p.m. | Updated: 9:03 p.m. The siren call of an open seat in the Utah House of Representatives proved too much for former Reps. Bruce Cutler and Ken Ivory as they faced off in West Jordan on Monday night. Delegates in HD47 chose Ivory to fill a sudden vacancy in HD47 caused by the sudden resignation of Steve Christiansen late last month. Christiansen was picked by many of these same delegates to replace Ivory when he resigned in 2019. Ivory was first elected in 2010, knocking off incumbent Republican Steven Mascaro to win the GOP nomination. Cutler represented HD44 in Midvale from 2014 to 2018 until he lost his re-election bid to Democrat Andrew Stoddard. Ivory says the opportunity to re-engage with voters is ultimately what drew him back to the Legislature. “We have a federal government that’s trying to dictate nearly every aspect of our lives, and that’s not the way our government is structured. We need to be concerned about our state government doing the same thing,” Ivory said shortly after his victory. Ivory resigned from the HD47 seat in the summer of 2019 to take a job with a Silicon Slopes company that scored a lucrative state contract he helped shepherd through the Legislature before he stepped down. Ivory famously led the charge for states to take more control over public lands. His work with the American Lands Council, a nonprofit he started to advance that agenda, drew ethics complaints calling him a “snake-oil salesman.” Get The Daily Buzz newsletter. Utah’s latest political news in your inbox every weekday evening. Ivory focused on more than public lands during his first stint in the House, including advocating for victims’ rights and telehealth legislation. “There’s a lot of other things I’m hoping to work on, but I’m most excited about the people. They’re ready to engage and I’m excited to be a conduit for that,” Ivory said. Former Rep. Steve Christiansen’s sudden resignation caught Republican leaders off guard. Prior to that, Christiansen was pursuing unfounded claims of election fraud and attempted to leverage his elected office to obtain private information on every Utah voter, including records marked private. In his widely circulated resignation letter, Christiansen claimed threats to his family resulting from those election fraud claims prompted him to step down from his seat in the Legislature and retire from his job with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. View post on Facebook Christiansen was in attendance at Monday’s vote. He declined to offer further details about what prompted him to step down. “I’m dealing with all those things behind the scenes and privately. The document I made broadly available says everything that needs to be said. Those are clearly the primary reasons behind both the resignation and retirement,” Christiansen said. There are more than 16,000 registered voters in HD47 according to data provided by political data company L2 . But just 59 Republican delegates cast a ballot on Monday. Ivory cruised to an easy win 40-19. The district is poised to get a little less Republican after the just-completed redistricting cycle shifted the borders. Former President Donald Trump carried the district by just over 10 points in 2020. Had the new boundaries been in place for the 2020 election, Trump’s margin of victory would have dropped to 7 points. Ivory will be sworn into office later this week. Support free news for Utah sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise. Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities. You can help us bring more local news to more communities today. $15 $25 $35 DONATE TODAY RELATED STORIES Redistricting process results in bad blood between Utah lawmakers and anti-gerrymandering group Lawmakers approved new political lines this week. What does that mean? New state House, Senate maps win quick approval Utah lawmakers battle COVID vaccine mandates with another mandate Protest over gerrymandering leads to an audience with Utah’s lieutenant governor MOST VIEWED 1 Gordon Monson: BYU, the student, teaches Notre Dame, the master, and the whole school, a lesson 2 Utah football survives Hail Mary in win over Colorado: 3 takeaways from the Utes’ latest victory 3 ‘No Kings’ rallies were held across Utah. This time, protesters brought their ballots. 4 Salt Lake City’s massive downtown sports district gets its big reveal. Take a look. Sponsored Story Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Utah unites community to end breast cancer as we know it on Saturday, October 24 at America First Field Sponsored: American Cancer Society hosts Utah’s largest breast cancer walk. Bryan Schott
Source references
Research source references
KUER reports on Stephens’ school-library organizing KUER described Stephens as a Davis School District parent and Utah Parents United member leading a Facebook group to identify school-library books parents considered inappropriate. She said her goal was to remove material she considered explicit pornography.
100 Books in Question In Murray - Utah Parents United
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Home Parent Pledge Parent Rights Reportcard Lifetime Champions 2026 Scorecard Past Scorecards > 2022 Scorecard 2023 Scorecard 2024 Scorecard 2025 Scorecard Donate PARENT PARTNERS RECEIVE UPDATES EMAILS TEXTS SOCIAL MEDIA LATEST NEWS GET INVOLVED FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL PARENT CHAPTERS JOIN OUR TEAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSTITUTE TEACH TEACHER REPRESENTATION PARENT RESOURCES SCHOOL SURVEY LAWS VACCINE INFORMATION PARENT CLASS RESOURCES PARENTAL RIGHTS > KNOW THE LAW What is SEL? CRT in Utah schools RACIAL HEALING SEX ED > SEX ED WHAT IS CSE TRANSGENDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION > HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO > FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS > PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY USBE Gender Guidance Policy 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HB273 HB317 HB467 SAFE ACT SB267 ABOUT US IN THE NEWS 100 Books in Question In Murray 12/8/2021 A rock star group of 30 parents stood up for their beliefs, as everyone in America is entitled to do. They put together this list of books and sent it to their district. Here is the list they sent to the district: [private edit link removed] Here is the letter that was sent: Dear Administration: We are cautiously optimistic that this email addresses an issue where administrators and parents can find mutual common ground and understanding. Prior to Canyons School District pulling some books from their libraries for further review based on obscene and sexually explicit content, we had begun compiling a list of books in Murray that also contain sexually explicit passages and pictures using the District's online catalog: https://destiny.murrayschools.org/ . Soon we began to realize that we weren't just dealing with a handful of books - there are dozens and dozens of sexually explicit books in the libraries, especially Murray High, but also the other schools. The non-exhaustive list of over 100 books is attached. As you will see, the attachment contains quotes, passages, excerpts, scenes and pictures that are in many cases downright obscene and disgusting, contain graphic descriptions of rape, downplay pedophilia, encourage sexual obsession and pornography addiction, and groom children to question their gender. We stopped at about 100 or so books - only because we had to stop somewhere and we were tired of wading through filth. The attached document lists many books, in MCSD libraries, that have no place in the hands of a child and attempt to normalize deviant behavior and attitudes. ****WARNING: THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT CONTAINS GRAPHIC AND EXPLICIT DESCRIPTIONS OF SEX, SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Our goal is not to ban books. We want children to expand their minds and have access to resources expressing many different viewpoints, cultures, and ideas. We don't want books removed just because we may disagree or dislike certain ideas, theories, or philosophies. However, at the end of the day, these are our children that we have entrusted into your care. It is our duty to protect them from pornography and explicit descriptions of rape, gratuitous sex, sex between teenagers, incest, bestiality, and body parts in school libraries. Taxpayer money should not be wasted on crude and disgusting smut with little literary or educational value. The District seems to be very committed to school safety and Digital and Online safety - as evidenced by regular trainings. Is it not equally important for our children to be protected from sexually explicit garbage, that is not age-appropriate, sitting right at their fingertips on the shelves of our school libraries? We want to be clear that we are not pointing fingers at anyone in particular. Many of these books are likely being pushed into our schools from outside sources and we are giving the benefit of the doubt to librarians and others who likely do not have the time to read every book that is approved. Despite the media's rhetoric to the contrary, our school board, administration and librarians do have, and should exercise, the power to make decisions that protect children by limiting their access to inappropriate materials. Supreme Court decisions have made that clear. We are requesting that: 1) you review the attachment and remove those books that are obviously not appropriate to be in the hands of minors, pursuant to Utah Code 76-10-1203; 2) this review takes place before we submit a separate challenge form with respect to each book; and 3) after you remove the obviously offensive books, we then submit challenge forms for any additional books we feel should be removed, but were not. Although many of these books would be offensive even to adults, we ask that you look at these books from the eyes of a child. We want to work together, not to grandstand or to ban books, but to do a thoughtful, thorough review that puts children first and protects them from dangerous images, harmful content, and over-sexualized agendas. At some point, it would be nice to open a dialogue about the process/system for the selection of books, including additional, worthwhile books that could be in our libraries. But first, let's focus on removing the obviously pornographic and sexually explicit books. Sincerely, [30 parents] Caleb 12/8/2021 10:45:47 am Great work! This is appalling to see. Jema 12/8/2021 01:52:09 pm Removing the pornographic material is a first step, however is it not criminal to give pornographic material to underage children (15, 16, 17 year olds)?? Should not the School Board or anyone else responsible for distributing this material be investigated and charged accordingly? That would be the next step. Kathryn 12/8/2021 07:28:08 pm I truly don’t have adequate words for my feelings on this subject. I picked less than 10 of the listed books at random and read a few excerpts. I would be absolutely horrified if my children read these utterly despicable things. Reading them myself made me sick. Sandy 12/9/2021 02:30:13 pm As a parent, grandparent, great grandparent, and a retired teacher of 20+ years, I am absolutely appalled at the seemingly lack of professional judgement demonstrated by some of the librarians of Murray School District that are buying and dispensing this filth. They are the gate keepers that have long held the protection of the young minds and the trust of the children that they work with on a daily basis. These books can, and will, influence children to make choices for which they are not prepared. My husband who was a Psychologist of 40 years, can attest to that. In his practice he worked with many individuals who regretted choices made too early in their life. These choices were made when they were not mentally, emotionally, or psychologically ready to understand the consequences of their decisions. In addition, it made them vulnerable to sexual predators within, and out of, their educational environment. Perhaps a committee of willing parents could be established to ensure that each new book be read and evaluated by three different parents before being placed in the library as I know that it is an impossibility for each librarian to read all the books that come in each year. My husband and I would both be willing to serve in any capacity to help protect all children and alleviate this filth from our schools in Murray. Joy 12/9/2021 04:05:41 pm Disturbing, disgusting, 1000% unacceptable! This must stop! What in God's name are we doing to our children? We must hold those responsible for allowing such filth into our schools accountable. Roxy 12/30/2021 12:51:02 pm Thank you for doing this. I actually graduated from Murray High over a decade ago and even then remember books that fit this description. It was the first time I had ever been exposed to anything close to this and can still remember the books pretty vividly, and not in a good way. I didn't think much of it as a student because they were assigned from the teachers. Looking back now I wish I would have brought this to my parents, but I was definitely the student who was more focused on getting an A rather than creating problems. Thank you for what you do. Let's break the chain and bring these problems to light. Steve 1/13/2022 02:34:55 pm Lots of good conversations starters with my kids. I have no problem with a high-schooler reading these. Comments are closed. UPU Archives July 2025 June 2024 January 2024 September 2023 August 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 Categories All 2022 Legislative Session Education School Choice RSS Feed GET INVOLVED Find Your Elected Official Your Rights as a Parent in Utah Get Updates and Information Paid for by Utah Parents United. Utah Parents United is a 501 c4 non-profit organization and all donations are not deductible for federal tax purposes. Support Contact About Us ************** © COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Home Parent Pledge Parent Rights Reportcard Lifetime Champions 2026 Scorecard Past Scorecards > 2022 Scorecard 2023 Scorecard 2024 Scorecard 2025 Scorecard Donate PARENT PARTNERS RECEIVE UPDATES EMAILS TEXTS SOCIAL MEDIA LATEST NEWS GET INVOLVED FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL PARENT CHAPTERS JOIN OUR TEAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSTITUTE TEACH TEACHER REPRESENTATION PARENT RESOURCES SCHOOL SURVEY LAWS VACCINE INFORMATION PARENT CLASS RESOURCES PARENTAL RIGHTS > KNOW THE LAW What is SEL? CRT in Utah schools RACIAL HEALING SEX ED > SEX ED WHAT IS CSE TRANSGENDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION > HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO > FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS > PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY USBE Gender Guidance Policy 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HB273 HB317 HB467 SAFE ACT SB267 ABOUT US IN THE NEWS
Do Parents Have the Right to Give Verbal Public Comment at School Board Meetings? HB 135 - Utah Parents United
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Home Parent Pledge Parent Rights Reportcard Lifetime Champions 2026 Scorecard Past Scorecards > 2022 Scorecard 2023 Scorecard 2024 Scorecard 2025 Scorecard Donate PARENT PARTNERS RECEIVE UPDATES EMAILS TEXTS SOCIAL MEDIA LATEST NEWS GET INVOLVED FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL PARENT CHAPTERS JOIN OUR TEAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSTITUTE TEACH TEACHER REPRESENTATION PARENT RESOURCES SCHOOL SURVEY LAWS VACCINE INFORMATION PARENT CLASS RESOURCES PARENTAL RIGHTS > KNOW THE LAW What is SEL? CRT in Utah schools RACIAL HEALING SEX ED > SEX ED WHAT IS CSE TRANSGENDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION > HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO > FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS > PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY USBE Gender Guidance Policy 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HB273 HB317 HB467 SAFE ACT SB267 ABOUT US IN THE NEWS Do Parents Have the Right to Give Verbal Public Comment at School Board Meetings? HB 135 2/1/2022 Bill Update! ***HB135 passed the House floor unanimously!*** HB135 will be voted on in the House tomorrow 2/10. Please contact your house representative and ask them to support required verbal comment time in school board meetings and other government committee meetings! FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE Many school districts across the state of Utah do not allow reasonable time for parents to give public comment at school board meetings and some school districts do not allow for public comment at all. When asked for an increase in public comment time, Davis School District actually reduced the total amount of time allotted for public comment and eliminated public comment from some meetings altogether. If you believe school boards should be required to allow for reasonable public comment time during school board meetings, please let your Legislators know! Be respectful and kind. Talk about policy, not people. Talk about any personal experiences you've had in being denied the opportunity to give public comment during a school board meeting. READ HB 135 HERE Chaz 2/17/2022 05:18:38 pm I want these domestic passports stuck down immediately Comments are closed. UPU Archives July 2025 June 2024 January 2024 September 2023 August 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 Categories All 2022 Legislative Session Education School Choice RSS Feed GET INVOLVED Find Your Elected Official Your Rights as a Parent in Utah Get Updates and Information Paid for by Utah Parents United. Utah Parents United is a 501 c4 non-profit organization and all donations are not deductible for federal tax purposes. Support Contact About Us ************** © COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Home Parent Pledge Parent Rights Reportcard Lifetime Champions 2026 Scorecard Past Scorecards > 2022 Scorecard 2023 Scorecard 2024 Scorecard 2025 Scorecard Donate PARENT PARTNERS RECEIVE UPDATES EMAILS TEXTS SOCIAL MEDIA LATEST NEWS GET INVOLVED FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL PARENT CHAPTERS JOIN OUR TEAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSTITUTE TEACH TEACHER REPRESENTATION PARENT RESOURCES SCHOOL SURVEY LAWS VACCINE INFORMATION PARENT CLASS RESOURCES PARENTAL RIGHTS > KNOW THE LAW What is SEL? CRT in Utah schools RACIAL HEALING SEX ED > SEX ED WHAT IS CSE TRANSGENDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION > HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO > FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS > PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY USBE Gender Guidance Policy 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HB273 HB317 HB467 SAFE ACT SB267 ABOUT US IN THE NEWS
HB0209
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Home 2022 General Session H.B. 209 H.B. 209 Federalism Commission Amendments Bill Text Status Hearings/Debate Bill Sponsor: Rep. Ivory, Ken Floor Sponsor: Sen. Cullimore, Kirk A. Substitute Sponsor: Rep. Ivory, Ken Drafting Attorney: Kurt P. Gasser Fiscal Analyst: Steven M. Allred Bill Tracking Track this Tracking Page Bill Text Introduced Amended Amended Pages Only Enrolled Other Versions H.B. 209 Substitute Sponsor: Introduced Fiscal Note House Transmittal Letter 1 House Transmittal Letter 2 Senate Transmittal Letter 1 Senate Transmittal Letter 2 H.B. 209 1st Substitute (Not Adopted) Substitute Sponsor: Text Fiscal Note HB0209 comparison H.B. 209 2nd Substitute Substitute Sponsor: Introduced Fiscal Note HB0209S01 comparison Related Documents Fiscal Note Senate Committee Amendment 3(passed) Senate Committee Amendment 5(passed) HB0209S02 comparison Information Last Action: 24 Mar 2022, Governor Signed Last Location: Lieutenant Governor's office for filing Effective Date: 4 May 2022 Session Law Chapter: 320 Similar Bills Public Budgeting Federalism Legislative Operations Legislative Committees and Task Forces Legislative Organization Government Operations (State Issues) Legislative Staff Offices Sections Affected 63C-4a-303 63C-4a-304 Bill Status / Votes • Senate Actions • House Actions • Fiscal Actions • Other Actions Date Action Location Vote 1/20/2022 Bill Numbered but not Distributed Legislative Research and General Counsel 1/20/2022 Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed Legislative Research and General Counsel 1/20/2022 Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed Legislative Research and General Counsel 1/21/2022 House/ received bill from Legislative Research Clerk of the House 1/21/2022 House/ 1st reading (Introduced) House Rules Committee 1/25/2022 House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst House Rules Committee 2/7/2022 House/ to standing committee House Government Operations Committee 2/15/2022 House Comm - Substitute Recommendation from # 0 to # 2 House Government Operations Committee 7 0 4 2/15/2022 House Comm - Motion to Recommend Failed House Government Operations Committee 2 6 3 2/21/2022 LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor House Government Operations Committee 2/22/2022 House/ to Printing with fiscal note House Government Operations Committee 2/22/2022 House Comm - Substitute Recommendation from # 2 to # 3 House Government Operations Committee 7 0 4 2/22/2022 House Comm - Favorable Recommendation House Government Operations Committee 7 0 4 2/22/2022 (11:50:25 AM) House/ comm rpt/ substituted House Government Operations Committee 2/22/2022 (11:50:26 AM) House/ 2nd reading House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills 2/22/2022 (2:32:19 PM) House/ 3rd reading House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills 2/22/2022 (2:36:44 PM) House/ passed 3rd reading Senate Secretary 69 0 6 2/22/2022 (2:36:46 PM) House/ to Senate Senate Secretary 2/23/2022 Senate/ received from House Waiting for Introduction in the Senate 2/23/2022 Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) Senate Rules Committee 2/24/2022 Senate/ to standing committee Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 2/28/2022 Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation # 3 Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 5 0 2 2/28/2022 Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 4 1 2 2/28/2022 Senate Comm - Reconsider actions Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 5 0 2 2/28/2022 Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation # 5 Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 5 0 2 2/28/2022 Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 5 0 2 2/28/2022 (11:31:45 AM) Senate/ comm rpt/ amended Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee 2/28/2022 (11:31:46 AM) Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar Senate 2nd Reading Calendar 3/1/2022 (5:44:16 PM) Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension Senate 2nd Reading Calendar 3/1/2022 (5:44:34 PM) Senate/ circled Senate 2nd Reading Calendar Voice vote 3/1/2022 (6:15:24 PM) Senate/ uncircled Senate 2nd Reading Calendar Voice vote 3/1/2022 (6:19:39 PM) Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension Clerk of the House 22 5 2 3/1/2022 (6:19:40 PM) Senate/ to House with amendments Clerk of the House 3/2/2022 (9:56:52 AM) House/ received from Senate Clerk of the House 3/2/2022 (9:56:53 AM) House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar House Concurrence Calendar 3/3/2022 (10:31:06 AM) House/ concurs with Senate amendment Senate President 66 8 1 3/3/2022 (10:31:07 AM) House/ to Senate Senate President 3/3/2022 Senate/ received from House Senate President 3/3/2022 Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House House Speaker 3/3/2022 Senate/ to House House Speaker 3/3/2022 House/ received from Senate House Speaker 3/3/2022 House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling 3/8/2022 Bill Received from House for Enrolling Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling 3/8/2022 Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling 3/11/2022 Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate Clerk of the House 3/11/2022 House/ enrolled bill to Printing Clerk of the House 3/14/2022 House/ to Governor Executive Branch - Governor 3/24/2022 Governor Signed Lieutenant Governor's office for filing Committee Hearings/Floor Debate Committee Hearings Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee Agenda Minutes Committee Report Audio Audio House Government Operations Committee Agenda Minutes Committee Report Audio House Government Operations Committee Agenda Minutes Committee Report Audio Floor Debates House Floor Audio, Day 35 (2/22/2022) [3HB209 Federalism Commission Amendments, Ivory] Senate Floor Audio, Day 42 (3/1/2022) [3HB209 Federalism Commission Amendments, Cullimore] Senate Floor Audio, Day 42 (3/1/2022) [3HB209 Federalism Commission Amendments, Cullimore] House Floor Audio, Day 44 (3/3/2022) [3HB209 Federalism Commission Amendments, Ivory]
Source references
Research source references
UPU calls for support of Ivory’s school-library bill UPU urged a yes vote on HB374, named Ivory, linked the bill and excerpt site, and asked supporters to attend committee.
HB0374
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Home 2022 General Session H.B. 374 H.B. 374 Sensitive Materials in Schools Bill Text Status Hearings/Debate Bill Sponsor: Rep. Ivory, Ken Floor Sponsor: Sen. Weiler, Todd D. Substitute Sponsor: Rep. Ivory, Ken CoSponsor(s): Robertson, A. Seegmiller, T. Shipp, R.P. Stratton, K. Drafting Attorney: Amy Shewan Fiscal Analyst: Emily Willis Bill Tracking Track this Tracking Page Bill Text Introduced Enrolled Other Versions H.B. 374 Substitute Sponsor: Introduced Fiscal Note House Transmittal Letter 1 Senate Transmittal Letter 1 H.B. 374 1st Substitute Substitute Sponsor: Ivory, K. Introduced Fiscal Note HB0374 comparison H.B. 374 2nd Substitute Substitute Sponsor: Ivory, K. Introduced Fiscal Note House Committee Amendment 1 HB0374S01 comparison H.B. 374 3rd Substitute (Not Adopted) Substitute Sponsor: Kwan, K. Text Fiscal Note HB0374S02 comparison H.B. 374 6th Substitute (Not Adopted) Substitute Sponsor: Kwan, K. Text Fiscal Note HB0374S05 comparison Related Documents Fiscal Note HB0374S02 comparison Information Last Action: 24 Mar 2022, Governor Signed Last Location: Lieutenant Governor's office for filing Effective Date: 4 May 2022 Session Law Chapter: 377 Similar Bills Charter Schools Education K-12 Education Administrative Rulemaking and Procedures State Board of Education School Districts Standards and Curriculum New Rulemaking Authority Sections Affected 53E-4-202 53E-4-403 Bill Status / Votes • Senate Actions • House Actions • Fiscal Actions • Other Actions Date Action Location Vote 2/11/2022 Bill Numbered but not Distributed Legislative Research and General Counsel 2/11/2022 Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed Legislative Research and General Counsel 2/14/2022 House/ received bill from Legislative Research Clerk of the House 2/14/2022 House/ 1st reading (Introduced) House Rules Committee 2/16/2022 House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst House Rules Committee 2/22/2022 Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm from # 0 to # 1 House Rules Committee 2/22/2022 House/ to standing committee House Education Committee 2/24/2022 House Comm - Not Considered House Education Committee 2/25/2022 House Comm - Substitute Recommendation from # 1 to # 2 House Education Committee 13 0 2 2/25/2022 House Comm - Favorable Recommendation House Education Committee 11 2 2 2/28/2022 (10:19:39 AM) House/ comm rpt/ substituted House Education Committee 2/28/2022 (10:19:40 AM) House/ 2nd reading House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills 2/28/2022 (11:09:34 AM) House/ 3rd reading House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills 2/28/2022 (11:10:02 AM) House/ circled House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills Voice vote 3/1/2022 LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills 3/1/2022 (10:47:51 AM) House/ uncircled House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills Voice vote 3/1/2022 (10:49:30 AM) House/ substituted from # 2 to # 5 House 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills Voice vote 3/1/2022 (11:07:30 AM) House/ passed 3rd reading Senate Secretary 59 16 0 3/1/2022 (11:07:32 AM) House/ to Senate Senate Secretary 3/1/2022 LFA/ fiscal note publicly available Senate Secretary 3/1/2022 Senate/ received from House Waiting for Introduction in the Senate 3/1/2022 Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) Senate Rules Committee 3/3/2022 Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar Senate 2nd Reading Calendar 3/4/2022 (11:14:48 AM) Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension Senate 2nd Reading Calendar 3/4/2022 (11:36:40 AM) Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension Senate President 23 3 3 3/4/2022 (11:36:41 AM) Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House House Speaker 3/4/2022 (11:36:42 AM) Senate/ to House House Speaker 3/4/2022 House/ received from Senate House Speaker 3/4/2022 House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling 3/8/2022 Bill Received from House for Enrolling Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling 3/8/2022 Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling 3/11/2022 Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate Clerk of the House 3/11/2022 House/ enrolled bill to Printing Clerk of the House 3/14/2022 House/ to Governor Executive Branch - Governor 3/24/2022 Governor Signed Lieutenant Governor's office for filing Committee Hearings/Floor Debate Committee Hearings House Education Committee Agenda Minutes Committee Report Audio House Education Committee Agenda Minutes Committee Report Floor Debates House Floor Audio, Day 41 (2/28/2022) [2HB374 Sensitive Materials in Schools, Ivory] House Floor Audio, Day 42 (3/1/2022) [2HB374 Sensitive Materials in Schools, Ivory] Senate Floor Audio, Day 45 (3/4/2022) [5HB374 Sensitive Materials in Schools, Weiler]
UPU promotes the Cari–Ivory episode
Source details
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]Utah Parents United – Telegram
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Utah Parents United Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Here's something free and easy we can do for our teachers. Forward these to your children's teachers and thank them for all they do! Click here for more information: https://www.dontdrivedirty.com/locationsandpricing/?utm_source=activecampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=teacher-appreciation&utm_content=cta-button-email1&utm_term=&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Free+Car+Wash+For+Teachers&utm_campaign=Teacher+Appreciation+day+Email+%231 184 views 16:56 Utah Parents United Protect your Girls and Boys! We are thrilled to bring you this educational resource. It is more import than ever that we arm ourselves and our children with self defense strategies. This is an Introduction Education series and discussion from SASS (Surviving Assault Standing Strong) self-defense. This is an on-line only class. In-person classes to follow. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/Bb3v1uG 👍 1 58 views 22:45 Utah Parents United When was the last time you read and studied the Constitution? Come learn about this document that this Country was founded upon! This is an essential in-person class to attend, if you live along the Wasatch Front: https://www.patriotacademy.com/coach/register/3592 63 views 15:51 Utah Parents United This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Use this as an opportunity to send a quick email or text of thanks for all they do. You might also want to ask your children's teachers if there's anything you can do to help them finish out the school year. 64 views edited 15:35 Utah Parents United Forwarded from Utah Citizens for the Constitution - Jen Brown https://utahcoalition.org/2022-ucap-slc-conference/ The Utah Coalition Against Pornography conference is this weekend. They always have many great resources to help individuals and families. Utah Coalition Against Pornography 2022 UCAP SLC Conference - Utah Coalition Against Pornography 👍 1 71 views 05:09 Utah Parents United Happy Mother's Day to all you superhero mammas!!! 👍 1 62 views 23:31 Utah Parents United I just finished a news interview about this teacher from Lehi who was put on administrative leave. The overarching question was basically why was she put on leave? What did she do that was so wrong? The school administrator stated “In the video, the teacher described several inappropriate conversations with former students. The employee has been placed on administrative leave pending a thorough investigation.” Watch it for yourself: https://twitter.com/libsoft.../status/1522642244720766976 ... I agree the conversations are completely inappropriate. But more than that she broke the law. It is against State Education Law to discuss sexuality outside of sex education wich requires a signed parent permission slip. Even in that setting teachers must follow very specific rules. Teachers are not allowed to answer certain questions, promote homosexuality, sexual relations outside of wedlock, or relate anything personal when it comes to sex education. Here is the Sex Ed Teacher Guide https://www.schools.utah.gov/.../03e62195-10a8-47af-810a ... Our law is pretty much as good as the new one out of Florida! It’s simple don’t talk about sexuality. And that is why they are investigating. What has she shared in the past that would make children think that it's appropriate to talk about homosexuality in her classroom? Was allowing the conversation to take place in her classroom promoting homosexuality? Did the teacher engage in the conversation with the children? Share her personal opinions, feelings, perspectives? Share a few words like “lesbian baddy”? Did the parents of the children know they are going to her to talk freely about what she thinks they can’t talk about at home? What does she say about these children’s parents, their religious beliefs? The questions go on and on and on. Teachers are placed in a very special position of trust. The laws we have are to not only protect children but teachers. This teacher has violated the sacred trust parents gave her to teach their children. She can never get that back and should never be trusted with our precious children again. Basically she did everything wrong. Twitter Libs of TikTok “A lot of them [students] are queer because I am queer” - 4th grade teacher 75 views 15:46 Utah Parents United This is a fantastic episode with UPU advisor and Blexit member Cari Bartholomew and Representative Ken Ivory who is working with us to rid our schools of pornography. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-talk-with-kim-carolyn/id1609811849?i=1000560577785 87 views 18:20 Utah Parents United Librarians are paid to keep pornography in schools: https://www.ala.org/aasl/awards/if?fbclid=IwAR388vlrDKMtzmOODfxxh-IqT0qVTdbjMyK_i83nO3qRpdoV-EUgB2vNRrg American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Intellectual Freedom Award Sponsored by ProQuest Monetary Amount: $2,000 to the recipient, $1,000 to the school library of the recipient's choice Deadline: February 1 Applications will open September 1, 2022 Overview The 80 views 01:45 Utah Parents United 3:31 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM Brooke Stephens, creator of Laverna in the Library, asks Tim Ballard Operation Underground Railroad how we can show people how bad pornography is for kids. His answer? "Show them the Science." Watch him explain how pornography can lead to trafficking. 👍 2 82 views 02:17 Utah Parents United It's time to take back our school boards! https://youtu.be/sCzAP-Yl_uQ YouTube Take back our School Boards! Congratulations to UPU's endorsed school board candidates! 92 views 14:47 Utah Parents United Here are our endorsements: https://www.utahparentsinaction.com/endorsements.html Utah Parents in Action Endorsements 102 views 06:09 Utah Parents United 103 views 21:20 Utah Parents United Must Attend UPU Parent Class This Month! Bring your Teen 💥 Mental health is such an important issue and if we don’t want the schools treating our children we need to be helping them ourselves! Register NOW: https://www.utahpeers.org/events.html 109 views 15:21 Utah Parents United 96 views 04:57 Utah Parents United 0:31 This media is not supported in your browser VIEW IN TELEGRAM 92 views 03:25 Utah Parents United 92 views 04:06 Utah Parents United Is it appropriate for a 14 year old child to be exposed unknowingly to sexual content? Would you be willing to give your opinion on whether you think passages in the following books are sexually explicit and whether or not a child should be exposed unknowingly to them? Do these 12 books meet the definition of "Sensitive Materials" as defined by HB374? Click here to give your opinion (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPq0-iZ3SbMCGR8BbMOC7ihI-pRTZYOIIvUMiugK9WHUFcXg/viewform?usp=sf_link Google Docs Utah Parents Claiming Harm for Their Child in a Utah Public School Please review the following excerpts from 12 books found in Utah schools and whether they pass UPU's suggested description of Sensitive Materials for the Sensitive Materials Rubric, which is... There is at least one EXPLICIT description or depiction of at… 92 views edited 13:43 Utah Parents United Help us help you! Take our Back to School Survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VDJXKV3 79 views 16:21 Utah Parents United Finally! Our kids can be done with the unconstitutional Test-to-Stay protocol in our schools. No child should EVER have been denied access to a constitutionally guaranteed in person education because they refused to subject themselves to a medical test. Schools can no longer require parents quarantine or isolate their children if they have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. NEVER AGAIN! “The revised guidance – released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday – lifts the requirement to quarantine if exposed to the virus, deemphasizes screening people with no symptoms and updates COVID-19 protocols in schools, eliminating a recommendation for test-to-stay after potential exposure.” 👍 1 68 views 16:05
No Left Turn in Education | Rated Books
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HOME Search Books Recommended Books Rating System Stickers View Rating System Embedded publisher metadata businessName: HEED Parent Teacher Alliance homePageTitle: Rating System ogType: website
Reviews | Rated Books
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Rated Reviews We have been steadily working on reading, reviewing, and rating books. We generally add 3-5 new titles per week. Not all of them are objectionable as some have 0/5 ratings. The inclusion of books in this list is because the book was reviewed and we have information to share with parents. Please check out some recommended books in the "Good Books" tab above. Below is our searchable database of books that have been reviewed. We keep a working spreadsheet with a link to all of the reports, publishers, authors and ratings. Anyone may access, copy and use this spreadsheet found here . WARNING-not appropriate for children All of the following content falls under the Fair Use Law and is for the sole purpose of alerting parents of the dangers available to children in public and government school libraries. Keyword Search: Embedded publisher metadata businessName: HEED Parent Teacher Alliance homePageTitle: Home ogType: website
Utah Parents United – Telegram
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Utah Parents United Alpine school District seems to have backed off from removing pornographic (as defined by law) books from our children’s libraries. 69 views 14:54 Utah Parents United https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17a6aQ-Kti4bgQ04Hg5q88ZEwZ6gFit1K 70 views 15:03 Utah Parents United 76 views 16:21 Utah Parents United https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dzamxQB-GwUjFI3RLZ70FCUhYhiztdwfleS4XJYjtFA/viewform?edit_requested=true Google Docs Utah Teachers asking for pronouns Please fill out the form completely so we can follow up. Thank you! 64 views 22:05 Utah Parents United 0:58 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM Let's celebrate everything teachers are doing right for us and our kids. Each month we will select a winner and award them with a $50 Amazon Gift Card. At the end of the year, each of the monthly winners will be entered into our Grand Prize Drawing for $500 cash! Nominate an outstanding teacher, support staff member, or administrator here: http://www.utahpeers.org/parents-choice-award.html 62 views 14:17 Utah Parents United 21:03 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM Document an occurrence here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dzamxQB-GwUjFI3RLZ70FCUhYhiztdwfleS4XJYjtFA/viewform?edit_requested=true State Superintendent Statement: https://www.kpcw.org/local-news/2021-08-23/utah-teachers-directed-not-to-ask-students-pronouns?fbclid=IwAR0ItQP-v_3HG0FmqqWd9T4eXPYCZwFR7K-bHNYCg4kNSVIAQuslpmx6YpQ#stream/0 Effective 5/14/2019 53G-10-202. Maintaining constitutional freedom in public schools. (4) School officials and employees may not use their positions to endorse, promote, or disparage a particular religious, denominational, sectarian, agnostic, or atheistic belief or viewpoint. https://kutv.com/amp/news/local/davis-school-district-says-no-to-blm-pride-maga-flags-in-classrooms 55 views 19:13 Utah Parents United Curious what's happening in your local school district? Join your school district's chapter OFF Social Media here: https://utah-parents-united.mn.co/landing?from=https%3A%2F%2Futah-parents-united.mn.co%2Fall-groups 42 views 23:31 Utah Parents United Advocating with Teachers and Administrators What are some of the best practices for handling difficult conversations with teachers and administrators? What are the strategies for addressing concerns while preserving relationships? Come talk with some of our parent rock star advocates who have navigated through these scenarios and can share their experiences and what works! Class is available in person and online 640 N. Main, North Salt Lake 7:00-9:00pm Zoom link will be emailed after completing registration form. 130 views 16:58 Utah Parents United 💥 UTAH PARENTS UNITED OFFICIAL CALL TO ACTION 💥 The Biden Administration has declared its intent to go around Congress and change the rules concerning Title IX (the federal law that bans discrimination based on sex in education) to now cover sexual orientation and gender identity. This will endorse gender identity ideology in all K-12 public schools, colleges, and university as a federal mandate, with devastating effects on parental rights, children’s health, and girl’s privacy and sports opportunities. We have only until September 12 to submit public comments about the negative impacts these proposed rules will have in order to help stop these rules from being adopted. Learn More Here: ➡️ www.childparentrights.org/title-ix Submit Your Public Comment Here: ➡️ https://www.federalregister.gov/.../nondiscrimination-on ... HERE’S WHAT TO DO: 1️⃣ Parents, educators, and community leaders should submit comments regarding the proposed Title IX regulations. Explain who you are, why you are commenting, and the types of specific impacts, threats, information, and/or personal stories. 2️⃣ Consider stating that the proposed regulations are so harmful that if adopted you may consider removing your children from public school and/or encouraging others to do so. 3️⃣ Be sure to put the Docket ID: ED-2021-OCR-0166 at the top of your comment. 4️⃣ Comments can be uploaded in Microsoft Word or “print to PDF” format by clicking the Green “+ Add a File” button. 5️⃣ Educate your family, friends, and members on the threats posed by these regulations and encourage them to submit comments to the USDOE by September 12. Thank you to our partners at Child Parents Rights for creating these tools for UPU parents! https://vimeo.com/741875406/5f6c68c93f Vimeo The Hijacking of Title IX | Child & Parental Rights This is "The Hijacking of Title IX | Child & Parental Rights" by GOLDENREALM on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. 205 views edited 23:47 Utah Parents United If you didn't get September's Newsletter, check it out here: https://conta.cc/3B8rWte Utah Parents United New Federal Rule on Gender Identity How will it impact your child? OFFICIAL CALL TO ACTION The Biden Administration has declared its intent to go around Congress and change the rules concerning Title IX (the federal law that bans di 43 views edited 15:20 Utah Parents United 45 views 01:49 Utah Parents United Want your children to learn American History? This is the event of the year! https://www.freedomslight.us/ 33 views 20:05 Utah Parents United 5:10 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM If you are anywhere in Northern Utah this weekend, this is a must attend event with your family. Show them what the Spirit of Freedom feels like. Help them learn the principles this nation was founded upon. https://www.freedomslight.us/ "Freedom is a fragile thing and it's never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again." - Ronald Reagan 40 views 20:23 Utah Parents United 2:36 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM Just one of the fabulous booths you'll see at the Freedom's Light Festival. Jen Brown covers the principles of Federalism and Separation of Powers. 133 views 03:28 Utah Parents United Today is Constitution Day! Our preservation of it is dependent upon our understanding it. Here's a great class to guide you through its principles. https://www.patriotacademy.com/coach/register/4653 43 views 18:05 Utah Parents United 1:22 This media is not supported in your browser VIEW IN TELEGRAM Parents, there is hope. The law is on our side. We need to be engaged. Learn how to communicate effectively with your teacher and principal so you can be a better advocate for you child. Watch the rest of our recent parent class here: https://www.utahparentsunited.org/classes.html 37 views 16:26 Utah Parents United From our friends, Utah Citizens for the Constitution: To Utah Parents United, I am very concerned about the overreach of the federal government and the impact on individual liberty. Right now the Biden administration is trying to bypass congress and change Title IX by redefining gender to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This will result in a federal mandate to allow mixed genders in locker rooms and bathrooms. I feel compelled to act and do what I can. I have put together a zoom call with former congressman Rob Bishop. He will talk about federalism and I will discuss HB 209 passed last session which is the first tracking system in the country for federal overreach and what citizens can do to help. We want to invite citizens from all over the state. I hope you will be able to join the call. Thank you! Jen Brown is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Time: Mon, September 26, 2022, 9:00 PM America/Denver(GMT-7:00) Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to start or join. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82374410140?pwd=eHprUU5ITVk4ei95aXFKSEtNcXo0Zz09 Or, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 823 7441 0140 and password: 636992 Zoom Video Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution… 133 views 20:45 Utah Parents United The Dangers of the Politicization & Weaponization of Capital ESG - Environmental, Social, & Governance An Evening with Vivek Ramaswamy, Bestselling Author and Entrepreneur, Who is Working to Stop ESG, will be held on Monday, September 26, 2022, 7:00pm. SCC Larry Miller Campus. *** Click Here to Register *** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anti-esg-fund-strive-founder-vivek-ramaswamy-and-marlo-oaks-tickets-422918840637 Tickets are limited, register now. 41 views 15:45 Utah Parents United Come tell what is happening in your district regarding inappropriate library materials and give your suggestions on what needs to happen next. 18+ only 50 views 17:56 Utah Parents United Join us tonight! Register Here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/WmgJcyY 37 views 19:21
Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools - PEN America
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Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools Published September 2022 Key Findings More books banned. More districts. More states. More students losing access to literature. “More” is the operative word for this report on school book bans, which offers the first comprehensive look at bans throughout the 2021–22 school year. This report offers an update on the count in PEN America’s previous report, Banned in the USA: Rising School Book Bans Threaten Free Expression and Students’ First Amendment Rights (April 2022) , which covered the first nine months of the school year (July 2021 to March 2022). It also sheds light on the role of organized efforts to drive many of the bans. Many Americans may conceive of challenges to books in schools in terms of reactive parents, or those simply concerned after thumbing through a paperback in their child’s knapsack or hearing a surprising question about a novel raised by their child at the dinner table. However, the large majority of book bans underway today are not spontaneous, organic expressions of citizen concern. Rather, they reflect the work of a growing number of advocacy organizations that have made demanding censorship of certain books and ideas in schools part of their mission. PEN America Experts Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D. Nadine Farid Johnson Published September 19, 2022 Data Snapshot From July 2021 to June 2022, PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans lists 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles. The 1,648 titles are by 1,261 different authors, 290 illustrators, and 18 translators, impacting the literary, scholarly, and creative work of 1,553 people altogether. The numbers in this report represent documented cases of book bans reported directly to PEN America and/or covered in the media; there are likely additional bans that have not been reported. 1 In August, the Houston Chronicle released a report on the partisan nature of book bans in Texas between 2018 and 2021. The newspaper reported finding more than 1,000 bans in Texas during that time frame, which overlaps only in part with the time period covered by this report. That data was not available to review for inclusion in this report in advance of publication. Bans occurred in 138 school districts in 32 states. These districts represent 5,049 schools with a combined enrollment of nearly 4 million students. Among the 1,648 unique titles in the Index, 674 titles (41 percent) explicitly address LGBTQ+ themes or have protagonists or prominent secondary characters who are LGBTQ+ (this includes a specific subset of titles for transgender characters or stories—145 titles, or 9 percent); 659 titles (40 percent) contain protagonists or prominent secondary characters of color; 338 titles (21 percent) directly address issues of race and racism; 357 titles (22 percent) contain sexual content of varying kinds, including novels with some level of description of sexual experiences of teenagers, stories about teen pregnancy, sexual assault and abortion as well as informational books about puberty, sex, or relationships; 161 titles (10 percent) have themes related to rights and activism; 141 titles (9 percent) are either biography, autobiography, or memoir; and 64 titles (4 percent) include characters and stories that reflect religious minorities, such as Jewish, Muslim and other faith traditions. PEN America estimates that at least 40 percent of bans listed in the Index (1,109 bans) are connected to either proposed or enacted legislation, or to political pressure exerted by state officials or elected lawmakers to restrict the teaching or presence of certain books or concepts. PEN America has identified at least 50 groups involved in pushing for book bans across the country operating at the national, state or local levels. Of those 50 groups, eight have local or regional chapters that, between them, number at least 300 in total; some of these operate predominantly through social media. Most of these groups (including chapters) appear to have formed since 2021 (73 percent, or 262). These parent and community groups have played a role in at least half of the book bans enacted across the country during the 2021–22 school year. At least 20 percent of the book bans enacted in the 2021-22 school year could be directly linked to the actions of these groups, with many more likely influenced by them; in an additional approximately 30 percent of bans, there is some evidence of the groups’ likely influence, including the use of common language or tactics. Nearly half of the unique titles banned were young adult books, but bans also affected many books for younger readers, including 317 picture books and 168 chapter books. Of the 2,532 bans listed in the Index, 96 percent were enacted without following the best practice guidelines for book challenges outlined by the American Library Association (ALA) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). Introduction Over the 2021–22 school year, what started as modest school-level activity to challenge and remove books in schools grew into a full-fledged social and political movement, powered by local, state, and national groups. The vast majority of the books targeted by these groups for removal feature LGBTQ+ characters or characters of color, and/or cover race and racism in American history, LGBTQ+ identities, or sex education. This movement to ban books is deeply undemocratic, in that it often seeks to impose restrictions on all students and families based on the preferences of those calling for the bans and notwithstanding polls that consistently show that Americans of all political persuasions oppose book bans . And it is having multifaceted, harmful impacts: on students who have a right to access a diverse range of stories and perspectives, and especially on those from historically marginalized backgrounds who are watching their library shelves emptied of books that reflect and speak to them; on educators and librarians who are operating in some states in an increasingly punitive and surveillance-oriented environment with a chilling effect on teaching and learning; on the authors whose works are being targeted; and on parents who want to raise students in schools that remain open to curiosity, discovery, and the freedom to read. PEN America has identified at least 50 groups involved in pushing for book bans at the national, state, or local levels. This includes eight groups that have among them at least 300 local or regional chapters. PEN America has identified these chapters based on the national groups’ own listings, by chapter or regional websites, and by their official chapter and regional group pages on Facebook. Insofar as we have been able to establish, there are at least another 38 state, regional, or community groups that do not appear to have formal affiliations with national organizations or with one another. These groups share lists of books to challenge, and they employ tactics such as swarming school board meetings, demanding newfangled rating systems for libraries, using inflammatory language about “grooming” and “pornography,” and even filing criminal complaints against school officials, teachers, and librarians. The majority of these groups appear to have formed in 2021, and many of the book bans counted by PEN America can be linked in some way to their activities. Some of the groups espouse Christian nationalist political views, while many have mission statements oriented toward reforming public schools, in some cases to offer more religious education. In at least a few documented cases (for example, in Texas , Florida , and Pennsylvania ), the individuals lodging complaints about books did not have children attending public schools when at the time they raised objections. This evolving censorship movement has grown in size and routinely finds new targets and tactics, homing in on the books encompassed in district book purchases or digital library apps . A parallel but connected movement is also targeting public libraries , with calls to ban books; efforts to intimidate, harass , or fire librarians ; and even attempts to suspend or defund entire libraries. What is a Book Ban? PEN America defines a school book ban as any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by lawmakers or other governmental officials, that leads to a previously accessible book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished. It is important to recognize that books available in schools, whether in a school or classroom library, or as part of a curriculum, were selected by librarians and educators as part of the educational offerings to students. Book bans occur when those choices are overridden by school boards, administrators, teachers, or even politicians, on the basis of a particular book’s content. School book bans take varied forms, and can include prohibitions on books in libraries or classrooms, as well as a range of other restrictions, some of which may be temporary. Book removals that follow established processes may still improperly target books on the basis of content pertaining to race, gender, or sexual orientation, invoking concerns of equal protection in education. For more details, please see the first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) . Since PEN America published our initial Banned in the USA: Rising School Book Bans Threaten Free Expression and Students’ First Amendment Rights (April 2022) report, tracking 1,586 book bans during the nine-month period from July 2021 to March 2022, details about 671 additional book bans during that period have come to light. A further 275 more bans followed from April through June, bringing the total for the 2021-22 school year to 2,532 bans. This book-banning effort is continuing as the 2022–23 school year begins too, with at least 139 additional bans taking effect since July 2022. In addition to the role played in book banning by local, state, and national groups, efforts to restrict access to books were also advanced in the past year by government officials and enabled by both state-level legislation and district-level policy changes. PEN America estimates that at least 40 percent of the bans counted in the Index of School Book Bans for the 2021–22 school year are connected to political pressure exerted by state officials or elected lawmakers. Some officials for example sent letters specifically inquiring into the availability of certain books in schools, such as occurred in Texas , Wisconsin , and South Carolina . Since March 2022, we have also seen for the first time educational gag orders passed that implicate restrictions on books, most notably in Florida , as well as a range of other new laws that have put pressure on schools to censor their libraries. The Alpine School District in Utah responded to a new law, HB 374 (“ Sensitive Materials in Schools ”) , by announcing the removal of 52 titles in July, but then opted to keep the books on shelves with some restrictions after national pushback. In August, some school districts in St. Louis, Missouri began to pull books from shelves in response to a law that made it a class A misdemeanor to provide visually explicit sexual material to students. These trends are unfortunately likely to continue, as the chilling effect of these legislative measures spreads. Altogether, this report paints a deeply concerning picture for access to literature, and diverse literature in particular, in schools in the coming school year. Book banning and educational gag orders are two fronts in an all-out war on education and the open discussion and debate of ideas in America. Students have First Amendment rights to access information and ideas in schools, and these bans and legislative shifts pose clear threats to those rights. This climate is also increasingly undermining the professional discretion of educators and librarians when it comes to matters of public education, and disrupting the potential for effective relationships between parents, teachers and administrators that can actually serve to advance student learning and civic engagement. Students’ First Amendment Rights Students retain their First Amendment rights in schools. In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District , a 1969 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that students do not “ shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” Thirteen years later, in Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico , the Court noted the “special characteristics” of the school library, making it “especially appropriate for the recognition of the First Amendment rights of students,” including the right to access information and ideas. What does this mean for districts who receive a request to reconsider a library holding? Legal precedent and expert best practices demand that committee members, and principals, superintendents, and school boards act with the constitutional rights of students in mind, and using established processes, cognizant of the harm in eliminating access for all based on the concerns of any individual or faction. What if a book is obscene? The term “obscenity” holds particular meaning in the legal sense. Obscene material is not protected under the First Amendment, but a finding of obscenity requires satisfaction of a tripartite test, which requires, among other aspects, a holistic consideration of the material at issue. Simply declaring a book “obscene” does not make it so. PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel on book bans for PBS NewsHour, March 10, 2022. What Types of Book Bans Are Taking Place in Schools? In total, PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans tracked 2,532 decisions to ban books between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. This includes bans on 1,648 unique book titles. The banning of a single book title could mean anywhere from one to hundreds of copies are pulled from libraries or classrooms in a school district, and often, the same title is banned in libraries, classrooms, or both in a district. PEN America does not count these duplicate bans in its unique title tally, but does acknowledge each separate ban in its overall count. In some cases, books are removed from shelves pending investigations or reviews, and they may be only temporarily restricted, but their restriction is recorded in the Index as a ban since such restrictions are counter to procedural best practices for book challenges from the American Library Association (ALA) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). Detailed definitions can be found in the first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) . PEN America’s recent findings on each type of ban for the 2021-22 school year are listed below. Type of Ban # of Books Banned # of Titles Banned # of Districts Banned in Libraries and Classrooms 333 215 70 Banned in Libraries 337 253 40 Banned in Classrooms 487 481 22 Banned Pending Investigation 1,375 984 57 I have received so many emails and letters from readers, from the family members of readers telling me what Cinderella Is Dead has meant to them... To get an email from somebody that says, “I read Cinderella Is Dead, and it made me decide to stay alive one more day, to try one more time.” I think that my readers deserve so much, and not just with Cinderella Is Dead, but so many of these books that are being challenged and being banned... I fear for the readers who won’t have that chance, who might not have that opportunity to feel seen. —Kalynn Bayron, author of Cinderella Is Dead, a young adult fantasy novel that presents a retelling of the classic fairy tale, featuring a queer Black girl (3 bans). What Types of Content Are Being Banned? Beginning in 2021, a range of individuals and groups sought to remove from schools books focused on issues of race or the history of slavery and racism, mirroring a campaign pushed by some legislators to pass educational gag orders —bills restricting discussion of these and other concepts in school classrooms and curricula. Although the campaign to enact educational gag orders initially focused on misapplications of the academic term “critical race theory” to censor discussions of race and racism, over the past year, it morphed to include a heightened focus on LGBTQ+ issues and identities. Similar trends — and similar rhetoric and reasoning — have been evident in efforts to ban books in schools as they have expanded since 2021, too. Complaints about diversity and inclusion efforts have accompanied calls to remove books with protagonists of color, and numerous books have been targeted for simply featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Nonfiction histories of civil rights movements and biographies of people of color have been swept up in these campaigns. For example, many volumes in the popular Who Was? chapter book series and several biographies of Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor were banned in Central York School District in Pennsylvania . That ban also impacted hundreds of books with protagonists of color, including the Caldecott Honor–winning A Big Mooncake for Little Star . In a similar example, Duval County Public Schools in Florida opted not to distribute sets of the Essential Voices Classroom Libraries collection of books after they had been purchased, flagged for concern over their content. This collection of 176 unique titles has been effectively banned from classrooms while it is being reviewed and reportedly remains in storage. Books in the collection include Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin, and Pink Is For Boys by Robb Perlman, among other titles designed to make classroom libraries more diverse and inclusive. As the school year progressed, those demanding book removals increasingly turned their attention to books that depict LGBTQ+ individuals or touch on LGBTQ+ identities, as well as books they claimed featured “sexual” content, including titles on sexual and reproductive health and sex education. These trends were already identified in PEN America’s first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) report; however, from April to June, there was an acute focus on these topics. This dovetailed with the passage in late March of the “ Parental Rights in Education ” law in Florida—also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law—and the introduction of similar legislation in other states, as well as a range of efforts to censor discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in schools, in Maryland , Missouri , Texas , and beyond. From April to June 2022, a third of all book bans recorded in the Index feature LGBTQ+ identities (92 bans). Over the same short period, nearly two thirds of all book bans in the Index touch on topics related to sexual content, such as teen pregnancy, sexual assault, abortion, sexual health, and puberty (161 bans). These subject areas have long been the targets of censorship and been controversial from the perspective of age appropriateness, with standards and approaches varying from community to community about what is seen as the right age level for such material, as well as the degree to which these topics should be addressed in school as opposed to in the home. As book banning has resurged, some individuals and groups have sought to reignite debate about sexual content in books, and sexual education in schools generally. While debate on these issues recurs, wholesale bans on books deny young people the opportunity to learn, to get answers to pressing questions, and to obtain crucial information. At the same time, the efforts to target books containing LGBTQ+ characters or themes are frequently drawing on long-standing, denigrating stereotypes that suggest LGBTQ+ content is inherently sexual or pornographic. Photo courtesy Robert Kesten, Stonewall National Museum & Archives Broward County, Florida, public schools donated 11 boxes of LGBTQ+-themed books to the Stonewall National Museum & Archives a week before the state’s “Parental Rights in Education” law—also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” law—took effect. The district said it was removing the books to clear office space. PEN America’s Jonathan Friedman on MSNBC for the Mehdi Hasan Show, Nov. 11, 2021. Many of the books targeted for banning have been labeled “obscene.” These complaints are not supported. The legal test for obscenity requires a holistic evaluation of the material, setting a bar that is highly unlikely to be met by materials selected for inclusion in a school library. Many targeted books have achieved bestseller status or received the highest literary honors. Some contain nothing more “obscene” than the mere suggestion of a same-sex couple in an illustration, as in the board book Everywhere Babies , which was included on one list of books misleadingly labeled “pornographic” along with And Tango Makes Three , a story about two male penguins making a family together, based on the true story of two male penguins who formed a pair bond in New York’s Central Park Zoo. The most frequently banned book, Gender Queer , has been called “obscene and pornographic” by the groups who lobby for its removal, as have dozens of books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters. In these cases, the term “obscenity” is being stretched in unrecognizable ways because the concept itself is widely accepted as grounds for limiting access to content. But many of the materials now being removed under the guise of obscenity bear no relation to the sexually explicit, deliberately evocative content that the term has historically connoted. In evaluating these trends, it is critical to remember that only a limited number of children’s and young adult books are published annually that are written by or about either LGBTQ+ people or people of color. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the School of Education, University of Wisconsin–Madison, has compiled statistics on diversity in children’s literature since 1985. In its 2021 report , the center states that of the 3,420 books received at the institution in 2021, 1,152 titles were “books by and about Black, Indigenous and People of Color” (34 percent). Although the center does not continuously maintain similar statistics on books about LGBTQ+ characters or plots, such books have not historically been published in great abundance . The targeting of these books in schools reflects a disproportionate focus on what is likely a small fraction of holdings in most public school libraries. Over the 2021–22 school year, PEN America also tracked efforts to ban not only books, but also whole academic courses, textbooks, and digital literacy apps. In Bossier Parish, Louisiana , the Epic reading app was removed from student iPads after parent objections about the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content. The school district in Brevard County, Florida , canceled its math app, Prodigy, for similar reasons. Along with educational gag orders targeting classroom discussions, efforts to censor and control public education are ranging beyond the physical collections of school libraries. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shows an image from the children’s book Call Me Max by transgender author Kyle Lukoff moments before signing the Parental Rights in Education bill during a news conference on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills. At left is an image of The Genderbread Person, a teaching tool used for breaking the concept of gender. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP) The Most Banned Titles in the 2021–22 School Year The most banned titles include the groundbreaking work of Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, along with best-selling books that have inspired feature films, television series, and a Broadway show. The list includes books that have been targeted for their LGBTQ+ content, their content related to race and racism, or their sexual content—or all three. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe (41 districts) All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (29 districts) Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Pérez (24 districts) The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (22 districts) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (17 districts) Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison (17 districts) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (16 districts) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (14 districts) Crank by Ellen Hopkins (12 districts) The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (12 districts) l8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle (12 districts) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (12 districts) Beloved by Toni Morrison (11 districts) Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin (11 districts) Drama: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier (11 districts) Looking for Alaska by John Green (11 districts) Melissa by Alex Gino (11 districts) This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson (11 districts) This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (11 districts) The Most Frequently Banned Authors The most banned authors include winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Booker Prize, the Newbery Award, the Caldecott Medal, the Eisner Award, the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the NAACP Image Award, the GLAAD Award for Media Representation, the Stonewall Award, and more. Hopkins, Ellen – 14 titles – 43 bans – 20 districts Kobabe, Maia – 1 title – 41 bans – 41 districts Morrison, Toni – 3 titles – 34 bans – 25 districts Johnson, George M. – 2 titles – 30 bans – 29 districts Myracle, Lauren – 11 titles – 30 bans – 16 districts Pérez, Ashley Hope – 1 title – 23 bans – 23 districts Thomas, Angie – 2 titles – 19 bans – 17 districts Silvera, Adam – 9 titles – 18 bans – 13 districts Reynolds, Jason – 6 titles – 18 bans – 11 districts Maas, Sarah J. – 8 titles – 18 bans – 10 districts Levithan, David – 15 titles – 17 bans – 18 districts Alexie, Sherman – 2 titles – 17 bans – 17 districts Evison, Jonathan – 1 title – 17 bans – 17 districts Andrews, Jesse – 2 titles – 17 bans – 16 districts Faruqi, Saadia – 17 titles – 17 bans – 2 districts Jules, Jacqueline – 17 titles – 17 bans – 2 districts Do, Anh – 17 titles – 17 bans – 1 district Green, John – 3 titles – 16 bans – 15 districts Atwood, Margaret – 3 titles – 15 bans – 11 districts Hutchinson, Shaun David – 6 titles – 15 bans – 7 districts Albertalli, Becky – 7 titles – 14 bans – 11 districts Miedoso, Andrés – 14 titles – 14 bans – 1 district Gino, Alex – 2 titles – 13 bans – 11 districts Woodson, Jacqueline – 11 titles – 13 bans – 6 districts Asher, Jay – 1 title – 12 bans – 12 districts Hosseini, Khaled – 1 title – 12 bans – 12 districts Dawson, Juno – 2 titles – 12 bans – 11 districts Tamaki, Mariko – 2 titles – 12 bans – 11 districts Picoult, Jodi – 3 titles – 12 bans – 10 districts Glines, Abbi – 9 titles – 12 bans – 5 districts Peters, Julie Anne – 8 titles – 12 bans – 4 districts Cast, Kristen – 12 titles – 12 bans – 1 district Cast, P. C. – 12 titles – 12 bans – 1 district Kuklin, Susan – 1 title – 11 bans – 11 districts Telgemeier, Raina – 1 title – 11 bans – 11 districts Jennings, Jazz – 2 titles – 11 bans – 10 districts Stone, Nic – 3 titles – 11 bans – 10 districts Lockhart, E. – 3 titles – 11 bans – 8 districts Brown, Monica – 10 titles – 11 bans – 2 districts Kendi, Ibram X. – 7 titles – 10 bans – 12 districts Anderson, Laurie Halse – 3 titles – 10 bans – 10 districts Curato, Mike – 1 title – 10 bans – 10 districts Rosen, L. C. – 1 title – 10 bans – 10 districts Clare, Cassandra – 5 titles – 10 bans – 8 districts Arnold, Elana K. – 7 titles – 10 bans – 5 districts Konigsberg, Bill – 5 titles – 10 bans – 5 districts When people say that books about queer adults or children are not appropriate to be read by kids, they are saying that that's because kids should not know about the existence of LGBTQ people. … This is not about the books. This is very much about the rights of LGBTQ people and people of color to exist and to thrive in a society with full power and equality, if not equity. —Kyle Lukoff, author of the picture books When Aidan Became a Brother (2 bans) and chapter book Call me Max (2 bans) Who Is Behind Book Bans? The Role of Groups Book bans in public schools have recurred throughout American history , with notable flare-ups in the McCarthy era and the early 1980s . But, while long present, the scope of such censorship has expanded drastically and in unprecedented fashion since the beginning of the 2021–22 school year. This campaign is in part driven by politics, with state lawmakers and executive branch officials pushing for bans in some cases. In Texas, for example, Republican state representative Matt Krause sent a letter and list with 850 books to school districts, asking them to investigate and report on which of the titles they held in libraries or classrooms. Political pressure of this sort in Texas , South Carolina , Wisconsin , Georgia , and elsewhere has been tied to hundreds of book bans. Another major factor driving this dramatic expansion of book banning has been the proliferation of organized efforts to advocate for book removals. Organizations and groups involved in pushing for book bans have sprung up rapidly at the local and national levels, particularly since 2021. These range from local Facebook groups to the nonprofit organization Moms for Liberty, a national-level organization that now has over 200 chapters . In the short period since their formation and expansion, these groups have played a role in at least half of the book bans enacted across the country during the 2021–22 school year. PEN America estimates that at least 20 percent of the book bans enacted in that time frame could be linked directly to the actions of these groups, with many more likely influenced by them. This 20 percent is based on publicly available information and includes cases where a parent or community group took direct action to seek the removal of books by making a statement at a school board meeting, submitting a list of books for formal reconsideration, or filing formal reconsideration paperwork; in many of these cases, the groups also openly touted their role in pushing for book removals. In an additional approximately 30 percent of bans, there is some evidence of the groups’ likely influence, including the use of common language or tactics. The Groups Advocating for Book Bans PEN America has identified at least 50 groups operating at the national, state, or local levels to campaign and mobilize around what they view as the dangers of books in K-12 schools, and advocating for book restrictions and bans. Of these 50 groups, eight have regional and local chapters that, between them, number at least 300 in total; some of these operate predominantly through social media. This presents a minimum count, based on news coverage, school board meetings, and groups’ public presence online. Of the national groups, Moms for Liberty, formed in 2021 , has spread most broadly, with over 200 local chapters identified on their website . Other national groups with branches include US Parents Involved in Education (50 chapters), No Left Turn in Education (25), MassResistance (16), Parents’ Rights in Education (12), Mary in the Library (9), County Citizens Defending Freedom USA (5), and Power2Parent (5). Another 38 state, regional, or community groups advocating for book removals appear unaffiliated with the national groups or with one another. While some of these groups have existed for years, the overwhelming majority are of recent origin: more than 70 percent (including chapters) were formed since 2021. These varied groups do not all share identical aims, but they have found common cause in advancing an effort to control and limit what kinds of books are available in schools. Broadly, this movement is intertwined with political movements that grew throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including fights against mask mandates and virtual school, as well as disputes over “critical race theory” that in some states fueled the introduction of educational gag orders prohibiting discussion of “divisive” concepts in classrooms. While many of these groups use language in their mission statements about parents’ rights or religious or conservative views , some also make explicit calls for the exclusion of materials that touch on race (sometimes explicitly critical race theory ) or LGBTQ+ themes . The impact and role of these groups has been noted in dozens of cases of book challenges around the country. For example, local chapters of Moms for Liberty have been reported as driving efforts to remove books from Florida to North Carolina to Virginia . Chapters of County Citizens Defending Freedom pushed for book removals in Polk County Schools, Florida and Corpus Christi, Texas . In Clark County, Nevada , the group Power2Parent successfully got a book removed from a 10th grade honors English class reading list. Leaders of state chapters of Parents Involved in Education have been quoted calling for book removals at school board meetings in Kansas , Tennessee , and South Dakota , When two students filed a lawsuit with the ACLU of Missouri they claimed the removal of books in Wentzville, MO was part of a “targeted campaign by the St. Charles County Parents Association and No Left Turn in Education’s Missouri chapter to remove particular ideas and viewpoints about race and sexuality from school libraries.” Although the channels of influence and coordination among these groups are not always clear, and the groups range in size and impact, their role in the book banning movement of the past year is a consistent theme. In Madison County Schools, Mississippi , for example, a parent who identified herself as the point person for Mississippi’s chapter of MassResistance (a national group also classified as an anti-LGBTQ+ “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center ), expressed “concerns regarding critical race theory” and worked with parents to review the schools’ online library catalogs, seeking books that had been challenged in other parts of the country. By April 2022, the district had said the books were being placed in “restricted circulation” (requiring a parent’s permission to check out) while they were being reviewed. MassResistance—which claims the January 6 attack on the US Capitol was “clearly a setup” and alleges a “Black Lives Matter and LGBT assault” on schools— took credit for bringing these restrictions about, declaring, “ MassResistance gets involved—things start happening! ” and referencing “‘groomer moms’ in the community” who opposed the removal of the 22 books. In August, the school board voted to place some of the books back in full circulation, but a list of 10 books remain restricted, including Toni Morrison’s Beloved and The Bluest Eye , along with The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Another parent who was a vocal critic of the books at a local school board meeting was also identified as the chair of the Moms for Liberty Madison chapter. Some groups without significant national operations have also had far reach. The Florida Citizens Alliance (FLCA), for example, was founded in 2013 to “champion education reform.” But its leaders have spent considerable time and energy opposing climate change education , arguing for the elimination of sex education in K–12 schools , and publishing the misleading 2021 Objectionable Materials Report: Pornography and Age-Inappropriate Material in Florida Public Schools (provocatively named the Porn in Schools Report on their website). With a mailing of their “Porn in Schools” report and follow-up via their legal representative, the Pacific Justice Institute, the FLCA pushed for bans across the state. Ultimately they have played a role in bans in several counties in Florida, such as Jackson County School District , Orange County Public Schools , St. Lucie County Schools , Polk County School District , and Walton County School District . In Walton County School District , the superintendent responded to their email by directing the removal of all books on the list, despite admitting , “I haven’t read one paragraph of the books at this time.” Their advocacy was also connected to ‘warning labels’ being applied to over 100 books in school libraries in Collier County , Florida. Even smaller, less formal groups have had an impact too. Between February and April 2022, Nixa Public Schools in Missouri received 17 complaints about 16 books, each citing “inappropriate and sexually explicit content,” which were subsequently banned. The woman who filed the most requests confirmed that she was a member of “Concerned Parents of Nixa,” a private Facebook group where community members gather to fight “questionable books, curriculum, and other materials such as sex education in Nixa Public Schools.” Concerned Parents of Nixa recently changed its name to Concerned Parents of the Ozarks . While it is unclear whether their list was solely from another group, the titles they challenged are the same ones seen over and over again amongst school libraries who have had to pull or otherwise eliminate access to them as a result. Attendees of a Spotsylvania County, Va., School Board meeting raise and shake their hands in support of speakers criticizing the board for suggesting that sexually explicit books be banned at county schools on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. The meeting was held in the auditorium of Chancellor High School to accommodate the large crowd. (Peter Cihelka/The Free Lance-Star via AP) I cannot understand why, why are we banning books? My books are written to bring people together. Why would they be banned? But the real question is, why are we banning books at all? Surely, we are better than this. We are the United States of America. —Ruby Bridges, testifying before the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and author of This Is Your Time (2 bans) These groups have employed a range of common tactics to advance book banning in public schools. Most of these tactics, it should be emphasized, are tactics that many advocacy and community organizing groups employ to a wide range of ends. Citizens are free to organize and advocate; these liberties are protected under the First Amendment’s safeguards for freedom of association. PEN America’s concern is not with the use of such standard organizing and mobilization tactics but rather with the end goal of restricting or banning books. That said, in some cases, members of these groups have also crossed a line, using online harassment or filing criminal complaints to pressure local officials and educators. One common trend is that many of these groups circulate to their audiences lists of books to target. PEN America saw dozens of lists that circulated online during the 2021–22 school year, and these also occasionally morphed or grew in the process of being shared among groups. Some groups appear to feed off work to promote diverse books, contorting those efforts to further their own censorious ends. They have inverted the purpose of lists compiled for teachers and librarians interested in introducing a more diverse set of reading materials into the classroom or library. For example, one group, the Idaho Freedom Foundation, referenced multiple lists celebrating books about equity, inclusion, and human rights under the header “ Federal Agencies Are Sexualizing Idaho Libraries ,” accused the federal government of using “taxpayer dollars to promote a pernicious ideology to young children,” and called on the Idaho legislature to reject federal funds for libraries. Another group, the Michigan Liberty Leaders , took an image of books from the Welcoming Schools bullying prevention program created by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation—including books designed to support LGBTQ+ students—and added alarmist language about the books being in schools. In another example, the list of books created by the FLCA in their “ Porn in Schools” report originated from the website Christian Patriot Daily, which said it received its list from a graduate student in early childhood development promoting LGBTQ+ resources for caregivers. This list has in turn appeared to spread across state lines. In March 2022, in Cherokee County School District in Georgia, a parent presented a list of 225 book challenges . In that list, 41 titles were not only identical to those in the 2021 FLCA report, but they were in the same order, with the same typos found in the original list. The same list also appears in a database of books on the website of Forest Hills Parents United, based in Michigan. The books on these lists are often framed as dangerous or harmful, and the lists have been used to quicken the pace of book banning, often in violation of or with disregard for established, neutral processes, with demands that all books on such lists be removed from schools immediately. Members of these groups also flood school districts with official challenges to books and mobilize supporters to dominate discussions at public board meetings. In some cases, parents have screamed to disrupt meetings, or threatened violence . In response to such threats, the Sarasota County, Florida, school board placed limits on public comments at board meetings. School boards in Carmel Clay, Indiana , and Sonoma Valley, California , are considering similar restrictions. Some groups have at times also helped spur complaints from community members without children in public school. In St. Lucie County Schools, Florida, a complainant submitted official reconsideration challenges for 44 titles from the FLCA’s “Porn in Schools” report, only 20 of which were found in the district. The complainant told a reporter that although they personally did not have children in the district, they were “picked” after attending a meeting hosted by FLCA. “I got picked because I took it seriously,” the complainant said. In the fall of 2021 in Williamson County Schools, Tennessee, Moms for Liberty pushed for a review of the reading curriculum, stating that the curriculum violated a state law (which PEN America counts as an educational gag order ). The complaints said materials were too focused on the country’s segregationist past and might make children feel uncomfortable about race. After the review, the district published a report that outlined the relationship of complainants to the school district, and only 14 of the 37 complainants had children enrolled and affected by the curriculum targeted by the complaint. Another 14 had no children in the school system at all, while 9 had children enrolled in middle or high schools. One book, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, was ultimately banned permanently, and multiple books had bans placed on what content could be taught, including restrictions on showing students pages 12–13 of Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth—pages that included an illustration of the sea creatures twisting tails, rubbing tummies, and mating. I think a parent can say, well, I don't want my child to read this. I can respect that. But what gives you the right to bar all children from reading it? To bar all children from seeing a life that imitates theirs? It bars them from seeing someone who looks like them exist on the page and triumph over something. I don't know if folks really realize what they're doing when they're doing book bans, and the effect that it has. … Anytime a book that features someone who looks like you is banned, it says that you're not worthy. You don't deserve to exist. You're not as important as other things. Your life is not important. That's wrong and it's dangerous. –Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance (2 bans), What Were the Negro Leagues (1 ban) and My Life as a Rhombus (1 ban). Parents’ Rights Although “parents’ rights” is a powerful piece of political rhetoric, in most instances, it is being invoked to mean rights for a particular group of parents with distinct ideological views, rather than a neutral effort to engage all parents and students in ensuring that schools uphold free speech rights. While parents and guardians ought to be partners with educators in their children’s education, and need channels for communicating with school administrators, teachers, and librarians, particularly concerning the education of their own children, public schools are by design supposed to rely on the expertise, ethics, and discretion of educational professionals to make decisions. In too many places, today’s political rhetoric of “parents’ rights” is being weaponized to undermine, intimidate, and chill the practices of these professionals, with potentially profound impacts on how students learn and access ideas and information in schools. The role of organized local, regional, and national groups in book-banning campaigns has several implications that are distinct from prior patterns where book challenges tended to originate locally and spontaneously by individual parents. The groups behind these bans often furnish materials, messaging templates, and other kinds of directions that easily facilitate book challenges and imbue their efforts with a degree of focus and determination that can take local school officials by surprise. Groups that enjoy political ties and advocacy resources are able to marshal political support behind their censorious campaigns, putting local teachers, administrators, and school board officials under pressure. Mobilization on social media or at board meetings can also create an atmosphere of intimidation that may undermine the ability of a community to discuss and adjudicate concerns in a measured way. Most schools’ book reconsideration policies have been created to respond to challenges filed by individual parents over particular books their children read; now that challenges are coming with such increased frequency and scope, schools and districts have sometimes struggled to keep up, as well as to withstand the heightened political pressure and public scrutiny. The other key implication of the organized nature of these banning campaigns is their ability to reach scale. Whereas traditional book challenges were one-off incidents, the current pattern of escalating, copycat banning efforts across the country is a testament to the ability of campaigners to leverage tools and communications channels to push for censorship across the country. As their tactics and methods evolve, it stands to reason that a growing number of schools, communities, and legislatures will confront similar challenges. Escalating Tactics In another sign of the escalation of tactics to restrict books, criminal charges have been pursued against school officials and librarians in a number of cases in the past year. From Texas to Florida to North Carolina to Rhode Island , sheriffs have received complaints of the distribution of pornography in schools, among other charges. PEN America found at least 15 documented cases of criminal charges being filed or complaints being filled out regarding distribution of obscenity or pornographic material in public and school libraries during the 2021–22 school year, The leader of Moms for Liberty in Indian River, Florida, filed a complaint with the sheriff’s office accusing the school board and superintendent of distributing pornography. Other groups, including Utah Parents United , SCC Parents Association , and Dare to Share OBX , have issued calls to action for individuals to file criminal complaints about books. While these cases have all rightly been dropped by law enforcement, the movement to involve police in efforts to ban books is another aspect of this campaign that is unprecedented in recent memory. Regardless of the legal outcome, the tactic of pressing criminal charges against educators for offering books to students is an attempt to intimidate and discourage librarians and teachers from teaching or offering books that might spark such a virulent response. Where Are Book Bans Happening? PEN America reported in the first edition of Banned in the USA (April 2022) that book bans had occurred in 86 school districts in 26 states in the first nine months of the 2021-22 school year. With additional reporting, and looking at the 12-month school year, the Index now lists bans in 138 school districts in 32 states. These districts include 5,049 schools with a combined enrollment of nearly 4 million students. Total States and Districts with Bans States with Bans: 32 Districts with Bans: 138 Total Bans by State Texas : 801 bans, 22 districts Florida : 566 bans, 21 districts Pennsylvania : 457 bans, 11 districts Tennessee : 349 bans, 6 districts Oklahoma : 43 bans, 3 districts Michigan : 41 bans, 4 districts Kansas : 30 bans, 2 districts Wisconsin : 29 bans, 6 districts Missouri : 27 bans, 8 districts Idaho : 26 bans, 3 districts Georgia : 23 bans, 2 districts Mississippi : 22 bans, 1 district Virginia : 19 bans, 9 districts Indiana : 18 bans, 3 districts North Carolina : 16 bans, 5 districts New York : 13 bans, 4 districts Utah : 12 bans, 3 districts Rewriting the Rules Beyond the school book bans documented in the Index and the efforts of various parties to see their implementation and enforcement, the past year has also seen attempts to change laws and school district policies in ways that make censorious challenges easier to file and impose. Even where such laws and policy changes have not been enacted, their chilling effect has been broadly felt. Legislative Changes The book-banning movement has operated in conjunction with legislative efforts to pass educational gag orders, all as part of what PEN America has referred to as the “ ed scare ”—a campaign to censor free expression in education. While the effort to constrain teachers has primarily progressed in state legislatures—as PEN America has documented, most recently in our August 2022 report America’s Censored Classrooms —and the effort to ban books has erupted mostly within local school districts, the two have increasingly merged, with some state legislators proposing or supporting bills that directly impact the selection and removal of books in school classrooms and libraries. Florida. Beginning in the summer of 2022, book bans in some Florida school districts were reportedly tied to the passage of the “ Parental Rights in Education ” law signed by Governor DeSantis in March 2022. Frequently referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, this legislation prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, and also in grades 4–12 unless “age appropriate” and “developmentally appropriate” according to state standards. During the same legislative session, Florida lawmakers also enacted HB 1467 , which, in the name of classroom “transparency,” modifies laws governing the selection and discontinuance of instructional materials in public school curricula and libraries, mandates elementary schools to list in a searchable manner all materials held in their libraries, and implicitly encourages greater public scrutiny. This combination of a new law enabling tighter scrutiny and outside monitoring of curricular and book choices in classrooms, coupled with a new prohibition on instruction on certain topics, has done what was intended: it has created a chilling effect on teaching and learning. In anticipation of the law, books were removed in Palm Beach County in June 2022. Over the summer, more books were reported being removed from districts across the state, including a plan to “pause” classroom libraries entirely in Brevard, Florida . Georgia. SB 226 passed in March 2022 and will change the way school libraries operate, removing some local control and consolidating power at the state level. The law vacates all school policies on book challenges and requires local school boards to create new policies for complaints, designed to make it easier to remove books with allegedly “offensive content.” Under this new law , school principals have only ten days to determine whether a book challenged for being “harmful to minors” by any parent or guardian will be removed or restricted from schools. Tennessee. SB 2247 expanded the State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission and required it to provide guidance for school libraries. It also created a statewide process for appealing decisions on challenged books to the state commission. These changes will make it easier for books to be banned from student access statewide on the basis of challenges filed in individual districts. Utah. HB 374 , “Sensitive Materials in Schools,” was signed into law in March 2022 by Gov. Spencer Cox and prohibits from public schools certain sensitive instructional materials considered pornographic or indecent. It also requires the State Board of Education and the Office of the Attorney General to provide guidance and training to public schools on identifying sensitive materials, a process that must include parents deemed reflective of a school’s community. Although the law does not alter the definition of obscene materials in state statutes, it has been followed by guidance from the attorney general instructing schools to remove “immediately” any books deemed pornographic. The law has already had an impact, for example, in Alpine School District. Missouri. SB 775 , an omnibus bill on sex crimes and crimes against minors, included an amendment that makes it a class A misdemeanor if a person “affiliated with a public or private elementary or secondary school” provides “explicit sexual material” to a student, defined in the bill as applying only to visual depictions of genitals or sexual intercourse, not written descriptions. The bill also contains exceptions for works of art, works of “anthropological significance,” and materials for a science or sexual education class. In the wake of the bill taking effect in August, a number of school districts in the St. Louis area removed books from their shelves preemptively, particularly graphic novels, which appear to be uniquely susceptible to challenge under the law’s provisions. Violation of the law could lead to jail or fines for teachers, librarians, and school administrators. Although police have said they will not enforce it, the law is nevertheless already having a chilling effect in the state. Changing District Policies Under the plurality Supreme Court decision in Island Trees v. Pico , banning or restricting books in public schools for content- or viewpoint-specific reasons is unconstitutional. To safeguard these rights, the ALA and the NCAC have developed best practice guidelines for book reconsideration processes school districts can adopt concerning library materials and instructional materials for which review is requested, whether by a parent, other community member, administrator, or other source. As discussed at length in Banned in the USA , these guidelines are intended to ensure that challenges are addressed in consistent, reasoned, fact-based ways while protecting the First Amendment rights of students and citizens and guarding against censorship. In the 2021–22 school year, fewer than 4 percent of book bans tracked by PEN America were enacted pursuant to these established best practice guidelines aimed to safeguard students’ rights and protect against censorship. Instead, in numerous cases, school districts either ignored or circumvented their own policies when removing particular books. In other cases, districts followed policies that failed to afford full protection for freedom of expression—for example, by restricting student access to books while they are under review, by failing to convene a committee to review the complaint, or by not having the complainant complete the paperwork or read the whole book to which they were objecting as required by the stated policies. In some communities where existing procedures are more aligned with the standards set forth in the ALA and NCAC guidelines, or where advocates for book banning have been stifled in their efforts, there have been new efforts to alter those policies and make the removal of books easier. Such efforts often include a drive to change the “obscenity” determination used to ban books—usually without regard for the relevant legal standard . These changes have taken place in nearly a dozen districts, such as Frisco ISD in Texas , which in June revised its book policies to remove the existing standards of obscenity for materials and replace them with more stringent standards taken from the Texas Penal Code. In practice, this means that a sentence or image may be enough to get a book banned—and that book content will be evaluated without proper context. The inevitable result of the Frisco ISD and similar changes will be increased policing of content in books for young people, as well as the continued erosion of their right to access these materials. Some policy changes have been advanced at the state level as well, with Texas leading the way. In April, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced new standards for how school districts should handle all content in their libraries. The Texas standards follow state representative Matt Krause’s October 2021 public letter “initiating an inquiry into Texas school district content,” as well as a public letter to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) from Gov. Greg Abbott in November 2021 , asking schools to investigate why their libraries contained allegedly “obscene” and “pornographic” content in schools. Abbott did not provide any specific content examples. (It is worth noting that TASB has no power to change or even to recommend district policies.) The policy recommendations from the TEA, compiled in response to the public letter from Governor Abbott, implemented four significant process changes of note, none of which comport with accepted best practices. The changes include the following: Singling out school library acquisitions for intensive review, more so even than the review process for curricular materials. Placing a ten-day deadline for reconsideration of challenged material. In an apparent acknowledgement that such a tight timeline will preclude a thorough review, the provisions simultaneously dropped the requirement that reconsideration committee members read the challenged material. Requiring librarians to host twice yearly review periods for parents to raise objections or voice concerns prior to accepting new acquisitions. Tying the consideration of material containing sexual content to the Texas Penal Code, point 3 of which states that a harmful material is defined as one “utterly without redeeming social value for minors.” If a book falls afoul of the state’s “harmful materials” standards—which are not aligned with Supreme Court jurisprudence defining obscenity in such works—it cannot be part of a school library. While Texas has not made this policy mandatory for its school districts, the policy has begun to shape school library policies. By July 2022, at least two Texas school districts in Tarrant County had changed their acquisition policies based on the TEA’s model policy. For example, now if a book is challenged and removed in Carroll ISD, Texas, that book cannot be requested again for students for five years. In Keller ISD, this provision was changed to ten years. The trend of district-level policy changes, which largely began in Texas, has picked up steam in other places too. For example, the school board in Hamilton County, Tennessee, accepted board policy recommendations from a special book review committee in March 2022, which removed a statement on the principles of intellectual freedom from the ALA’s “Library Bill of Rights.” This was a striking departure from the norm, as up until this year, it was a generally accepted standard that school board policies concerning acquisitions management and curricular development would reference or otherwise incorporate principles put forth by the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the ALA. In another instance, Central Bucks County School District in Pennsylvania voted in July 2022 to reassign oversight of library collections from library and education professionals to a committee of the “ superintendents designees ”—politicizing a task previously performed by library and education professionals well versed in sound acquisition principles and policies. The district further undermined its education professionals by moving to refocus collection acquisition strategies away from instructional needs—as determined by teachers, librarians, and other education professionals—toward potentially politicized decisions, such as evaluating books for sexual content using vague standards to determine whether a book should be placed in the library. In so doing, the district ran afoul of NCAC guidelines to ensure practices that “advance fundamental pedagogical goals and not subjective interests.” From Kansas to Illinois , Indiana to Virginia , North Carolina to Florida , myriad efforts to implement and enforce censorious practices are effectively allowing some parents and citizens to constrain the availability of books for all students in their and other school communities. A raft of changes are making it easier to ban more books more quickly, undermining educators’ and librarians’ work and ultimately students’ rights to access information. Dozens of people read books on the lawn of the Nampa School District office at the same time as a meeting takes place inside to determine the disposal of books on its banned list on Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Nampa, Idaho. The Nampa school board voted last month to remove several books from its libraries. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via AP) I think the reason that Out of Darkness has attracted controversy or become a target for book banning has to do with adult discomfort. There's a clear line from adults being afraid to have certain conversations with young people, being afraid to have their values questioned, for example, to efforts to control content that young people are accessing. And what we know about young people is that they are ready to have these conversations. When we take away the books that hold space for those difficult conversations, we're really taking away the resources young people need to navigate realities they have to confront, whether or not that book is there. —Ashley Hope Pérez, author of Out of Darkness (24 bans) Preemptive Bans The unrelenting wave of challenges to the inclusion of certain books in school libraries—whether promulgated at the urging of an individual community member, grassroots organization, or government official—has spurred another phenomenon: preemptive book banning. In April, May, and June 2022, PEN America tracked several cases where school administrators have banned books in the absence of any challenge in their own district, seemingly in a preemptive response to potential bills , threats from state officials , or challenges in other districts . The most significant ban of this type occurred in Collierville, Tennessee , where a school district removed 327 books from shelves in anticipation of a state law that ultimately did not pass. Administrators sorted the books into tiers based on how much the books focus on LGBTQ+ characters or story lines; tier 3, for instance, reflected that “the main character of the book is part of the LGBTQ community, and their sexual identity forms a key component of the plot. The book may contain suggestive language and/or implied sexual interactions.” If a book reached tier 5, according to the sorting guidelines, “the books are being pulled.” Other preemptive bans were responses to actions at the state level or in neighboring districts. For example, according to Texas media reports , bans in Katy ISD, Clear Creek ISD, and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD were the result of administrators responding either to what was happening in other districts or to an 850-book list compiled and circulated to education officials by Texas state representative Matt Krause . Silent Bans and Other Restrictions Finally, PEN America has tracked other instances of books included in banned book displays, or other disputed materials, being quietly removed to avoid controversy. Books are also being labeled or marked in some way as “inappropriate” both in online catalogs and on physical titles themselves. In the Collier County School District in Florida, for instance, warning labels were attached to a group of more than 100 books that disproportionately included stories featuring LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color. While these cases are not included in the Index because they do not meet PEN America’s definition of school book bans, these types of actions could have a chilling effect—applying a stigma to the books in question and the topics they cover—and they merit further study. While several stories of preemptive and silent book bans have made it into the news or to the attention of PEN America, it is clear that mounting censorship and the punitive approach being taken to the enforcement of book bans is having wide ripple effects . The Supreme Court has sharply restricted viewpoint- and subject-matter-based restrictions on speech precisely because in addition to rendering certain ideas, stories, and opinions off-limits, such measures cast a wider chilling effect on expression. Given the rapid spread of book bans across the country, it seems inevitable that the resulting climate of caution and fear will result in a reluctance among teachers, administrators, and librarians to take risks that could affect their own employment , their budgets, their reputations, and even their personal safety . Emerging data, like a recent survey of school librarians by the School Library Journal in which 97% said they “always,” “often,” or “sometimes” weigh how controversial subject matter might be when deciding on book purchases is pointing clearly to these alarming trends. Informal Efforts Beyond formal book bans, there have also been efforts to keep books out of the hands of children even if they remain in circulation. One prominent example of such activity was “ Hide the Pride ,” an initiative of CatholicVote.org in June 2022. CatholicVote encouraged members to check out books from the Pride 2022 displays in children’s sections of public libraries and to take pictures of the empty shelves. Although the group instructed participants to “return your library books on time” and to follow the “letter of the law, so to speak,” Hide the Pride was an attempt to remove library materials from availability and to limit students’ access to LGBTQ+-affirming books. In the same month, there were efforts to ban displays of LGBTQ+ materials entirely in some public libraries, such as in Smithtown, New York , and Lafayette Parish, Louisiana . The latter resulted in an effort to terminate a librarian for allegedly violating the prohibition. Conclusion The unprecedented flood of book bans in the 2021–22 school year reflects the increasing organization of groups involved in advocating for such bans, the increased involvement of state officials in book-banning debates, and the introduction of new laws and policies. More often than not, current challenges to books originate not from concerned parents acting individually but from political and advocacy groups working in concert to achieve the goal of limiting what books students can access and read in public schools. As noted previously, the resulting harm is widespread, affecting pedagogy and intellectual freedom and placing limits on the professional autonomy of school librarians and teachers. The repercussions extend further, however, to the well-being of the students affected by these bans. Children deserve to see themselves in books, and they deserve access to a diversity of stories and perspectives that help them understand and navigate the world around them. Public schools that ban books reflecting diverse identities risk creating an environment in which students feel excluded, with potentially profound effects on how students learn and become informed citizens in a pluralistic and diverse society. Book challenges impede free expression rights, which must be the bedrock of public schools in an open, inclusive, and democratic society. These bans pose a dangerous precedent to those in and out of schools, intersecting with other movements to block or curtail the advances in civil rights for historically marginalized people. Against the backdrop of other efforts to roll back civil liberties and erode democratic norms , the dynamics surrounding school book bans are a canary in the coal mine for the future of American democracy, public education, and free expression. We should heed this warning. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was written by Jonathan Friedman, director, Free Expression and Education Programs, based on research and analysis by Tasslyn Magnusson, Ph.D., and Sabrina Baeta. The report was reviewed and edited by Nadine Farid Johnson, managing director of PEN America Washington and Free Expression Programs; Summer Lopez, chief program officer, Free Expression; and Jeremy C. Young, senior manager, Free Expression and Education, who also helped supervise the production process. Lisa Tolin provided editorial support, and Dominique Baeta provided research assistance. Finally, we extend thanks to the many authors, teachers, librarians, parents, students, and citizens who are fighting book bans, speaking at school board meetings, and bringing attention to these issues, many of whom inspired and informed this report.
LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY - Utah Parents United
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Home Donate PARENT PARTNERS RECEIVE UPDATES TEXT RECEIVE EMAILS CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS NEWS & UPDATES GET INVOLVED JOIN YOUR MOBILIZE GROUP FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL JOIN OUR TEAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSTITUTE TEACH PETITIONS EVENTS TEACHER REPRESENTATION PARENT RESOURCES PARENT CLASS RESOURCES PARENTAL RIGHTS > KNOW THE LAW What is SEL? CRT in Utah schools RACIAL HEALING SEX ED > SEX ED WHAT IS CSE TRANSGENDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION > HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO > FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS > PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY USBE Gender Guidance Policy Districts ABOUT US IN THE NEWS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS Products TUTTLE TWINS Legislative Session 2022 PARENTAL RIGHTS VOTING INDEX Join LaVerna in her quest to rid Utah schools of sexually explicit books. Step-by-step instructions to protect your children. STEP 1 Join the LaVerna in the Library Facebook page Join LaVerna in the library LaVerna's Facebook page is a community of concerned parents who share ideas and strategies to protect their children. It also highlights sexually explicit books that have been found in Utah school libraries. STEP 2 know what research already exists RatedBooks.org is a searchable website that has catalogued the rated reports of over 300 books that are commonly found in public school libraries. Browse the website to see what types of books are available and how the rating system works. A list of book locations in Google My Maps was created for many Utah districts. Browse the maps to see what is available in schools. As some books may have been removed, see Step 3 for instructions on how to search your school. STEP 3 Learn how to find sexually explicit books in your child's school library Find books in your public school library. Every school is different. Some only let you search for one school at a time, while others let you search the whole district. With many schools, you can use this link to search your school . WATCH VIDEO TUTORIAL Book Lists Master List of Reviewed Books Use the book list above to search for books. Start with the worst books, rated 5/5 and 4/5. Type the book title into your school's library catalog per the instructions in the video above. Record where the books are. STEP Share Your Findings with Others EMAIL MARY IN the Library You can create and share a district page to involve other parents in challenging books in your school or district. RatedBooks will create a district page for Utah school districts for free if you fill out this form . (Out of state costs $35 here .) Ask your principal for a MEDIA CHALLENGE FORM. Districts in Utah are required to have a media challenge policy by 10-1-22 that requires compliance with HB374 , the sensitive materials law that went into effect on May 4, 2022. Through that law (76-10-1226) there is no serious value to minors if there is a description or depiction of (i)human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; (ii)acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; (iii)fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or pubic region; Help us review books! If you found an excerpt that concerns you, please email [contact redacted] with the book title, author and page number(s) where you found the offending passage. Please provide a screenshot of the offending image and/or type it out. HELPFUL LINKS Davis School District Media Library Policy: https://tinyurl.com/dsdlibrarymediapolicy Davis School District Sensitive Materials Review Request: https://tinyurl.com/dsd374request Davis School District Parent Lottery for Sensitive Materials Committee Member Parents with standing who wish to volunteer to be on a Sensitive Material Review Committee may apply each school year, and will be chosen randomly using a digital randomizer. (4I-202 School Library Media Centers, Section 4.1.5) Davis School District Appeal Sensitive Material Decision The original requester or another individual with standing may appeal the determination of the review committee using this form. The appeal must be submitted within 15 school days of the date the original determination was posted to the website. An appeal must state how the rational or outcome of the review process violates policy or clearly articulate why a further review of the material in question is justified. (4I-202 School Library Media Centers, Section 4.7) Washington School District Media Policy: https://www.washk12.org/media-center/media-policy GET INFORMED Below are some links to presentations and Laws in Utah that can be used to challenge obscene books in libraries. Repealing Obscenity Exemptions: [private edit link removed] Utah Obscenity Exemptions: [private edit link removed] Utah Criminal Code against obscenity: t tps://drive.google.com/.../178mTEzpxwtbJ5bTQpIA.../view... Utah Sex Ed code: https://drive.google.com/.../1ajgtGBd5tooJmka6guj.../view... Sample of Citizen's Reconsideration Policy of Books (Cache): https://drive.google.com/.../15nU2rLxEE58DYXiwjBG.../view... Utah Code, Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 12 Specifically 1203 and 1204. https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter10/76-10-P12.html US and Utah violation concerns are listed below: https://www.schools.utah.gov/.../96361a05-763d-4edb-9df3... There is a very strict vetting process for materials that are used in Sex Education. https://le.utah.gov/.../Tit.../Chapter10/76-10-S1206.html... https://le.utah.gov/.../Title53E/Chapter2/53E-2-S301.html... https://www.govinfo.gov/.../USCODE-2019-title18-partI... Children's internet protection act. http://ifea.net/cipa.html https://www.ecfr.gov/.../subchapter-B/part-54/subpart-F E-rate program. "§ 54.520 Children's Internet Protection Act certifications required from recipients of discounts under the federal universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries." GET INVOLVED Find Your Elected Official Your Rights as a Parent in Utah Get Updates and Information Paid for by Utah Parents United. Utah Parents United is a 501 c4 non-profit organization and all donations are not deductible for federal tax purposes. Support Contact About Us ************** © COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Home Donate PARENT PARTNERS RECEIVE UPDATES TEXT RECEIVE EMAILS CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS NEWS & UPDATES GET INVOLVED JOIN YOUR MOBILIZE GROUP FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL JOIN OUR TEAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL SUBSTITUTE TEACH PETITIONS EVENTS TEACHER REPRESENTATION PARENT RESOURCES PARENT CLASS RESOURCES PARENTAL RIGHTS > KNOW THE LAW What is SEL? CRT in Utah schools RACIAL HEALING SEX ED > SEX ED WHAT IS CSE TRANSGENDER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION > HOMESCHOOLING IN UTAH SCHOOL BOARD HOW-TO > FIND SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FAMILY CONVERSATION CARDS > PRINTABLE FAMILY ACTIVITIES LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY USBE Gender Guidance Policy Districts ABOUT US IN THE NEWS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS Products TUTTLE TWINS Legislative Session 2022 PARENTAL RIGHTS VOTING INDEX
Ivory publicly recommends RatedBooks
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Book Banning: What makes a book sexually explicit? | Opinion - Deseret News clock CST_ Facebook Twitter Deseret News Deseret Magazine Church News Print Subscriptions Thursday, October 6, 2022 | LATEST NEWS THE WEST UTAH Politics Police/Courts Business Obituaries Education Legal Notices All Utah SPORTS High School Brigham Young Weber State Utah Jazz University of Utah RSL Utah State On TV ALL SPORTS OPINION MAGAZINE INDEPTH FAITH CORONAVIRUS PODCASTS U.S. & WORLD ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARIES AMERICAN FAMILY SURVEY TV LISTINGS NEWSLETTERS BRANDVIEW LEGAL NOTICES more LATEST NEWS THE WEST UTAH Politics Police/Courts Business Obituaries Education Legal Notices All Utah SPORTS High School Brigham Young Weber State Utah Jazz University of Utah RSL Utah State On TV ALL SPORTS OPINION MAGAZINE INDEPTH FAITH CORONAVIRUS PODCASTS U.S. & WORLD ENTERTAINMENT OBITUARIES AMERICAN FAMILY SURVEY TV LISTINGS NEWSLETTERS BRANDVIEW LEGAL NOTICES Twitter Facebook Newsletters Show Search Search Query Search Opinion Utah Family Opinion: It’s not discrimination — we are protecting children from pornography The removal of certain books from school libraries is not based on race, gender or sexual preference content. It is based on sexually explicit content not suitable for children By Ken Ivory [month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone] Facebook Twitter SHARE SHARE Opinion: It’s not discrimination — we are protecting children from pornography CLOSE Email Flipboard Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, speaks at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Jan. 21, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Recent commentary on the American Family Survey , and a separate op-ed by 40 authors of children’s books , both made the same argument — decrying the removal of books from Utah schools as being motivated by discrimination based on race, gender or sexual preference. This would be concerning if it were the least bit true. It is not. Noticeably absent from both articles was any mention of the graphic and sexually explicit content of the materials currently in many K-12 schools in Utah; so graphic that it cannot be legally repeated or described in this newspaper article; so sexually explicit that our legislative counsel recommend that we not repeat or distribute it without major alteration of written characters and blurring of illustrations; so indecent that parents are not allowed to describe the content at school board meetings. Certainly, all can agree that there should be some limit to the materials accessible to children at K-12 schools in Utah. Is it not fair to expect that materials so graphic and sexually explicit that they are too indecent for parents (adults) to describe to school board members (also adults) at a school board meeting, are also too graphic and sexually explicit for children? Related Perspective: Parents are right to be concerned about what kids read Book banning? Parent email prompts Utah district to pull these titles from high school libraries Exasperated parents have created a website where you can see for yourself the explicit nature of the materials in your children’s specific school and in your specific school district. The website is www.RatedBooks.org . HB374, Sensitive Materials in Schools , the bill I sponsored, which passed this year with bipartisan support, merely applies the same legal standard which has been applied for years to the materials that students might bring to school, to materials provided by schools. This standard is Utah Code 76-10-1235, and adopts by reference Utah Code 76-10-120I, 1203 and 1227. On June 1, 2022, Attorney General Sean Reyes issued a guidance memorandum to school leaders stating that sensitive materials which fail any of these three standards are prohibited. Utah Code 76-10-1227 defines “Sensitive Materials” as a “description or depiction of illicit sex or sexual immorality, (which) means: (i) human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; (ii) acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; (iii) fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or pubic region.” This code section further concludes that these descriptions of sexually explicit content “ha(ve) no serious value for minors.” Related Opinion: What you should know about the new law against pornographic books in your child’s school Opponents hyperbolize that having a standard for which books are on the limited shelf space in schools means that books like “Catcher in the Rye “or “To Kill and Mocking Bird” would be banned. However, at www.RatedBooks.org these books are rated as 2s on a scale of 1 to 5. Another book, “Two Boys Kissing,” that has significant LGBTQ themes but no graphic or sexually explicit content, is also rated on this site as a 2, i.e. not exceeding the narrow limit of graphic and sexually explicit content set forth in Section 1227. Please judge for yourself whether the books rated as 4s and 5s that are in your children’s schools right now violate the sensitive materials standard which has existed in Utah Code for years. When the discussion is appropriately centered on the sexually explicit, and even pornographic content of the materials in our schools, I suspect that the majority of Utah parents would agree some books should not be in schools and accessible to children. A recent Rasmussen Survey shows that 69% of voters believe books containing explicit sexual depictions of sex acts, should not be present in public high school libraries. This number rises to 79% for middle schools and 85% for elementary schools. Mentioned in the recent article were accusations that this bill attempts to suppress and demonize books by authors belonging to marginalized communities. Certainly, there should be zero tolerance for any such discrimination in our policies. There are many inclusive stories that should be available to our children which do not expose them to mentally, psychologically and even physically damaging pornographic content. Related Removal of school library books can suppress ideas, violate 1st Amendment, Utah AG’s memo states Utah parents deserve the peace of mind, knowing their children will be protected from explicit and pornographic material in their schools. Removing books that contain this material is consistent with state laws and statutes on the books for decades, as well as with the mountains of research that such materials are harmful, especially to children. In a compulsory education system, schools should be the safest place on earth for parents to entrust their children. As Utahns, let’s all commit to protect our children while continuing to foster a great learning environment in our schools. Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, is a member of the Utah House of Representatives, a father of four children raised in the Jordan School District, and grandfather to three precious tots. Next Up In Opinion Opinion: How can we protect American tech from ‘anti-innovation legislation’? Opinion: COVID school closures are over — so where are the missing kids? You’ve heard about Utah’s Inland Port — here’s the history behind the opposition Does anyone know what socialism really means? Perspective: What Republicans want to do for families if they retake the House Opinion: The American spirit is alive and well — and dwelling in refugees Company About Us Editorial Staff Careers Reach Out Contact Us Technical Support Advertise Send Us a Tip Do Not Sell My Info Get More Newsletters Print Subscription iOS App Android App Deseret News Marathon Connect Twitter Facebook Copyright © 2022 Deseret News Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Privacy Notice CA Notice of Collection Cookie Policy
Utah Parents United – Telegram
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Utah Parents United Here is the global agenda for education laid out in all its detail. There is no hiding, no tiptoeing around the issue. “In a session on “Gender Transformative Education,” a euphemism encompassing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) which instills in children homosexual and transgender ideologies, Yona Nestel from Plan International urged policymakers to begin CSE at the age of 2 years old to expand “children’s ideas of what’s possible for them beyond the binary.” “We have to start very young, from an early age,” she said, “Gender is a social construct, right? it’s learned… It’s very important to invest in the early years and ensure that gender transformative education starts as early as possible.” The globalist are after the hearts and minds of our children; future men and women, fathers and mothers. But they are not theirs. They are ours! The right to parent; to instill our family‘s values, attitudes, and beliefs, is ours to claim. If we do not claim it the globalist will. . . No, they already have. https://c-fam.org/friday_fax/un-education-summit-wants-to-stamp-out-traditional-values/?inf_contact_key=2a60becfba8bda1f30317427ceeb7f957e470d92b8b75168d98a0b8cac0e9c09 C-Fam UN Education Summit Wants to Stamp Out Traditional Values - C-Fam A UN conference on education just called for the uprooting of “violent” traditional values and the spread of comprehensive sexuality education. 38 views 17:54 Utah Parents United The debate that STARTED EVERYTHING ends with the biggest WE TOLD YOU SO ever! https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2022/09/29/schools-closed-pandemic-childrens-learning-suffered/8118758001/?gnt-cfr=1 USA TODAY Parents were demonized for demanding schools reopen sooner. Now, we know they were right. Student cores\u00a0fell 5 points in reading and 7\u00a0in math from\u00a02020 – the largest decline in reading scores in three decades\u00a0and the first drop in math. 40 views 18:24 Utah Parents United In case you missed the meeting, here's the recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/gWIxB-54G_m8HIHGjS3d65Azcs0Hynw_XiJi8lvDNhNZ8P9vp_O2GGNZ_zddduqa.9oE6pv3jTFVC-oe2 Passcode: 2EfnEgu= 45 views 00:27 Utah Parents United 51 views 03:54 Utah Parents United GIVEAWAY Your Health Freedom Symposium Through COVID-19 we all learned how important it is to have medical sovereignty over our children! Your Health Freedom has your back! Their Symposium is THIS WEKEND SATURDAY OCT 8th. The lineup of speakers is awesome. We are GIVING AWAY 5 sets of tickets!! ENTER with this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/MkwsFwo/YourHealthFreedomGiveaway We will announce the winners Wednesday. Constant Contact Sign Up Sign Up Here! 53 views 15:21 Utah Parents United If you don't talk with your kids about the tough topics then someone else will! Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fjyYuOA 57 views 21:24 Utah Parents United Do You Understand the Dangers of ESG? Join Utah’s State Treasurer Marlo Oaks who will discuss ESG, what it is and what you can do to stop it Wednesday, October 19 | 7 pm Cove at Herriman Springs Clubhouse 6894 West 14800, South Herriman Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ESG is about controlling and forcing behaviors. It attempts to do through capital markets what activists and their government allies have been unable to do through democratic processes. It is a political score that, intentionally or not, can result in market participants using economic force to drive a political agenda. This is not a left or right issue, this is an American issue. If you own a business, has another company tried to force you to comply with their policies in order to keep doing business with them? This is one way ESG is playing out in the markets. Come learn more about what ESG is, how it impacts you, why you should care and why Marlo needs your support in fighting it. 46 views 19:33 Utah Parents United 38 views 13:41 Utah Parents United This is our testimony yesterday at the Capitol for the need for an ethics review committee over school boards: https://youtu.be/yKJKyn092YQ Must Watch! Stunning testimony on the need for an independent ethics review committee for local school boards! “These political subdivision ethics’s review commissions are so conflicted they are not able to police themselves” Former State Senator James “The objective of the NAACP is to hold school boards accountable. The Salt Lake City School Board is dis functional and needs oversight.” Jeannette Williams NAACP “Resting on the words from officer Cooper that the “code is vague” and school boards members can do whatever they want some individuals are weaponizing police or other instruments to execute their personal agendas” Nichole Mason President Utah Parents United “Through a freedom of information act I got emails between board members. I was individually pointed out. He (the board member) said “I don’t want Mr. Brown having any opportunities to attend any of his children’s functions for the duration of his trespass.” What did I do? I was never told” Mike Brown, father of five boys in Davis School District Thank you to the education interim committee for hearing this issue and considering the proposed legislation from Senator Bramble. Note: The video below has been edited for brevity. Watch the entire testimony here: https://le.utah.gov/av/committeeArchive.jsp?mtgID=18225 YouTube Why School Boards Need an Ethics Review Committee to hold them accountable Stunning testimony on the need for an independent ethics review committee for local school boards! “These political subdivision ethics' review commissions are so conflicted they are not able to police themselves” -Former State Senator James “The objective… 👍 2 38 views 17:58 Utah Parents United There is so much we as parents can learn from the recent State Legislative Audit on curriculum. We have broken it down for you below. Read the audit here: https://olag.utah.gov/olag-doc/2022-12_RPT.pdf ➡️ Finding: There are issues with inappropriate content being taught in Utah schools. This includes pornographic images, sexuality, white privilege, racism, and other politically divisive topics. Parent Takeaway: Become an active participant in your child’s education. Talk to your children about what they are learning in school. ➡️ Finding: This is the exception not the rule. The vast majority of teachers stay within the guidelines. Parent Takeaway: Assume your child’s teachers are operating from the best of intentions. Most are. If there are concerns start the conversation by asking what the purpose of the assignment was and how it meets state standards. Work with teachers to find solutions. ➡️ Finding: The auditor reviewed more than 500 concerns lodged with the Utah State Board of Education’s hotline. Parent Takeaway: Keep reporting your concerns. They are being reviewed. Hotline [contact redacted] | [contact redacted] ➡️ Finding: There is little consistency on how curriculum is adopted district to district. Some districts use a top down approach, some the opposite and every where in-between. It also varies between school and district how curriculum is reviewed. Parent Takeaway: Learn how curriculum is adopted and reviewed in your local district and school. ➡️ Finding: Material selected to be taught in the classroom represents one of the greatest risks of student exposure to potentially questionable content. Parent Takeaway: You must get involved at the classroom level! Volunteer in the classroom and build a good relationships with your child’s teachers. ➡️ Finding: Utah law is unclear as to at what level decisions about how to address emerging social issues should be made. Parent Takeaway: School district have a lot of discretion when it comes to dealing with social issues (think gender, racism, progressive social justice). As parents we can guide policy and law in this area. Know who your legislators are. Share your concerns with the lack of clarity in the law. Ask them to help find solutions. ➡️ Local governing boards could consider stronger processes to ensure teaching content is more deliberately aligned with standards and community values. Parent Takeaway: If we want curriculum aligned with our community values we must get involved! The same people have been serving in the community councils, the PTAs and curriculum committees for decades. It’s time for us to step up and get involved. ➡️ Finding: There is little guidance in state code, state school board rule, or district or charter school policy on training teachers regarding educator neutrality. Parent Takeaway: Know the law on education neutrality! Recognize that your teachers and administrators may not have been adequately trained. Help them understand the law. ➡️ Finding: The audit recommends that the Utah Legislature consider requiring district and charter school boards to train educators annually on updated policies related to neutrality and emerging social issues. Parent Takeaway: We absolutely agree and have been asking for this for quite some time! Join us in advocating for better teacher training by contacting your legislators and state school board reps. Share the audit and ask them to consider this recommendation. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/10/20/23411738/audit-public-school-curriculum-teachers-utah-legislature?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=dn-social&utm_campaign=facebookpage&utm_content=deseretnews&fbclid=IwAR2eMQ6Zo2BlS5UbQyP7URxptGrAfRGcrNNm6xjXM9FPOamWBsQ8kgDSnK0 47 views 00:35 Utah Parents United 2022 School Board Voting Guide Helping parents get educated about School Board Candidates. 1- Once you get your ballot, check to see if there is a school board race. 2- Type their name(s) into our Voter Guide! https://www.utahparentsinaction.com/voting-guide.html 3- Scroll to the right to see any additional information pertaining to the candidate. (We have researched each candidate's platform and provided you with additional information, i.e., whether the candidate mentions parental rights, etc. in their platform) 4- Most important, reach out and have a conversation with the candidates in your school district to see if their values align with your own. 5- Share who you are voting for along with the voting guide on your social media. 47 views 17:00 Utah Parents United Get your tickets here: https://thelibreinitiative.actcentr.com/Events/soluciones-con-libre-unidad-para-la-libertad 47 views 16:56 Utah Parents United https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-us-for-a-conversation-featuring-tulsi-gabbard-tickets-449793383117 46 views 03:26 Utah Parents United Register here for our No Porn November Parent Class: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/KVdJSV6 51 views 02:11 Utah Parents United We Need Your Help! Facebook shut down our ads and is controlling all election campaign material. They won’t let me edit these, restart them or post new ones. I need you to share the voter guide to get out the vote and help people research candidates. https://www.utahparentsinaction.com/voting-guide.html Utah Parents in Action Voting Guide Once you get your ballot, check to see if there is a school board race. Type their name(s) in the search field below. Scroll to the right to see any additional information pertaining to the... 40 views 18:05 Utah Parents United It’s No Porn November, the perfect time to arm yourself with the knowledge you need to help your kids become “Battle Ready” Get 50% off this powerful workshop from Your Living Proof through the month of November. ➡️ https://living-proof.teachable.com/p/rkic_battleready Use code UPU50 Your Living Proof is thrilled to be able to offer their popular in person Raising Kids In Combat Workshop to ALL parents in a DIGITAL format! “We had so many people across Utah and the rest of the country wanted this training but were unable to attend the live event so we are so excited to now offer the same workshop online! Parents can purchase it with the link below and own it forever! They can watch it whenever they want--how many times they want! They also get the chance to join an online community where they can ask specific questions to Smith and Danny, as well as a printable copy of our amazing workbook that helps parents implement all they learn!” 42 views 18:41 Utah Parents United 👏 👏 No Porn November Kick Off 👏 👏 Register for our November Parent Class Now! ➡️ Thursday November 3rd 7pm In person 640 N Main St North Salt Lake Online- register to get the zoom link https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/KVdJSV6 42 views edited 18:45 Utah Parents United Lisa Fifield, a teacher in the Davis School District who lived in China under communist rule, organized an event this event for Monday, November 7th at 6:30pm in the State Capitol Rotunda to educate and warn the public about the dangers of communism. Her experience as a teacher has illustrated to her that we do not properly educate students about the dangers and realities of communism. This will be a great way to educate your family on why it is so important that we preserve the Constitution of the United States of America. 66 views 18:40 Utah Parents United Time: Nov 7, 2022 09:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84060869689?pwd=UjRISjlLNnJtOWZmVzFwSDNhNGlRdz09 Meeting ID: 840 6086 9689 Passcode: 630650 186 views 04:30 Utah Parents United If voting by mail, ballots must be postmarked no later than Monday, November 7th. You can drop your ballot in a dropbox up until 8pm Tuesday, November 8th 76 views 22:02
Utah Parents United – Telegram
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Utah Parents United Please come celebrate with us tomorrow night! The Truth Project will be performing to celebrate bringing people of all backgrounds together to join in celebrating this great country! 89 views 21:56 Utah Parents United 68 views 03:04 Utah Parents United TAKE THIS SURVEY! The Legislative Session is almost here! Make sure Utah Legislators know where you stand on these issues. https://utahhouse.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=LCaBcQ5wjkgECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR09PREKt8GDapx54gHzvPeL976sat1Me1nb3blmpBhkPQuXl36dguv8XNc&mibextid=Zxz2cZ QuestionPro Online Surveys Made Easy 2023 Legislative Session Constituent Survey | 2023 Legislative Session Constituent Survey - HD49 - Online Surveys 60 views 02:43 Utah Parents United Come celebrate Christmas and The Bill of Rights with us! It is the 231st anniversary of the signing of the Bill of Rights and we are so blessed to have it connected to our sacred Constitution. Get your tickets now! utahliberty.net 47 views 20:40 Utah Parents United Are you signed up for our emails? Here's the newsletter that just went out today: https://conta.cc/3urPA0X If you'd like to sign up for email updates, you can do so here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/eVabFlA Would you rather get texts? Use this link to sign up for text alerts: https://tools.raindroptext.com/account/optinwidget/parents/ Utah Parents United Boys in Girls Bathrooms- it’s happening in Utah Let's Protect Our Kids! WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL'S SAFETY AND PRIVACY POLICY? Click here to read our recommended MODEL POLICY created by lawyers, teachers and parents in Utah. If this is happening at you 43 views 16:53 Utah Parents United THANK YOU Davis School District for removing the following 21 books: Tricks - Ellen Hopkins Ellen Hopkins 5 " https://tinyurl.com/mtxwemxu slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/37dfae6w " Red, White and Royal Blue Casey McQuiston 4 https://tinyurl.com/2n78rryz Ugly Love Colleen Hoover 4 " https://tinyurl.com/ndyhn55x Slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/5n735z32 " INFANDOUS Elana K. Arnold - Elana Arnold 4 " https://tinyurl.com/yetc5c2t slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/6aym7nbz " WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF by Elana Arnold - Elena K. Arnold 4 " https://tinyurl.com/3886j6xy slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/55bj2xpd " Collateral Ellen Hopkins 4 " https://tinyurl.com/3ptwmrfw slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/4fxsrynv " Tilt Ellen Hopkins 4 " https://tinyurl.com/3aumxcnd slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/wzrmkfcm B&W slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/mtwfttte " All Boys Aren't Blue George M Johnson 4 " https://tinyurl.com/2p9er68e slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/yc2v23au " The Carnival at Bray - Jessie Ann Foley 4 https://tinyurl.com/2p8693e6 Oryx & Crake Margaret Atwood 4 https://tinyurl.com/mryvskr2 A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas Sarah J Maas 4 " https://tinyurl.com/28mnu4s7 slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/42x838ks " A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J Maas Sarah J Maas 4 " https://tinyurl.com/yrxdbjr2 slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/yvfd67yz " A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas Sarah J Maas 4 " https://tinyurl.com/2p827jt9 slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/5c38kxka " A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J Maas Sarah J Maas 4 " https://tinyurl.com/yckw5ddv slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/47r76vz4 " House of Earth and Blood Sarah J Maas 4 " https://tinyurl.com/2p8et6z8 Slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/2ttp7ss2 " Kingdom of Ash Sarah J Maas 4 https://tinyurl.com/bdbmj3k6 The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison 4 https://tinyurl.com/2p8k6rp9 Rumble Ellen Hopkins 3 https://tinyurl.com/2p9zsbbs Tower of Dawn Sarah J. Maas 3 https://tinyurl.com/ybdw5y7y Monday's Not Coming - Tiffany D. Jackson Tiffany D. Jackson 3 " https://tinyurl.com/mwz34ryy Slicksheet: https://tinyurl.com/spfsk9c7 " The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue V. E. Schwab https://tinyurl.com/5xbpp86h Google Docs Tricks.pdf 66 views 21:46 Utah Parents United As the largest parent group in Utah we are often asked “what is really going on in Utah schools?" Our policy makers have great intentions when crafting policy and legislation, but may not always get to see the results of the implementation of their work. It's helpful for us to organize and share parent experiences across the state, so they can see whether their policies are producing intended results. Have you been surprised, concerned, pleased, or even unsure about things being taught, shared, or posted at your child’s school? SHARE! Send as an email documenting the experience at [contact redacted]. We will make sure your story gets shared with elected officials who can make a difference. Sending us your story gives us permission to share it. We will remove personal identifiers before sharing. 48 views 01:19 Utah Parents United We hope to see you tonight at our annual Christmas Party! Taco Bar, Desserts, Karaoke, it's going to be a blast!!! Can't make it? Consider making a donation to CAFE for the toy drive: https://cafeorg.com/home/donate/ 69 views edited 17:13 Utah Parents United Looking for an end of year tax deduction? Donate to our c3, Empowered Parents, to help us continue our Parent Education classes. Email us at ➡️ [contact redacted] for more information. 42 views 22:07 Utah Parents United 1:40 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM 2023 State Capitol Tour Monday, January 9th 6:00pm - 9:00pm Join us for our biggest event of the year to educate parents on the legislative process and the Utah State Representative Government! Meet the awesome people who represent you and learn what they do to serve you and the great State of Utah. Interested in joining? Sign up here: https://www.utahparentsunited.org/store/p26/2023_State_Capitol_Tour_%26_T-shirt.html 58 views 04:58 Utah Parents United 58 views 17:03 Utah Parents United 😜 The media Lost Their Minds last year when we announced our Capitol Tour!! 🤣 Well we are doing it again and it’s even BIGGER!! Auditor John Dougall and Speaker of the house Brad Wilson will be joining the tour!! Monday January 9th at 6pm! ➡️ Get your ticket at UtahParentsUnited.org . https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2022/01/08/selling-access-utah/ The Salt Lake Tribune Selling access? For $25, Utah Parents United promises chance to meet with ‘key players’ in state government A conservative Utah parent's rights group, Utah Parents United, is promising face time with top Utah lawmakers and policymakers on Monday night, but they're charging for the event. 66 views edited 21:49 Utah Parents United We support the efforts of this group to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. They are closely watching bills that would undermine the Constitution and are working hard to fight against Federal overreach. 46 views 06:45 Utah Parents United Forwarded from Utah Citizens for the Constitution - Jen Brown Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83318493207 45 views 06:45 Utah Parents United 53 views 19:02 Utah Parents United Remember HB60? The bill that would prohibit businesses requiring you show proof of vaccination status? Well, it's back again this year and we are picking up where we left off to protect individual liberty! This bill will be heard in the House Business and Labor Committee today at 2:00. Here is a link to the bill: https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0131.html We are posting our official statement. What do you think? Do you think we should be required to "show our papers"? Email the committee members with your thoughts: [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] 414 views edited 18:35 Utah Parents United Can you believe this even needs to be said? Yet, here we are. This bill will be heard in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee today at 2:00pm. Here's what it says: https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0108.html Email them your thoughts: [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] [contact redacted] 👍 2 51 views 18:22 Utah Parents United Utah Parents United has NOT yet taken a position on this bill. We think there are good arguments on both sides. We would love to hear from our parents on the issue. Take this quick survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DQYGDH Surveymonkey Free Online Survey Software by SurveyMonkey: Closed Survey This survey is currently closed. Please contact the author of this survey for further assistance. 48 views edited 18:35 Utah Parents United We believe the majority of teachers and administrators have the best interest of our children at heart. But does that matter if they choose to blatantly ignore and undermine parents rights? Activism has no place in education. We have been telling administrators and legislators for years that this is what is happening in education. We’ve provided stories, letters, documents, experiences and videos of our own that show that this is a systemic problem happening in every school district across the state. In this video (by an independent news agency with no connection to UPU) you’ll see administrators from Jordan, Murray, Ogden, and Salt Lake City describing how they undermine parental rights. Thank goodness we have good legislators that have been standing with parents and just passed school choice yesterday. No parent in the state of Utah should be required to send their child to an education institution where the administrators are undermining our rights to teach our values, attitudes, and beliefs to our children. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next but I hope that we will see some type of accountability put in place because what’s happening right now is not OK. https://twitter.com/accuracyinmedia/status/1619000851217125376/mediaviewer https://youtu.be/znfGNN2UJL0 Twitter Twitter 60 views 18:43 Utah Parents United Here are two amazing tools to make getting involved in legislative session super easy! https://youtu.be/73MErcQwCSA YouTube 2023 Legislative Session Bill Tracker & Amplify USA Find our bill tracker on www.utahparentsunited.org 56 views 05:04
Education and Inspiration in Abundance at Protect Child Health Coalition Conference | Family Watch®
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Education and Inspiration in Abundance at Protect Child Health Coalition Conference Home > Education and Inspiration in Abundance at Protect Child Health Coalition Conference The Protect Child Health Coalition (PCHC), a network of concerned citizens, parents, professionals, leaders, and organizations representing the fields of law, academia, mental and physical health, politics, religion, government and more, exists to protect the health and innocence of children from those who would like to indoctrinate and sexualize them. The recent annual conference of the PCHC held in Dallas was not only an opportunity for parents and concerned citizens to hear warnings about the dangers bombarding our children—but also to hear inspiring stories of successes in holding back the tide that threatens them. The View from Inside Planned Parenthood’s “Comprehensive Sexuality Education” (CSE) One of the chief influences sexualizing children today is so-called “Comprehensive Sexuality Education” (CSE)—an ideologically driven, “rights-based” approach that goes far beyond merely including factual information about condoms and contraception. Several of the presentations at the PCHC focused on the threat posed by CSE, including the dramatic closing keynote address by Monica Cline . Sometimes messages from the “inside” of the opposition can be the most powerful, and that’s what Cline—a former sex educator and Title X (Family Planning) Training Coordinator—provided. Motivated by a desire to help with prevention of HIV, Cline sought training from Planned Parenthood. In her training, she was immediately confronted with some stark realities, when she was told, “We have girls coming in here at ten years old” who have STDs, get abortions, and even have sex toys in their vaginas. However, Cline was assured, “We don’t teach them to avoid sex. We teach them to do it safer.” In other words, “We meet them where they are”—which Planned Parenthood assumes means, “already having chosen to have sex.” Cline was taught to start her lessons with an “icebreaker” to remove the children’s inhibitions. This consisted of having them shout out every term they could think of for sexual organs and activities and writing them on the board—resulting in “a collage of dehumanizing terms” that effectively objectify the students sexually. Several of her experiences made her begin to question the approach. When one student asked how to adapt to a sexual act she clearly found distasteful, Cline said, “You realize, you don’t HAVE to have sex if you don’t want to.” The students were dumbfounded: “No one’s ever told us that before.” They began on their own to brainstorm other ways they could have fun together without having sex. Cline realized that Planned Parenthood considered sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) to be a normal experience—something to be managed, not prevented. The last straw for Cline was when she realized that Planned Parenthood seemed to have little concern about sex trafficking leading to statutory rape. They considered prostitution a necessary response to poverty. “Why do you refuse to protect these little girls from having sex with adult men?” she asked. She was told, “It’s what they want. Maybe they get more sexual gratification from experienced men.” Cline left her Planned Parenthood training and CSE behind and has now founded “It Takes A Family,” to focus on strengthening families against the forces that are too often destroying them. You can view Monica’s presentation here . Stopping CSE Several staff from Family Watch, which is a co-sponsor of the PCHC, talked about our work against CSE, as well. Erin Brewer reviewed the “15 Harmful Effects of Comprehensive Sexuality Education,” which range from sexualizing children and normalizing oral and anal sex to promoting early “sexual independence” and violating parental rights. You can view Erin’s presentation here . Katie Cook gave an overview of the valuable website StopCSE.org , including state profiles for each U.S. state and a “Defenders’ Toolkit.” Family Watch President Sharon Slater (who was introduced to the audience as “a human tornado”) gave a keynote address offering a global perspective on the CSE battle, including the use of the term “sexual and reproductive health and rights” (SRHR) as shorthand for the ideology behind CSE. Slater warned that the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is the biggest threat to children and families worldwide. However, she sought to encourage the child protection and parental rights advocates at the conference by describing a classic psychology experiment on peer pressure. It showed the presence of just one other person willing to resist the dominant viewpoint can reduce conformity to an incorrect view as much as 80 percent. You can view Sharon’s presentation here . Other speakers focused in on more specific aspects of the CSE debate. Mary Ellen Siegler of the Massachusetts Family Institute also founded a grass-roots group, Massachusetts Informed Parents, urging parents to “Opt Out of Pornographic Sex Ed.” Marsha Metzger warned of how CSE is embedded within “Social and Emotional Learning” (SEL)—a vague term that also encompasses drug prevention, violence prevention, civic education, and moral education. She revealed that SEL introduces Diversity, Equity and Inclusion lessons, initiating discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Optimal Development The presentations focused on promoting what’s good, not just warning against and preventing what’s bad. Janet Oehl described the K-12 Standards for Optimal Sexual Development , an alternative to CSE standards that promotes sexual risk avoidance through abstinence. These were drafted by national experts and published by Medical Institute for Sexual Health. Kristie Jardot of Oklahoma’s HeartMatters described their programs to help students guard themselves from exploitation through digital media education. Sexually Explicit Material in Schools Unfortunately, sex education classes are not the only context in which schoolchildren may be exposed to material that is sexually explicit. Some books found in school libraries or assigned in English classes may have inappropriate content as well. Brooke Stephens shared about efforts to educate parents about such books—through websites like RatedBooks.org and BookLooks.org , as well as successes like the passage this year of Utah’s HB 374 , which bars “sensitive” (i.e., “pornographic or indecent”) material from public schools. Robin Paterson did both a panel discussion and a more in-depth workshop on how pornographic material can be accessed through online research databases that are provided to schools by subscription, from companies like ProQuest, Gale, and EBSCO. These are “digital encyclopedias” that may link to sites with explicit material—which will not be filtered even by computer or library pornography filters because access is through the database, which is “white-listed” to be always available. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) placed EBSCO on its “Dirty Dozen” list in 2021 because of ongoing concerns. Some states have begun trying to solve this problem with “database” legislation, and Paterson explained how concerned parents may be able to investigate the problem through steps as simple as using their public library card and looking for “homework tools” on the library website. Attorney Mary McAlister warned about the dangers of “educational obscenity exemptions”—provisions in the laws of over 40 states that allow material that would otherwise be deemed “harmful to minors” to be distributed in an educational setting. Fortunately, some states have begun repealing this loophole that allows sexually explicit material to be presented to schoolchildren. Ideological Indoctrination in Schools Conference presentations focused not only on the sexualization of children by schools, but also their ideological indoctrination. Elana Fishbein, an Israeli-American immigrant with a doctorate in social work, founded No Left Turn in Education after seeing the aggressive indoctrination that was adopted in her own children’s school following the death of George Floyd in 2020. Her goal is, “To revive in American education the fundamental discipline of objective thinking … [while] emphasizing the role of the parent as the primary custodian and authority of their child.” Fishbein (herself a veteran of the Israeli Defense Forces) emphasized the need for “soldiers” in this battle—volunteers who will be “boots on the ground.” Diane Stover of the Protect Ohio Children Coalition spoke about their efforts against CSE, SEL, and CRT (Critical Race Theory). Using tips from the public, they have compiled an Indoctrination Map with data on 100 school districts in the state. Fortunately, their efforts have been aided by recently passed state legislation which mandates that all curricular materials must be available to parents. Joel Thornton, an attorney with the Child & Parental Rights Campaign, spoke about Title IX —the federal law against sex discrimination in education—and how the Biden administration’s proposed changes to its implementing regulations “would open Pandora’s box.” A law passed to protect women is now being used to promote radical transgender ideology. But Thornton assured the audience they can “win by being the most reasonable people in the room”—and by threatening to sue their school district! Jaco Booyens , who started a ministry to fight human trafficking, gave a wide-ranging keynote address that highlighted the links between pornography, comprehensive sexuality education, and sex trafficking. Sharon Supp of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) described ADF’s Promise to America’s Parents , demanding that governments promise to parents: Accountability (when parental rights are violated), Choice (of their child’s education and medical care), and Transparency (about their education and health). LGBT Issues Two speakers specifically addressed LGBT issues. Crystal Risotti spoke about the presence of LGBT themes in Anime and Manga—the unique comics and animated cartoons from Japan that have recently ballooned in popularity in the west. Therapist David Pickup gave advice on how to stop so-called “conversion therapy” bans, which may prevent even child sexual abuse victims from getting the talk therapy they need to process the consequences of that abuse. Pickup spoke of the importance of balancing truth and compassion, and emphasized that legislative testimony is usually only three minutes long—“All it takes is courage.” Political Victories Some speakers noted that their work had translated into political victories, as well. Deborah Simmons, speaking on behalf of the Texans hosting the conference, talked about how the 13 priorities set by the initiative Texas Education 911 influenced the platform of the Texas Republican Party, which adopted a plank to “Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids”—in part by repealing the state’s educational “obscenity exemption.” In closing remarks, one PCHC co-chair noted that in the election just held, conservatives had won three out of four seats on the state Board of Education in Nebraska. SHOW UP. STAND UP. SPEAK UP. Many speakers also gave tips on how to mobilize volunteers, with this motto as the key: SHOW UP. STAND UP. SPEAK UP. The conference was both educational and inspirational. It should encourage more people to become active in the Protect Child Health Coalition and to attend next year’s PCHC conference. Membership in the PCHC is limited to those who are actively engaged in fighting CSE wherever it rears its ugly head, but the resources on the website are available to anyone concerned about the health and innocence of children. To become a member of the PCHC, fill out the registration form here .
Our Report on the Protect Child Health Coalition Conference | Family Watch®
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Our Report on the Protect Child Health Coalition Conference Home > Our Report on the Protect Child Health Coalition Conference For many years, Family Watch International has been the facilitator of a coalition called the Protect Child Health Coalition (PCHC). This network of amazing individuals and organizations includes concerned citizens, parents, professionals, leaders, and organizations representing the fields of law, academia, mental and physical health, politics, religion, government and more. This nonpartisan coalition works to protect the health and innocence of all children, and we believe they should be protected from harmful materials, especially pornographic, obscene, or erotic materials including those materials that are now so prevalent in classrooms across the U.S. and abroad in comprehensive sexuality education programs. The PCHC recently held their annual conference in Dallas, Texas, and we are pleased to present an in-depth report of that event, which included a powerful address from a former comprehensive sex educator trained by Planned Parenthood, several staff members from Family Watch, and many other renowned experts in the field. The report contains links to critical information that can help anyone concerned about protecting children from the nearly constant barrage of inappropriate sexual material being flung at them from all directions. We are indebted to those who worked tirelessly to make this conference a huge success! You can read the report about the annual PCHC conference here .
Utah Legislature HB0464S01
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Representative Ken Ivory proposes the following substitute bill: 1 SCHOOL MATERIALS AMENDMENTS 2 2023 GENERAL SESSION 3 STATE OF UTAH 4 Chief Sponsor: Ken Ivory 5 Senate Sponsor: ____________ 6 7 LONG TITLE 8 General Description: 9 This bill amends provisions regarding student access to pornographic or indecent 10 materials within the public education system. 11 Highlighted Provisions: 12 This bill: 13 ▸ requires local education agencies (LEAs) to: 14 • engage in certain review processes when a parent communicates an allegation 15 that an instructional material is prohibited by state law; and 16 • publicly vote on and explain a determination to reinstate or preserve student 17 access to challenged instructional material; 18 ▸ establishes the precedential effect of LEA and state board determinations; 19 ▸ requires the State Board of Education (state board) to: 20 • review LEA determinations regarding certain sensitive material; and 21 • make rules, including to establish an age-appropriateness rating system for 22 instructional materials; 23 ▸ amends a state board reporting requirement; and 24 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes. 25 Money Appropriated in this Bill: 26 None 27 Other Special Clauses: 28 This bill provides a special effective date. 29 Utah Code Sections Affected: 30 AMENDS: 31 53G-10-103 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 377 32 33 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah: 34 Section 1. Section 53G-10-103 is amended to read: 35 53G-10-103. Sensitive instructional materials. 36 (1) As used in this section: 37 (a) (i) "Instructional material" means a material, regardless of format, used: 38 (A) as or in place of textbooks to deliver curriculum within the state curriculum 39 framework for courses of study by students; or 40 (B) to support a student's learning in [ the ] any school setting. 41 (ii) "Instructional material" includes reading materials, handouts, videos, digital 42 materials, websites, online applications, and live presentations. 43 (b) "LEA governing board" means: 44 (i) for a school district, the local school board; 45 (ii) for a charter school, the charter school governing board; or 46 (iii) for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the state board. 47 (c) "Material" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-10-1201 . 48 (d) "Minor" means any person less than 18 years old. 49 (e) "Public school" means: 50 (i) a district school; 51 (ii) a charter school; or 52 (iii) the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. 53 (f) (i) "School setting" means, for a public school: 54 (A) in a classroom; 55 (B) in a school library; or 56 (C) on school property. 57 (ii) "School setting" includes the following activities that an organization or individual 58 or organization outside of a public school conducts, if a public school or an LEA sponsors or 59 requires the activity: 60 (A) an assembly; 61 (B) a guest lecture; 62 (C) a live presentation; or 63 (D) an event. 64 (g) (i) "Sensitive material" means an instructional material that is educationally 65 unsuitable because it is pornographic or indecent material as that term is defined in Section 66 76-10-1235 , and is therefore deemed pervasively vulgar . 67 (ii) "Sensitive material" does not include an instructional material: 68 (A) that an LEA selects under Section 53G-10-402 ; 69 (B) for a concurrent enrollment course that contains sensitive material and for which a 70 parent receives notice from the course provider of the material and gives the parent's consent; 71 [ (B) ] (C) for medical courses; 72 [ (C) ] (D) for family and consumer science courses; or 73 [ (D) ] (E) for another course the state board exempts in state board rule. 74 (2) (a) Sensitive materials are prohibited in the school setting. 75 (b) A public school may not: 76 (i) adopt, use, distribute, provide a student access to, or maintain in the school setting, 77 sensitive materials; or 78 (ii) permit a speaker or presenter in the school setting to display or distribute sensitive 79 materials. 80 (3) An LEA shall : 81 (a) upon receipt of a notice from a teacher, LEA employee, student who is enrolled in 82 the LEA, or a parent of a school-age child who resides within the boundaries of the LEA that 83 an instructional material constitutes sensitive material: 84 (i) for a challenge under this section using the standards described in Subsection 85 76-10-1227 (2)(c), immediately remove the material from the library, classroom, or other 86 location where students may access the material until the LEA completes the LEA's review; 87 (ii) review the allegations and the relevant material; 88 (iii) (A) if the LEA determines that the material does not constitute sensitive material 89 under Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c) and seeks to preserve student access to the material, make a 90 written and publicly accessible determination, in accordance with a public vote of the local 91 governing board, regarding the LEA's determination, including the LEA's reasoning and an 92 explanation of why the material does not violate Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c), is age 93 appropriate, and has serious scientific, artistic, or literary value; and 94 (B) if the LEA determines that the material constitutes sensitive material using the 95 standards described in Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c), refer the material to the state board for 96 review under Subsection (4), including each excerpt that the LEA determines violated 97 Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c) with the reference to or location of the excerpt; and 98 (iv) notify the individual who challenged the material regarding the outcome of the 99 review, including any referral to the state board in accordance with this section; 100 (b) except for a challenge under this section using the standards described in 101 Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c), include parents who are reflective of the members of the school's 102 community when [ determining if an instructional material is sensitive material. ] making the 103 determinations described in Subsection (3)(a); and 104 (c) refer to the state board any material for which the LEA has a documented record of 105 having removed the material using the standards described in Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c). 106 (4) (a) No later than 75 days after the day on which the state board receives an LEA's 107 determination that an instructional material constitutes sensitive material under this section 108 using the standards described in Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c), the state board shall: 109 (i) review the LEA's determination; and 110 (ii) (A) if the state board ratifies the LEA's determination, notify all LEAs to remove 111 the sensitive material from student access; or 112 (B) if the state board does not ratify the LEA's determination, make a written and 113 publicly accessible determination, in accordance with a public vote of the state board, as to 114 why the material does not constitute sensitive material under this section, including the state 115 board's reasoning. 116 (b) Notwithstanding the state board having not ratified an LEA's determination under 117 Subsection 76-10-1227 (2)(c), the LEA's determination that the material constitutes sensitive 118 material under Section 76-10-1235 shall remain unaffected by the state board's determination. 119 (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), an LEA may choose to not engage in a review of 120 an instructional material against which the same individual has triggered three reviews under 121 Subsection (3) during the present school year for material that the LEA determined, through the 122 review process, to not constitute sensitive material. 123 (6) (a) Before the 2024-2025 school year, each LEA shall ensure that before a student 124 within the LEA has any library, classroom, or other access to any instructional material that 125 does not conform to the state board's rating standard described in Subsection (7)(b)(i), the 126 LEA: 127 (i) provides prior written notice to the parent of each student who may have access to 128 the material regarding the student's potential access to the material; and 129 (ii) has express written consent from the parent of any student who may have access to 130 the material. 131 [ (4) ] (7) The state board shall: 132 (a) in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, provide guidance and 133 training to support public schools in identifying instructional materials that meet the definition 134 of sensitive materials under this section; [ and ] 135 (b) before the 2024-2025 school year, make rules in accordance with Title 63G, 136 Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act: 137 (i) to review and adopt a rating system for age-appropriate instructional materials that 138 includes at least language, criminal activity, self-harm, drug use, suicidal ideation, and sexual 139 content, including sexuality and gender identity; 140 (ii) regarding the acquisition of instructional material by LEAs and schools in 141 accordance with the rating system described in Subsection (7)(b)(i); and 142 [ (b) ] (c) report to the Education Interim Committee and the Government Operations 143 Interim Committee, at or before the November [ 2022 ] interim meeting each year , on 144 implementation and compliance with this section, including: 145 (i) any policy the state board or an LEA adopts to implement or comply with this 146 section; 147 (ii) any rule the state board makes to implement or comply with this section; and 148 (iii) any complaints an LEA or the state board receives regarding a violation of this 149 section, including: 150 (A) action taken in response to a complaint described in this Subsection [ (4)(b)(iii) ] 151 (7)(c)(iii) ; and 152 (B) if an LEA retains an instructional material for which the LEA or the state board 153 receives a complaint, the LEA's rationale for retaining the instructional material. 154 Section 2. Effective date. 155 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.
Utah Parents United – Telegram
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Utah Parents United Should cell phones and smart watches be prohibited (with certain exceptions) in the classroom? It's being discussed in the House Education Committee today. Take this quick survey, so we can let Legislators know what parents think: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DQYGDH Surveymonkey Free Online Survey Software by SurveyMonkey: Closed Survey This survey is currently closed. Please contact the author of this survey for further assistance. 55 views 19:09 Utah Parents United Has your child ever been to an assembly at school that you wish you would have known about first? HB82 would require that schools give you 3 days notice about school assemblies related to topics like suicide bullying, physical or sexual abuse, mental health. We are also asking that they include the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion in this list. Here is a video that was shown at Sky View High School, in Cache County, during a school assembly without parental notification or consent, without parental notification or consent, which was done under the umbrella of diversity equity and inclusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM5QgLbLRWA Here is the news article that discusses the assembly: https://www.hjnews.com/.../article_139cc1bf-b79d-5ab6 ... The bill is being heard in the House Education Committee today at 3:40. If you would like to be notified about assemblies like the one at Sky View High School, please email these Representatives and ask them to "please add Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the list of topics that require advanced notice to parents. [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted], [contact redacted] cc: [contact redacted] Here is a link to the bill: https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0082.html YouTube 400 Years Song written by Gregory S. Miller 👍 1 53 views 19:23 Utah Parents United You're invited to UPU's Black History and Excellence Class Tonight (2/7) at 7pm Celebrating Blacks who prospered by embracing American ideals with the 1776 Unites curriculum, taught by Cari Bartholomew. 1776 Unites is a great curriculum for schools to use this month as it focuses on accurate history through the lens of American ideals that empower and uplift to excellence. Here is the review from the Johns Hopkins School of Education: https://woodsoncenter.org/.../JHU_KnowledgeMapReport ... Cari will be teaching lessons directly from the 1776 Unites curriculum. "The 1776 Unites curriculum offers authentic, inspiring stories from American history that show what is best in our national character and what our freedom makes possible even in the most difficult circumstances. 1776 Unites maintains a special focus on stories that celebrate black excellence, reject victimhood culture, and showcase African-Americans who have prospered by embracing America’s founding ideals." Register for the class and receive a document with the zoom links and class recording information. Access to the entire curriculum will be given once you register for the class. https://www.utahparentsunited.org/store/p28/Black_History_and_Excellence_class.html Utah Parents United Black History and Excellence class Welcome to Utah Parents United! WE EXIST TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER PARENTS IN UTAH TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. Parenting is non-partisan. No matter what side of the fence you are on, you are the best person to advocate for your child. 52 views 19:40 Utah Parents United 2:59 Media is too big VIEW IN TELEGRAM It is midway through the session and we are still going strong! Here are a few of the bills we are excited about: ➡️ HB82 School Assembly Notifications https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0082.html ➡️ HB175 School Fees Amendment https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0175.html ➡️ HB348 Participation Waiver Amendments https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0348.html ➡️ HB427 Public Education Curriculum Requirements https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0427.html 💥 See more bills on our Legislative Bill Tracker- https://www.utahparentsunited.org/legislative-session ... 💥 Get bill notifications and contact your rep with the touch of a button on the Amplify USA App. Available through the Apple or Android store. 52 views 13:39 Utah Parents United Do you know more about the Constitution than a 5th grader? Do you want to? Do you know more about it than 80% of Congress? You can make sure you do and earn $500.00 cash doing it! Get a team together to participate in FREEDOM'S LIGHT Constitution Bee! You can register as a team or individually. If you can't get a team togther, let me know and I will help you. Register asap please. To register: email [contact redacted], our website: www.FreedomsLight.US or text [contact redacted] 66 views 18:07 Utah Parents United We are on the final stretch of the Legislative Session and we need your help to get our priority bills across the finish line. Each of these bills is meant to uphold our rights as parents and help us as we advocate for our children. Pro-tip: click on the graphic to download and text to your Senator. The following bills will be heard on the Senate Floor between now and Friday night at midnight. Text, or email your SENATOR and ask for their support on these bills: ❤ 1 63 views 23:52 Utah Parents United Join us for a Legislative Session Recap! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84351587474 👍 1 52 views 18:54 Utah Parents United 0:12 This media is not supported in your browser VIEW IN TELEGRAM Join us Thursday, March 23rd at 7pm The Legislature did their part to hold social media companies accountable, out it's our turn as parents to do our part! We can still save the kids! 51 views 18:38 Utah Parents United https://rumble.com/v2cl9f8-only-one-answer-america-will-eat-bugs-amanda-and-saige-wright-with-eric-mou.html Must watch! This interview is a perfect example of why we are so grateful the legislature passed HB348 sponsored by Representative Cheryl Acton HB348 - Curriculum Participation Waiver Requirements requires a school to accept a participation waiver for certain curriculum or activities that contradicts with the student’s, or family’s, strongly held belief. The language in this bill is wonderful. ▪️ In accordance with Utah Constitution, Article I, Section 4, a student may refrain from participation in any aspect of school that violates a religious belief or right of conscience of the student. ▪️ A school may not, in any aspect of school: require or incentivize a student to affirm or deny the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience; engage a student in a practice that violates or is contrary to the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience; or penalize or discriminate against a student for refraining from participation due to the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience. ▪️ When a student refrains from participating in any aspect of school that violates the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience, the school: (a) shall promptly notify the student's parent (b) may offer an alternative that does not violate the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience; and c) may not require the student or the student's parent to explain, defend, or justify the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience. ▪️ A student's parent may waive the student's participation in any aspect of school that violates the student's or the student's parent's religious belief or right of conscience. https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/HB0348.html “3/8/23- Teacher at Spring Canyon Middle School in Utah County tries to force the false religion and god of climate change on several dozen students, except one for sure, 12 year old Saige Wright. With help from her mother Amanda, Saige knew how to not only spot propaganda, but also film, and now call it out. "There's only one answer" the teacher exclaims, and that answer is "America Will Eat Bugs"... Saige is heard saying "Why can't we state our opinion on why America shouldn't be eating bugs". "We don't have any evidence to support it" says the teacher. Several students are then seen eating the crickets for "extra credit"... Saige, you are a very bold young woman and I pray you will continue to be a light to so many more who look up to your Christlike example. Liberty is a very difficult path, and you are choosing to walk down it. God bless you and your family.” Rumble "Only One Answer, America will Eat Bugs!" Amanda and Saige Wright with Eric Moutsos 3/8/23- Teacher at Spring Canyon Middle School in Utah County tries to force the false religion and god of climate change on several dozen students, except one for sure, 12 year old Saige Wright. With 60 views 16:14 Utah Parents United This is a fantastic interview with the incomparable Cari Bartholomew and Alvin Lui with Courage Is A Habit! https://youtu.be/vT0XMeu8EOY YouTube Everything You Need to Know About the Ideological Takeover of K-12 Schools with Alvin Lui Alvin Lui created the website and parent resource group COURAGE IS A HABIT after fleeing California and finding the same things happening in the Red state he moved to. In this episode Alvin and I dive deep into the umbrella of SEL and the new goals of the… 86 views 16:11 Utah Parents United We can still save the kids! Learn how Thursday, March 23rd @ 7pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83327279590?pwd=dDhqMW5SWVl3K2VqdHBJNjd1SG91UT09 52 views 00:13 Utah Parents United "The petition of the bible was in no way related to Utah Parents United. It is clear from the petition that this is a political stunt and the parent does not understand the law or the seriousness of the challenge process. None of the passages from the Bible meet the Bright Line Standard for pornographic content. Not every reference to sexual activity meets the criteria for removal from a school library. HB374 provides very clear guidelines that if there is a description or depiction of the following it is not allowed anywhere on the school grounds: -Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal -Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; -fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or pubic region The guideline is meant to provide a clear standard for what is acceptable for k-12 school libraries. The law is meant to protect children from unrestricted access to explicit sexual content in k-12 schools." ❤ 1 49 views 16:47 Utah Parents United ***Update: Fox13 News Corrected their error and emailed it out to their database. Thanks to everyone who called and asked for a correction. 54 views 00:18 Utah Parents United https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3917113-parents-bill-of-rights-5-things-to-know-about-the-house-gops-legislation/ Send a thank you to Congressman Burgess Owens, John Curtis, and Congressman Chris Stewart for reaffirming parents rights! They all voted YES to the Parents Bill of Rights. Although it won’t have traction in the Senate it sends a strong message that parents are the most important part of their child’s education and their rights must be preserved. If Blake Moore is your rep ask him why he voted N0. The Hill Parents Bill of Rights: 5 things to know about the House GOP’s legislation The Parents Bill of Rights was passed in the House on Friday in an educational policy win for Republicans that has gained steam at the state level. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Julia Letl… 67 views 23:37 Utah Parents United Send a thank you to Congressman Burgess Owens, John Curtis, and Congressman Chris Stewart for voting YES to Amendment No. 15 that stated that “the authority of the Department of Education and the Secretary of Education to operate or administer any office or program related to elementary or secondary education should be terminated on or before December 31, 2023” Unfortunately the amendment failed leaving Utah schools subject to the unconstitutional overreach of the Department of Education in our schools. If Blake Moore is your rep, reach out and ask him why he voted NO to this amendment. All four Utah reps ultimately voted YES to the Parents Bill of Rights. 64 views 18:14 Utah Parents United Please come support this event! For those of you who don’t know, Weber State is hosting Hannah-Jones, the author of the 1619 project. Woodson is coming to shine his light of faith, freedom, and truth as a counter to the harmful 1619 narrative. Please make it a priority to attend. We have an opportunity to show that most Americans still believe in the innate goodness of our nation and its founding by showing up in support. 70 views 17:41 Utah Parents United Forwarded from Utah Citizens for the Constitution - Jen Brown Here we are at the Constitution Bowl having our kids compete on their knowledge of the Constitution. These are the future leaders of our great nation. Get your kids and grandkids ready for next year. It's a chance for the teams to compete to win $500! 63 views 00:49 Utah Parents United IT IS TESTING SEASON! IS YOUR SCHOOL FOLLOWING THE LAW? Testing is NEVER MANDATORY! Print Form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VWOz2_8PnPDMgOfYymjcqmXeuAtGqZST/view The schools cannot use RISE testing as a grade, but schools can offer extra credit. If they ask your child to complete an alternate assignment or assessment instead of testing it has to be for extra credit. Their grade cannot be docked. The teacher is required to provide a learning ”activity”. That can be as simple as using the time to catch up on class work or read a book. You can also check your child out of school during testing. 73 views 18:53 Utah Parents United Has something happened in your child's school that you feel violates the law? Submit the information here: https://tinyurl.com/storyforheatmap Your information will be kept confidential. 63 views 04:11
Ivory’s newsletter refers Jordan parents to RatedBooks
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View the web page here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UTHOUSER/bulletins/35dc24c Pressing Issues Impacting Utah's Social Services Budget Unsustainable federal funds comprise 65% of Utah's Social Services budget to cover services for the most vulnerable Utahns. During our Health and Human Services Interim Committee meeting that I chair, David Walker, former head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and Admiral Bill Owens, Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed serious concerns about global and national risks federal finances due to perpetual deficit spending, escalating national debt, and the rising threat of dedollarization led by China and other nations displeased with Washington’s fiscal recklessness. A reduction in federal funds raises crucial questions for sustaining vital services for the most vulnerable Utahns. We are leading the nation in preparing for these and related to prioritize how we protect and serve the citizens of our state, in spite of federal financial folly. Capitol Protecting our Children I have been actively engaged with the Jordan School District, meeting with board members to encourage them to fully implement my HB374 Sensitive Materials policy from 2022. There are still dozens and dozens of obscene and indecent materials in JSD schools. The JSD policy that requires parents to challenge in every single school materials that have already been found to violate the obscene materials standard has to be eliminated immediately. You’re your JSD School Board Member and demand they follow HB374 and get obscene materials out of JSD Schools now! #SafeNOTSexualizedSchools Find out which obscene materials are still in JSD at RatedBooks.org or http://booklooks.org/ Children Legislator of the Year Recently, I was honored to receive the Legislator of the Year Award from the Utah Council on Victims of Crime. I believe protecting the innocent is among the first priorities of government. Having worked with so many tireless survivors, victim advocates and government and private victim services providers, this award is dedicated to all of them for the service to our community and state. It's with heartfelt gratitude to UCASA (Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault) for their amazing work that I was honored with their Sexual Assault Awareness Award. I’m committed to remain vigilant in supporting survivors and advocating for victims of crime. Awards Important Bill Signings We recently celebrated the signing of two important bills. HB244 established the Utah Commission for Victims of Crime, enhancing our commitment to support and protect victims of crime in Utah, as we continue to see federal dollars diminish. Additionally, HB247 Alcohol Amendments enacts crucial updates to alcohol regulations, to protect innocent bystanders like Eli Mitchell, and his grieving family, from the very real and inestimable damages of drunk driving. The Mitchell family turned their tragedy in triumph by channeling their grief to pass this law to protect other teenagers and families from restaurants and bars continuing to serve alcohol to patrons long after they are already intoxicated. According to law enforcement and prosecutors, HB247 will save lives! Bill signing Sustainable, Reliable Energy I’d like to highlight our efforts in advancing energy technology. I recently had a site visit to Pennsylvania to investigate an energy technology that has the promise of turning Utah’s abundant coal resources into clean burning hydrogen and high tech graphene and graphite. HB425 addresses the challenges our energy sector faces from unilateral federal mandates to shut off our affordable and reliable energy infrastructure, in the unproven and unrealistic hope that wind, solar and battery storage will provide entire state energy demands in three years. I have a bill file open for 2024 to continue to protect and advance Utah’s affordable, reliable and secure energy production, despite the federal energy mandates that are producing the same energy poverty that Germany, California and others that have mandated net zero long before the market and materials are ready, if they ever will be… Energy Special Session This past month, the Legislature convened in a special session to address the needs of the state by extending the current state of emergency and allocating funds to help mitigate the ongoing statewide flooding. You can watch the recording of this special session here. Bills passed during the special session: H.B. 1001 Emergency Response Funding H.B. 1002 Restricted Persons Amendments H.B. 1003 Firefighter Death Benefit Amendments H.J.R. 101 Joint Resolution Extending Emergency Powers for Flood Mitigation and Infrastructure Rehabilitation Special Session May Interim May interim was a success! It is always a pleasure to serve with my colleagues on our interim committees and to hear from the public about issues they care about. You can read the highlights here. June interim will be held on the 13th and 14th of this month. You can participate in person or online at le.utah.gov. Interim Memorial Day Memorial Day is a time to honor all the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. I am grateful for all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces. Thank you for your dedication and service. Memorial Day Congrats Graduates! Congratulations to the class of 2023! Whether you finished your senior year of high school or college, I commend you for your achievement and can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you. Thank You For Your Support I would like to sincerely thank you for your continued support and engagement. We have big challenges ahead for our State and our Nation. Together, we can overcome these challenges and create a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved. Ken Ivory I would love to hear from you! [contact redacted] [contact redacted] @Ken Ivory Twitter @KenIvoryUT
Stephens and Ivory publicly thank each other
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CAPTURE fb-02 — 2026-08-02, logged OUT (page text extracted beneath the login modal) Share URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17pE3e8HyW/ Resolves to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/353057099906284/permalink/847148600497129/ Group: LaVerna in the Library - Utah's Mary in the Library (id 353057099906284) Author line: Brooke Stephens · Admin · January 24, 2024 Reactions/comments/shares shown: 32 / 10 / 6 ⚠️ Person-exposure note: a comment references the poster's daughter testifying — minor; stays in this source file only, never into notes or published work. --- get_page_text, verbatim --- Utah bill HB29 aims to protect children from explicit content in schools Summarized by AI from the post below LaVerna in the Library - Utah's Mary in the Library · Join Brooke Stephens · Admin · January 24, 2024 · Thank you Ken Ivory and Gloria Vindas for doing an amazing job to get HB29 through the House Education Committee. My favorite part of the hearing was when Ken responded to the claim that a small number are deciding for the many. He simply asked the question, "How many people does it take to report a crime?" One. We don't need to identify assault in each county. A crime is a crime across the state. This bill requires three districts to identify that crime before it goes statewide, not just one. Here are my comments: "My expertise comes from working with parents in school districts across the state on "sensitive materials" for over two years. My website is RatedBooks.org and you can find links to school district policies, rated book reports, and Utah book locations there. It's been nearly 2 years since the "sensitive materials" law was passed yet there are 98 explicit book titles rated 4 or 5, which is NC17 or above, currently in Utah schools. And at least 1,190 copies of those 98 book titles. In fact, Bonneville Elementary School in Salt Lake City School District has pages of explicit descriptions of intercourse, complete with undulating, thrusting, trembling, slamming, blasting, arching, searing, releasing and groaning. This book, Empire of Storms, has been removed from 5 Utah school districts and just recently retained by a Junior High in Park City. AND it sits in an elementary school. We need this bill to protect Utah's children when districts refuse to proactively follow the law. On our spreadsheet we show locations of books across Utah that are rated NC17 or higher. Please note that we are limited in our searching as some districts have closed their search options so that we cannot search the whole district. Therefore we only have limited reports on 19 of the 42 school districts. Parents and grandparents have been and continue to be the only oversight for the 'sensitive materials' law. The fact that we do this with no funding or mandate underscores the reason why Utah code section 30-5a-103 states "that parents retain the fundamental rights and duty to exercise primary control over the care, supervision, upbringing, and education of their children. There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent's decisions are in the child's best interests." Despite UELMA's call to action asking educators to introduce themselves to legislators as the "experts," parents are the codified experts on what is appropriate for our children. Almost all the parents I have been in contact with agree that more steps must be taken, such as the statewide removal and subjective reviews that this bill introduces. Some districts have reported in interim committees that there is no problem because there are no challenges. This is a nice and happy thing to believe. But, as evidenced by our spreadsheet, it isn't true. Explicit content exists in every district that we have listed. The reason books aren't being challenged varies. Weber School District has 54 explicit titles and at least 147 separate books. Their policy requires those who challenge the books to first read the book in its entirety. This is not an equal policy as it excludes those who have a religion that counsels against reading pornography or lying about having read it. How can they honor their religion and read these books? I have had many friends who won't even look at them. Another reason books aren't being challenged is because parents don't know. Parents are accustomed to getting permission slips for PG-13 movies from schools, therefore they wrongfully assume there is nothing above a PG-13 rating in their schools. Yet these books have a rating above NC-17, which is a 5, because they contain explicit references to aberrant sexual activities such as bestiality, assault and sadomasochistic abuse. Even the descriptions of how to perform oral sex in some level 3 books are enough to violate the opt-in policy of sex ed, especially since students have no way of understanding how the HPV virus can spread and lead to throat cancer from such activities. After two years, parents still have books in their children's schools that can't be read in school board meetings. After two years, children still have books in their school that FCC regulations prohibit distribution of by the media, if they were inclined to share the truth. After two years, there are books that I have copied and pasted in an email to the district that have gotten me block. Two years is enough to see that Utah school districts need the guidance outlined in this bill. Lastly, I want to say to all of the school districts out there, your hands have never been tied. PICO has always allowed for you to weed pervasively vulgar books. Utah state code since 2007 spells out that a description or depiction of "Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; and Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or pubic region" has no serious value to minors. With this new bill, HB29, we hope to help school districts have more confidence to see their duty and the ability they've had all along, the ability to protect kids from sexually explicit content. This bill is a much needed step in the right direction. " All reactions: 32 10 comments 6 shares Like Comment Share Most relevant Lorri Higgins Thank you!! I watched the hearing this morning and you all did a great job! I was offended by Rep. Moss's question as well and thank you so much Ken Ivory for saying so and standing up for Brooke and all of us united in trying to remove these books! 2y 5 Ken Ivory Thank you Brooke Stephens, Gloria Vindas, and everyone else who have been fighting relentlessly, tenaciously to protect our children from filth and criminally indecent and pornographic content!! Brooke's sweet daughter, who also testified at the heari… See more 2y 3 Esther Mike Bennett I watched the hearing earlier today and you all rocked it! I thought it interesting and unrelated that Rep Moss thought you had a financial interest in rates books website so doesn't surprise me she voted no. It's an uphill battle and as a mom I app… See more 2y 2 View more comments 3 of 10 --- end page text --- Screenshot: fb-02-screenshot.jpg (login modal overlays; post text partially visible beneath — the Empire of Storms / "19 of the 42 school districts" paragraphs are legible under the modal).
How to protect children from explicit material | Opinion – Deseret News
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Opinion Opinion: Protecting children from explicit material shouldn’t be controversial Why are parents who are sincerely concerned about pornographic content in schools being so widely misrepresented? Published: Feb 22, 2024, 9:15 a.m. MST See More Deseret News Stories In Search View Comments Share Parent volunteer Ashley Morin reads to kindergarten students at Beehive Science and Technology Academy in Sandy on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Twelve percent of Utah school kids attend a public charter school. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News By Ken Ivory Your browser does not support the audio element. NEW: Try Article Audio NEW: Try Article Audio Audio quality: | 00:00 00:00 1.0 x 00:00 / 00:00 - 0.5x 0.6x 0.7x 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.3x 1.4x 1.5x 1.6x 1.7x 1.8x 1.9x 2.0x 2.1x 2.2x 2.3x 2.4x 2.5x 2.6x 2.7x 2.8x 2.9x 3.0x + For more than two years now, parents, community members, and legislators — awakened to the pornographic nature of some materials that remain in Utah K-12 schools — have borne a surprising amount of ridicule and scorn. Some in the media, self-declared civil liberty adherents and education leaders have vilified those of us who simply want to establish laws to protect the innocence of Utah’s children from indecent and graphic materials in K-12 schools like HB374 in 2022 and HB29 this year . Opponents of these bills raise three main arguments: First, they assert that the materials are not pornographic, or “not that bad.” Second, they insist that age-appropriate limits for children in K-12 public schools violate the First Amendment. Third, they argue that uniformly enforcing statewide the 2007 criminal standard for indecent and pornographic materials at school offends the notion of “local control.” This pains my soul. Today, it requires battle-hardened parent warriors to protect children from content, which less than a decade ago, the Utah State Board of Education, Legislature and governor all resoundingly decried as “a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms” that can “impair a changing child’s brain, social interactions, and emotional skills.” It pains my soul that today it requires these battle-hardened parents to stand against such sexualization of K-12 school children. Elected officials who protect children from this lewd and licentious content bear derision from an education establishment which is fearful or apathetic (at best) and active advocates (at worst) for “instructional materials” which cannot be quoted or displayed in this newspaper, nor in legislative or school board meetings of adults. The irony here is that these materials that aren’t fit to be printed or reviewed in the chambers where our elected officials deliberate remain in the hands of schoolchildren to this day. It pains my soul that Utah school children remain exposed to such indecent and pornographic materials, while some adult legislators block the recitation of such content seemingly to preserve the false narrative that it is “not that bad.” Adult school board members across the state also protect themselves from hearing the nature of this indecent material, while turning a deaf ear to parents who only want to protect their children from the harms it will causes. It pains my soul that Utah parents are criticized for building a website, RatedBooks.org , at their own expense, to help other parents see for themselves the obscene and indecent materials in their children’s schools. It pains my soul that despite HB374 passing in 2022 and prohibiting all sensitive materials in the school setting, school board members and superintendents frequently refuse parental pleas to protect their children. It pains my soul that the silent majority of Utah teachers and education leaders too often fear stepping forward to protect children from this material because of a loud minority that will blast them with a torrent of “tolerance.” Can it really be that so many educational professionals fear more for their jobs and standing than for protecting innocent children from exposure to the lurid descriptions and depictions of illicit sex acts that make any gathering of adults blush at the mention? Parents hold out hope that more education professionals will yet champion the safety and innocence of children over concerns about their personal reputations. It pains my soul that many organizations purporting to represent Utah teachers, Utah librarians, school boards, and superintendents oppose enforcing long-standing age-appropriate limits to protect children from such pornographic publications. Please help me understand why these education organizations are so adamant about keeping criminally indecent, vulgar materials in our children’s schools? View Comments It pains my soul for our state and nation that so many adults ignore the known harmful effects of marinating the minds of our children in a barrage of illicit sex acts which warp their sense of virtue and self-worth so foundational to self-government. In “A Letter to a Member of the National Assembly,” British statesman Edmund Burke wrote, “What is liberty without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils ... it is madness without restraint. Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. ... Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without.” Heaven help us understand why following the law and protecting children from the known evils of indecent and pornographic material became something to deride? Because it pains my soul. Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, is author of “Where’s the Line? How States Protect the Constitution.” Join the Conversation Looking for comments? Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access. 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Ivory defends the website while Stephens publishes an open letter
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Ivory defends the website while Stephens publishes an open letter
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Letter to parents from parents on explicit content in schools | Opinion – Deseret News Deseret News Deseret Magazine Church News Deseret News Deseret Magazine Print Subscriptions Newsletter Sign Up Latest Latest Politics Politics Utah Utah Sports Sports Opinion Opinion Magazine Magazine More More Sign In Register Sign In Search Go Opinion Opinion: Open letter to parents from parents on explicit content in schools Headlines about book banning continue to frame the conversation in Utah and nationally. But another underlying question rarely gets discussed: Are graphic, sexually explicit books really available in our children’s public schools? Published: Feb 22, 2024, 9:15 a.m. MST See More Deseret News Stories In Search View Comments Share Library at Tooele High School on Monday, March 20, 2023. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News By Brooke Stephens , Gloria Vindas Your browser does not support the audio element. NEW: Try Article Audio NEW: Try Article Audio Audio quality: | 00:00 00:00 1.0 x 00:00 / 00:00 - 0.5x 0.6x 0.7x 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.3x 1.4x 1.5x 1.6x 1.7x 1.8x 1.9x 2.0x 2.1x 2.2x 2.3x 2.4x 2.5x 2.6x 2.7x 2.8x 2.9x 3.0x + Editors note: The following is an open letter by a group of concerned parents in Utah and elsewhere. The views expressed here are theirs alone. Headlines about book banning continue to frame the conversation in Utah and nationally. But another underlying question rarely gets discussed: Are graphic, sexually explicit books really available in our children’s public schools? We, the undersigned parents, grandparents and community members, have taken the time to investigate the latter question. We remain astonished by what we found. The explicit passages and images we found turned our stomachs. We expected once we disclosed this content to our principals and librarians, they would immediately realize the “oversight” and these hypersexualized materials would quickly be removed. To our surprise and dismay, many explicit books remain in Utah K-12 public schools. Our research uncovered over 100 sexually explicit book titles rated 4 or 5, roughly the equivalent of the MPAA NC-17 movie rating, or higher. There are over 1,100 copies of these 100 sexually explicit book titles currently in Utah K-12 schools. For example, the online catalog for an elementary school in Salt Lake City School District has “Empire of Storms,” a book containing explicit descriptions of intercourse using adjectives such as — undulating, thrusting, trembling, slamming, blasting, arching, searing, releasing and groaning. This book, which is too indecent to be read in legislative or school board meetings of adults and which has been removed from five Utah school districts, was recently challenged and retained by a junior high school in Park City. How can we know which books are explicit? Parents across the nation have spent their own time and money to develop the website booklooks.org and www.RatedBooks.org , which reviews and rates sexually explicit books in K-12 schools Ratedbooks.org provides book reports as well as the location of these materials throughout the state. With no funding or mandate, parents have stepped forward to protect their children from sexually explicit content in their children’s schools. This underscores the reason why Utah Code section 30-5a-103 states that “parents retain the fundamental rights and duty to exercise primary control over the care, supervision, upbringing, and education of their children.” This code section further establishes the “rebuttable presumption” (something to be assumed until the evidence suggests otherwise) that “parent’s decisions are in the child’s best interests.” We agree: Utah Code acknowledges parents as the experts on what is appropriate for their children. Parents have trusted schools for many years with their child’s custodial care and education. Only recently did parents realize they needed to carefully vet the books their children were reading in classes and school libraries. Parents are accustomed to schools obtaining parental permission before exposing their children to any potentially indecent media, including PG-13 movies. Therefore, many parents wrongfully assumed their children were protected from any content above a PG-13 rating in their schools. Yet many books in school settings contain explicit sexual passages and images that violate Utah’s opt-in policy for sex education. For example, students are currently exposed to detailed instruction on various sexual acts, including with multiple partners, etc. through library and classroom books without any parental permission, warnings or preventative education on sexually transmitted diseases. This is dangerous, irresponsible, and unlawful. Some say that sexually explicit books are “healing” for survivors of sexual abuse. Medical and mental health professionals pledge to first “do no harm” because they understand the potential harm of an improper, “one size fits all” remedy such as kidney surgery for a stomach ache. It is both unprofessional and unethical for schools to provide explicit sexual content, claiming it could help heal some of the children. First, schools have no license to heal undiagnosed mental, emotional or sexual maladies. Second, their distribution of sexualized content is indiscriminate. Schools make graphically explicit content equally available to innocents who feel shame and embarrassment, to those struggling with pornography addiction, and to those who have suffered abuse and may be triggered to the point of trauma and public embarrassment. Explicit content should not be distributed by schools to “heal.” Even though our message is simple — x-rated content remains in Utah public schools —many focus on distracting and false arguments. Here are some examples. False argument No. 1: You hate teachers and librarians Nothing could be further from the truth. Our goal is to protect our children, teachers and librarians from explicit sexual content. This content is extremely harmful; it creates addictive pathways in children’s developing brains. There are explicit descriptions of sexual assault that trigger survivors and are too heavy for the innocent to carry. A plethora of research confirms that indecent and pornographic material can cause girls to be afraid of being female, and paints a negative view of sex for many who have yet to experience the blessings of healthy and committed intimacy. Librarians and media specialists often don’t have time to fully vet every book requested by teachers or students, or given to them by distributors. Parents are showing up to help by reading and rating the content. Parents, teachers and librarians can work together to make it safe for all children so they don’t unwittingly stumble upon sexually explicit content, which is prohibited from school settings by law. Nothing in the Constitution, the First Amendment, or Utah law, prevents librarians and school officials from refusing to acquire or from weeding out and protecting children from pervasively vulgar books. False argument No. 2: You want to silence minority voices and authors Also not true. As parents who have challenged books in Utah, we have suggested books with minority authors and characters to replace sexually explicit books so minority voices remain represented. Out of curiosity, one parent went through our list of explicit books to see if users on GoodReads had tagged books with LGBTQ, race or racism as a major or even minor theme. Less than one-third of the books had such tags. Utah sensitive materials law doesn’t mention race or sexual orientation, nor would a discreet reference to sex qualify for removal. The governing code, in 76-10-1227, states that materials containing a “description or depiction of illicit sex or sexual immorality,” which is defined as “human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy; and Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or pubic region” have no value for minors. This means such materials are indecent per se, they do not need to be reviewed as a whole for serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. False argument No. 3: You are destroying freedom of speech The First Amendment protects lawful speech, not vulgar content declared to have no value to minors. Our society already rates media, such as movies, music, video games and TV. There is no public outcry that movie ratings destroy freedom of speech, because parental guidance is publicly accepted. In a parents’ rights state such as Utah, taxpayer funded schools have no legal right to override parental discretion with criminally indecent and pornographic books. False argument No. 4: You don’t want history taught Many books do a thorough job of teaching history without explicit sex scenes. In fact, most books that teach history do not have explicit sex scenes. These are some of the arguments put forth to distract from the primary parental concern that sexually explicit books are available to our children in K-12 public schools. It appears that these false arguments have arisen from a May 21, 2020, webinar by the American Library Association. The association’s legal counsel, Deborah Caldwell Stone stated, “We (need) ... sustained messaging that reframes this issue that takes it away from the idea that these are ... sexually inappropriate for minors and promote them as diverse materials and programming that are about inclusion, fairness and the protection of everybody’s right to see themselves.” Since that webinar almost four years ago, the American Library Association has vigorously defended against the removal of sexually explicit books by giving awards, creating favored book lists, and conducting seminars on how to defend against parents seeking to protect their children from such materials. They have convinced far too many people that this issue is about the “freedom to read,” and “diversity, equity and inclusion.” Such campaigns only regurgitate the false and propagandized arguments listed above. We want our children to have the freedom to read and learn without being unwittingly assaulted by graphic, sexualized, and unlawful content. Porn is a billion dollar industry. Let’s not support it in our schools. Our concern, as parents, grandparents and citizens, is solely to protect our children and grandchildren from sexually explicit content in K-12 public schools. Many schools and districts are relying on parental reviews and challenges to remove explicit books. Please see for yourself how sexually explicit and indecent these materials are at www.RatedBooks.org . Then, please join us in keeping our children safe by challenging these explicit books. This op-ed has also been signed by: Aaron Pace Aaron Stephens Aaron Bullen Adam Jensen Al & Juleen Jackson Alecia Williams Alena Ericksen Alexis Ence Allyson Fox Amy Clark Amy Mackey Amy Ward Andrea Ni Andrea Stringfellow Andrew and Suzette Jackson Andy and Kellie Wheeler Angie Martin Angie McFarland Anjalee Taylor Ann Marie Kenny Anna and Dane Jensen Anne Marie Oborn AnneMarie Skudlarek April Love April Reese Ashley Thomas Ashley Thomas Ashlynn Goodrich Aubree Argyle Aubrey Smith Audrey Sill Audrey Wright Barbara Derricott Becky Hope Ben Shill Ben Shill Ben Smith Berean Baptist Church Ogden UT Bernadette Brockman Beverly Crangle Bill Clark Bill Marek Bill Marshall PhD Bob McEntee Bobby Woods Bonnie Ellis Brad Hardle Brak Carman Braydon Eaves Brent and Angela Tenney Brent and Kristin Harman Brent and Mindy Maxwell Brent Kenney Bret Cutler Brian Ellis Bridget Hill Brigette Middleton Brinda Slaughter Brinlee Mackay Bruce & Marilyn Light Bruno De Backer Bryan and Fayelynn McKenna Bryon and Becca Wheeler Bryton Nield Cameron Hardy Camile Jackson Morris Cari Bartholomew Carly Hone Carol Ellis Carol Virgin Carolina Rodrigues Carolyn Phippen Carson Black Cecil J Thomas Chad Kartchner Charlie Boykin Chelcie Hope Chelsea Tanner Cheri Sparks Christi Nield Christina Boggess Christina Marshall PhD Christy Ellis Clint Mason Cole Kelly Cole Townsend Colette Pehrson Cordel Andersen Corinne Johnson Courtney Sosa Craig and Peggy Foster Craig Black Creed Haymond Cullen Kepoo Dalane Meeks England Dan Boyack Dana Brust Daniel Davidson Daniel Hill Dave Coates David Eaves David Ellis Deanne Brown Debbie Norris Denis Carman Destry Griffiths Diana Hardy Diane Anderson Diane Livingston Diane Zundel Don Guymon Doug Knight Dr. Jan Eyring Elisabeth Theurer Emily Boykin Emily Hill Emily Knight Green Emily Powell Emma Banks Enoch Moore Eric and Carolee Hogan Erika Hodges Erin Longacre Esther Bennett Esther Olschewski Evelyn Downing Gabriela Puckett Gavin Rich Gayle Ruzicka Gaylynn Mauss Gillian Wain Gina Worthen Greg and Nancy Wolfley Greg Duerden Gustavo Dutson Guy Mackey Hailey and Nick Foster Hannah Eaves Hannah Mackay Heather and Dan Hardle Heidi and Matt Mclelland Helen Kepoo Helen Robson Henry Fox Holly Daze Holly Daze Holly Sweeten Jacob Fox Jacob Menke Jade Hardle Jaime Munns Jaime Renda Jaime Wadman Jake and Bree Earl JaKell Sullivan James and Mindy Madsen James Phelps Janet Lindquist Janice Leglar Jeanette Coats Jeff and Heidi Reeve Jeff and Jennifer Meyers Jeff McClellan Jen Brown Jen Chamberlain Jen Savage Jenn Dredge Jenn Eaves Jenna Hartman Jennie Rich Jennifer Kartchner Jeremy and Jessica Farnsworth Jesse Cicon Jessica and Thiago Bianco Jodi Barney Joe and Jackie ChuShing Joe Kepoo John and Taressa Earl Jon Soldan Jonas Rodrigues Joseph and Isabel Stringham Josie Abatti Joyce Clifton Chuck Clifton Juan Valladares Julie Ann Curtis Julie Behling Julie Laub Julie Vario Kalin Davidson Kami Merrill Karen Layton Karlan Ewell Kathy Pratchett Katie Ellis Keith 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Cox signs HB29 and its statewide removal process
Source details
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}About Us | Protect Child Health Coalition
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About Us Who We Are The Protect Child Health Coalition (PCHC) is a network of concerned citizens, parents, professionals, leaders, and organizations representing the fields of law, academia, mental and physical health, politics, religion, government and more who believe that all children should be protected from harmful materials, especially pornographic, obscene, or erotic materials. We are a nonpartisan coalition that welcomes people of all faiths (and of no faith) who have an interest in protecting the health and innocence of children. We oppose all efforts to advance autonomous sexual rights for children and believe that children have a right to a childhood, free from political, sexual, or other adult agendas. We believe that the family and parents are the ultimate guardians of their children and that the rights of parents to guide the upbringing of their children and to guide their education in all matters are inalienable. [i] The Protect Child Health Coalition is facilitated by Family Watch International (FWI) and directed by a rotating leadership of co-chairs representing various organizations working to stop CSE in the U.S. and abroad. Our Mission To empower individuals, organizations, and policymakers with the knowledge, resources, and tools they need to protect the health and innocence of children worldwide. Our Objectives We accomplish our mission by: Exposing the harmful content of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programs and materials and the entities behind the CSE movement. ADD and any other programs and materials that are harmful to children of minor age. Stopping the indoctrination and sexualization of children of all ages through widespread school- and community-based CSE programs. Protecting the rights of parents and guardians to decide the optimal sexual health messages for their children. Repealing obscenity exemption laws that enable adults to show obscene materials to children in the name of science or education. Opposing the lowering of age of sexual consent laws Promoting child-protection anti-pornography initiatives Equipping families, community leaders and policymakers with the best available research, strategies, and tools to fight harmful policies and curricula. Guiding families, community leaders and policymakers to better sex-ed alternatives such as sexual risk avoidance curricula and/or abstinence outside of marriage curricula. We work as a coalition to support the efforts of all of our coalition members in their home states and countries. Films Exposing the Agenda FWI has produced two excellent videos that provide a quick, but thorough, overview of the harmful comprehensive sexuality education agenda. “ The War on Children ” – This documentary provides a revealing overview on how CSE is being promoted in the United States and around the world. Several of our PCHC colleagues featured in the film expose the harmful content of CSE programs, and explain the money, agenda, and organizations behind the CSE movement, and how this agenda is infiltrating countries across the world and every state in the U.S. “ The International Politics of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity ” – This video features the presentation by Family Watch International president, Sharon Slater, at the December 2017 annual conference of the Alliance for Scientific Integrity and Therapeutic Choice (formerly known as NARTH), where she discusses the forces at play in sexualizing our children and promoting the radical sexual rights agenda. She shares why this is so harmful to our children and some ideas for what can be done to protect them. [i] Only in rare cases, where extreme parental abuse is documented should the right of a parent ever be severed. Create Member Login Create your PCHC member login to access member-exclusive content. [ultimatemember form_id=202]
Campaign disclosure: Brooke Stephens
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The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ - PEN America
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The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ Banned Books U.S. Free Expression The State of Book Bans Madison Markham , Samantha LaFrance August 22, 2024 Share The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ to Facebook Facebook Share The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ to X X Share The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ to Threads Threads Share The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ to LinkedIn LinkedIn Copy The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ to clipboard Copy Link https://pen.org/the-state-of-book-bans-utahs-no-read-list/ Event URL copied to clipboard Laura Benitez contributed research to this blog post. Earlier this month, Utah’s State Board of Education released a list of 13 books to be banned in every public school across the state. The “No-Read List” list includes popular titles such as Forever… by Judy Blume, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. The list was a result of the state’s HB 29, which was signed into law in March despite public outcry and persistent campaigning from librarians, teachers, students, public school advocates, and free expression experts, including PEN America . The law has now opened the floodgates for mass bans across Utah, and also requires schools to “dispose” of any banned books from their libraries. HB 29 created an environment of fear across Utah schools. But even before the law came into effect, schools were already pulling books from shelves. The 101 on HB 29 HB 29 is one of the most extreme book banning laws currently in effect. The law mandates statewide bans, and has resulted in the first instance of a state releasing an official list of books that are illegal to stock on school shelves. The law builds on 2022’s HB 374 , aka the “Sensitive Materials in Schools” Act. HB 374 banned so-called “sensitive materials” from public schools, which it defined as “indecent or pornographic” materials under existing state statute. The law caused school book bans in Utah to jump from just 12 in the 2021-2022 school year to 281 the next; it was used to justify the bans of popular titles like Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. Even that wasn’t enough for legislators: the bill’s author, Utah’s Rep. Ken Ivory (R), said that this year’s HB 29 was needed to bring clarity to school districts and “uniformity across the state.” The bill also adds extreme new measures–and still contains unclear language. Utah has 41 school districts and more than 100 charter schools. Under HB 29, a book that is banned for containing “objective sensitive material” at three school districts (or two districts plus 5 charter schools), will be subject to removal across the other 39 districts and every charter school, affecting over 670,000 public school students. In other words, once less than 10% of districts deem a book “objective sensitive material,” the law makes it illegal for all public schools to stock it. In effect, HB 29 marks the end of local control over what kind of books are in a school library. HB 29 has created a muddled set of definitions in an attempt to create a “ bright line ” between “objective” and “subjective” sensitive materials. “Objective” sensitive materials that meet the three-district threshold are banned statewide through Utah’s “No-Read List,” but “subjective” sensitive materials can be banned locally without triggering the statewide process. However, the allegedly “bright line” simply adds more confusion: the definitions are both too vague and highly specific, and they also overlap. To clarify the new rules for school districts, the Utah Board of Education has distributed a questionnaire. According to the law, if someone, like a parent or a student, plausibly alleges that a book is “sensitive,” it must be immediately removed from shelves pending investigation, counter to best practices. Then, the questionnaire is used to determine if the book is an “objective” sensitive material by asking if it contains a depiction or description of at least one of the following: 1) “human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal” 2) “acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy” and/or 3) “fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or [the] pubic region.” The questionnaire is reflective of a decision flowchart created by the Board of Education that further tries to clarify the standards. However, the confusion between what is “objective” versus “subjective” lies in the overlap. Both “subjective” and “objective” categories, for example, encompass materials that are “ pornographic or indecent material” or “ harmful to minors ” under state statute. According to the flowchart, something should be considered “subjective” only if it does not fall into one of the three “objective” categories above, but still contains some level of sexual content and “when taken as a whole, has no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.” But this contradicts other portions of the bill. The law attempts to have its cake and eat it too: it allows districts to determine the literary value of a “subjective” sensitive material, but it also explicitly instructs districts to “prioritize protecting children from the harmful effects of illicit pornography over other considerations in evaluating instructional material.” By prioritizing banning the undefined “illicit pornography” at all costs, librarians are discouraged from judging works on their literary merit, just their sex-related content. Community members can also report a district to the state if they fail to properly navigate the new rules, and the state will audit districts for compliance by 2028. Further, in November, the state’s legislative counsel said that , “regardless of whether the board takes a vote and determines that something … doesn’t violate these pornography standards, that doesn’t foreclose the possibility that a prosecutor could bring charges against someone.” This law, with its unclear definitions and looming threat of enforcement, is a recipe for overcompliance. Targeting of sexual content The law goes above and beyond to remove sex-related content from libraries without concern for the overall value of the work; in fact, the law attempts to justify itself with an existing statute that says any “description or depiction of illicit sex or sexual immorality,” including the type found in its definition of “objective” sensitive material, has “no serious value for minors.” This is an attempt to circumvent the existing standards for obscenity, known as the Miller test . This standard, a version of which has been adopted by most states–including Utah–in their definitions of what is obscene , harmful to minors , or pornographic , allows for books and art to contain sex-related material and nudity without being censored. Take, for instance, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut or The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – both of which contain sexual content but neither of which could be construed as pornographic (although both have nevertheless been banned in schools across the country). Utah legislators’ zeal to “protect youth from the public health crisis of pornography” functionally requires districts to overcorrect and ban any sex-related content whatsoever. The tool is a blunt one; definitions of “sensitive materials” and thus “pornography” are expanded to include nudity, sexual content, and even sexual violence. In wholly defining this content as “pornography,” HB 29 threatens to ban swaths of literature – including some that may be a lifeline to students experiencing abuse. All 13 of the books banned statewide in Utah thus far include descriptions or mentions of consent, healthy and unhealthy relationships, sexual violence, or abuse. The state of Utah has argued that their efforts will protect students from “exploitation.” But as authors and experts on sexual violence have testified, books for young people that feature or discuss sexual assault can, and are often designed to, help young people recognize dangerous situations, know when to reach out for help, or cope with trauma. Nevertheless, such titles are ripe to be banned in Utah under HB 29. How we got here This law, like HB 374, comes after years of advocacy from “parental rights” advocates in Utah. Utah Parents United , a well-funded advocacy group and PAC , has led the charge for the “parental rights” movement in Utah. They have been active in their push against sexually explicit content, including by developing a resource called LaVerna in the Library to support those seeking to ban books. Utah Parents United has been linked to multiple book bans in recent years. In January, Rep. Ivory reposted Utah Parents United on Facebook . The group endorsed HB 29, and upon its signing in March, announced to its Facebook audience: “This is fantastic news as there is absolutely no reason not to support this bill.” By allowing five charter schools to substitute one district in meeting the threshold of district bans, the state also opens the doors for charter schools to impose decisions on all public schools in the state, as long as two public districts also ban a certain book. Charter schools have different oversight systems than public schools and some have explicitly ideological missions or values. The executive director of a prominent charter school chain in Utah, for example, explained her approach: “I’m hoping to indoctrinate using truth and data. That Marxism and Socialism and Communism are bad and the free market is good. And we are unequivocal about that.” Despite the difference in how they operate, under HB 29, decisions made at charter schools have the potential to influence what books remain on public school shelves. More book bans on the horizon HB 29 has resulted in the statewide ban of 13 titles, but more will undoubtedly be announced as they reach the thresholds detailed in the law: an official FAQ about the law’s rollout has described it as an “ongoing process.” As districts grapple with the finer points of the law and vague threats from some legislators of criminal liability , the impact is already being felt. Ellen Hopkins, whose books Tilt and Fallout were among of the banned 13 titles, has described the “overwhelming” impact of her work being banned, and says that her work has always been about reaching students in need. “At the end of my books, there are resources for readers to go get help for the things that I’m writing about. So for me, my goal has always been to help young people make better choices,” Hopkins said. In a state where more than 14% of high schoolers have reported experiencing sexual violence, these resources are invaluable. Under HB 29, those resources are now unavailable at public schools. Stories that could help students navigate unhealthy relationships, sexual violence, and other difficult experiences have been made illegal in a misguided quest to vanquish all sex-related content in books, making the library a less supportive place for students across Utah. The full list of banned titles as of publication is below: What Girls are Made of by Elana K. Arnold Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Forever by Judy Blume Tilt by Ellen Hopkins Fallout by Ellen Hopkins Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas Blankets by Craig Thompson To support advocacy against book bans in Utah, visit Let Utah Read . Up Next Banned Books Local no longer: 4 new laws and policies bring book banning to the state level Monday July 29 Samantha LaFrance Read More Banned Books “Thank you for not giving up on Florida”: A rallying cry at the Unified Voices Summit in Orlando Monday July 22 Andrew White Read More Banned Books The State of Book Bans: Wisconsin’s Battle with “Parental Rights” Thursday July 18 Madison Markham , Tasslyn Magnusson Read More Banned Books Celebrating the Right to Read: Bestselling Authors Stand Up to Censorship Friday June 14 Lisa Tolin Read More U.S. Free Expression The State of Book Bans: South Carolina Is Poised to Get Worse Friday May 10 Madison Markham Read More Banned Books Book Banners Take the Fight to Public Libraries Tuesday May 7 Tasslyn Magnusson Read More U.S. Free Expression A Mississippi Teacher was Terminated for Reading a Book. Time to Reverse that Decision. Thursday April 11 Jonathan Friedman Read More Banned Books Letter to Members of the School Board of Dorchester School District Two Tuesday March 19 Read More U.S. Free Expression Three new bills that threaten the freedom to read Friday March 1 Samantha LaFrance Read More Banned Books The Discriminatory Impact Of Book Bans And Educational Gag Orders On LGBTQ+ Expression Wednesday February 14 Read More Banned Books More than 50 Books Removed from Rockingham County, Virginia, Schools Tuesday February 13 Read More Banned Books ‘The Color Purple’ and 30 Other Banned and Challenged Books You Should Be Watching Thursday February 1 Lisa Tolin Read More View All
13 sexually explicit books are removed from public school libraries
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source: https://web.archive.org/web/20240913224550id_/https://myemail.constantcontact.com/13-sexually-explicit-books-are-removed-from-public-school-libraries-.html?soid=1134752996925&aid=vFBoMfcAcl0 13 sexually explicit books are removed from public school libraries! A major win for Utah families! Utah School Board Removes 13 Sexually Expilicit Books! A major win for Utah kid's safety and well-being! The Utah State School Board has made history by announcing the removal of 13 book titles that contain illicit, illegal, sexually pornographic content from every public school in the state. This is not just a partial victory; it’s a sweeping change that ensures these harmful materials are eliminated from all schools across Utah, protecting every single child from exposure to inappropriate content. The removed titles include: “Blankets” by Craig Thompson “A Court of Frost and Starlight” by Sarah J. Maas “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas “A Court of Silver Flames” by Sarah J. Maas “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas “Fallout” by Ellen Hopkins “Forever” by Judy Blume “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur “Oryx & Crake” by Margaret Atwood “Tilt” by Ellen Hopkins “What Girls Are Made Of” by Elana K. Arnold This win is the result of tireless efforts and legislative action. We extend our deepest gratitude to Representative Ken Ivory, who sponsored the bill in the House, Senate sponsor Todd Weiler, and the entire state legislature for passing HB 29 this year and HB 374 two years ago, which made this crucial process possible. For parents concerned about the content in their children's school libraries, visit ratedbooks.org to find out more about sexually explicit books in public schools. All non-academic sureys now OPT-IN! This year, when you register your child for school, you'll notice a significant change in school surveys thanks to Representative Karianne Lisonbee and HB182 , which was passed earlier this year. All non-academic surveys must now be opt-in, and schools are required to fully disclose the surveys they'll be giving to your student, along with examples of the questions. You will have the option to choose whether or not your child will participate in these surveys. This is a fantastic change from the previous system, where schools could issue surveys at any time, and you had to go through the process of opting out. Now, everything is fully disclosed upfront during registration. Keep an eye out for these important options when you register your child! The Pronoun Question We are receiving reports that teachers are asking students for their pronouns! 💥This is against the law.💥 Several years ago, State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson issued a directive reminding educators that asking about gender identity or sexuality, including questions about pronouns, does not comply with federal and state statutes. While teachers' efforts to build relationships with students are commendable, they must adhere to state laws that protect parents' rights. Educators should focus on sending questionnaires home to parents, allowing them to share information about their children. Know the Law According to Utah state code 53E-9-203 , educators cannot ask about: Political affiliations or, except as provided under Section 53G-10-202 or rules of the state board, political philosophies Mental or psychological problems Sexual behavior, orientation, gender identity, or attitudes Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior Critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student or family member has close family relationships Religious affiliations or beliefs Legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those with lawyers, medical personnel, or ministers; and Income, except as required by law. 53G-10-202 also mandates that school officials and employees cannot use their positions to endorse, promote, or disparage any religious or secular belief or viewpoint. If you encounter any incidents, report them to Utah Parents United using this form . For more information, refer to the links provided and ensure that educators are following the law. Report incident here Parents can claim an exemption from immunization for medical, religious, or personal reasons under Section 53G-9-303 of the Utah State Code. Additionally, parents can submit an exemption if they choose not to provide their child’s vaccine information to the school . Here’s how to do it: Complete the Online Immunization Education Module: The legally responsible individual must complete the online immunization education module to receive the exemption form. You can access the module here . Upon completion, you will be provided with a vaccination exemption form. Alternative Option: In-Person Consultation: If you prefer not to take the online education module, you can obtain a vaccination exemption form by visiting your local health department and receiving an in-person consultation. (53G-9-304) Provide the Exemption Form to Your Child’s School: After obtaining the vaccination exemption form, submit it to your child's school. How long is the exemption form valid? The exemption form is valid for as long as your child remains at the school where it was first submitted. Forms obtained through the online education module are valid for at least two years. Access exemption module UPCOMING EVENTS Attend the first annual Education Innovators Summit to support the vision of customized, independent education. Meet local microschool founders and enjoy a fun-filled day! They will have Food Trucks, Children’s Entrepreneur Market, School Info Booths, and Prizes to give away. Free to attend, food and marketplace items available for purchase. Get tickets More information Utah Parents United is a proud sponsor of your health Your Health Freedom Utah Awards Gala and Fundraiser! September 27, 2024, 6-9 PM Ashton Gardens in Lehi Your Health Freedom Utah is the leading health freedom organization in Utah. They have worked tirelessly side-by-side with parents to educate and empower individuals to make informed health decisions and claim their right to buy and sell products and services that build health and wellness; to protect our personal information from being collected in data lakes, and promote technologies that put security and privacy first; and to educate and assist policy makers in the formulation of sound health policy, rules, and law. Get tickets here Register Here Form link Utah Parents United is a 501c4 non-profit organization and contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes Paid for by Utah Parents United Utah Parents United | North Salt Lake | North Salt Lake, UT 84054 US Unsubscribe | Constant Contact Data Notice
Moms for America Announces New Utah Team and Hosts Utah Summit
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News News Moms for America Announces New Utah Team and Hosts Utah Summit Share News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Moms for America Announces New Utah Team and Hosts Utah Summit 23 October 2024 Rep. Burgess Owens to address influential group of moms American Fork, UT – Moms for America, a national network of over half a million moms representing all 50 states, is hosting a Utah Summit at which they will introduce their new Utah Leadership Team. Moms for America has been active in Utah since 2010, and the group has been growing at a rapid pace in recent years as Utah moms unite to resist cultural decline. WHO: Rep. Burgess Owens Kimberly Fletcher, Founder and CEO of Moms for America Juleen Jackson, Cottage Meetings Senior Instructor Gayle Ruzicka, President of Utah Eagle Forum Kelly Kohls, Director of the National School Board Leadership Council Ellen Wheeler, Emmy Award Winning Actor and Producer Nicholeen Peck, International Mom Mentor WHAT: Moms for America Utah Summit WHEN: Thursday, October 24 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. MT WHERE: Calvary Mountain View Church 340 E State St. American Fork, UT 84003 The Summit will feature sessions on raising patriotic kids, school board engagement, turning out the Mom Vote in 2024, and more. During the summit, Moms for America will introduce its new Utah Leadership Team with Robin Young serving as State Liaison, Cari Bartholomew as State Director, Brooke Stephens as Civic Engagement Director, Ana Benson as Hispanic Outreach Director, and Peggy Hanton as Administrator. Following the summit, Moms for America is also hosting a state representative meet and greet from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION , VISIT https://utahmomsforamerica.com/ TO REGISTER FOR MEDIA CREDENTIALS , EMAIL [contact redacted] Founded in 2004, Moms for America is a national, non-profit 501c3 educational corporation rooted on the principles of liberty and virtue our nation was founded on, and focused on promoting these principles, values, and virtues in the home and family, particularly through the women and mothers of America. To learn more about Moms for America, please visit momsforamerica.us. You can follow MFA on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . ######### Download as PDF DOCX Share Related Stories News CA Mom Causes National Uproar by Praying at City Council Meeting 25 March 2025 Moms speak out against effort to make Ventura schools a “sanctuary” for transgender children 25 March 2025 News Moms Cheer Abolition of Education Department 20 March 2025 Fletcher: “Today, we’re celebrating a giant step toward the more perfect union that our founders envisioned.” 20 March 2025 News Congress Takes Up ‘Declaration of Mothers’ as Lawmakers Fight to Restore Traditional Values 10 March 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10 March 2025 News Mom-Endorsed Cabinet Nominees Cruise Through Confirmation 20 February 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 February 2025
Source references
Research source references
Cari describes her school-book advocacy and substitute teaching Two Julie Behling video excerpts show Cari Bartholomew describing her school-book advocacy and saying she started substitute teaching.
Cari describes her school-book advocacy and substitute teaching
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}Cari describes her school-book advocacy and substitute teaching
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"description": "In this video segment, learn how Cari Bartholomew, Brooke Stephens, and Erika Hodges each began to get involved in advocating for a return to sanity in their local and state schools and began pushing back against harmful Marxist agendas.\n \nFollow Cari Bartholomew at @CarobMarcelle, https://x.com/carobmarcelle, https://www.instagram.com/utahmomsforamerica/, https://www.instagram.com/carob_marcelle/, Moms for America, Utah - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565971994092\n\nFollow Brooke Stephens' work at https://RatedBooks.org \n\nInterviewed July 2024 by Julie Behling\n\nStream \"Beneath Sheep's Clothing\" online, get DVD's and extended footage - https://beneathsheepsclothing.movie\n\nGet the book \"Beneath Sheep's Clothing - The Communist Takeover of Culture in the USSR & Parallels in Today's America\" - https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Sheeps-Clothing-Communist-Parallels/dp/0578265850/\n\nWatch All Video Segments on Parents Pushing Back Against Marxism in the Schools -\nHow Three Parents Got Their Start Pushing Against Marxism in the Schools - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSqKdjl0L4\nDraw Your Line in the Sand - Pushing Back Against the Agendas in the Schools - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucNIXoN6FVg\nThe Importance for Parents to Speak the Truth About the Ideologies Infecting our Schools - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQb3j1VdU2M\nConservative Parent Activists - The Importance of Linking Arms with Like-Minded People - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WSH2-NX_Es\nConservative Parent Activists - the Hazards of the Job - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ0FoJRH-3M\nCalling on Divine Help - Parents Getting Marxist Ideologies Out of the Schools - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfzXHLZh1m8\nMore Tips for Parents in Combating Dangerous Ideologies in our Schools & Society - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZg0qpVgUzY\nTips for Creating Change with School Board Meetings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWjIPvjQeoE",
"duration": 356
}Brown reports Ivory wanted specific books examined in the audit
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"text": "As far as the audit goes, apparently they only audited the process but not the specific books. That wasn't exactly what Rep Ivory was hoping for, but yesterday when the audit was presented Mike Schultz and Stuart Adams were both very strong and said they want the audit to continue so they can assess the actual books. Rep Ivory was pleased with that and wants us to thank them. That would be a good talking point for next week.",
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]Book-club excerpt discusses banning, shelves and burning
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Book-club excerpt discusses banning, shelves and burning A preserved book-club excerpt discusses book banning through a distinction involving shelf availability and burning. Cari and Brooke discuss classics and Dr. Seuss The interview includes a discussion of libraries, classics and alleged restrictions on Dr. Seuss sales. Cari and Christine discuss banned-book displays Cari Bartholomew and Christine Sefein Wolk discuss banned-book displays and American classics in a preserved book-club excerpt.
The Normalization of Book Banning - PEN America
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The Normalization of Book Banning Banned in the USA, 2024-2025 The Normalization of Book Banning October 1, 2025 Share The Normalization of Book Banning to Facebook Facebook Share The Normalization of Book Banning to X X Share The Normalization of Book Banning to Threads Threads Share The Normalization of Book Banning to LinkedIn LinkedIn Copy The Normalization of Book Banning to clipboard Copy Link https://pen.org/report/the-normalization-of-book-banning/ Event URL copied to clipboard Home / Reports / The Normalization of Book Banning PEN America Experts: Sabrina Baêta Senior Program Manager, Freedom to Read Tasslyn Magnusson Senior Advisor, Freedom to Read Madison Markham Program Coordinator, Freedom to Read Kasey Meehan Director, Freedom to Read Yuliana Tamayo Latorre Program Assistant, Freedom to Read Introduction In 2025, book censorship in the United States is rampant and common. Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been systematically removed from school libraries across the country. Never before have so many states passed laws or regulations to facilitate the banning of books, including bans on specific titles statewide. Never before have so many politicians sought to bully school leaders into censoring according to their ideological preferences, even threatening public funding to exact compliance. Never before has access to so many stories been stolen from so many children. The book bans that have accumulated in the past four years are unprecedented and undeniable. This report looks back at the 2024-2025 school year – the fourth school year in the contemporary campaign to ban books – and illustrates the continued attacks on books, stories, identities, and histories. This report offers a window into the complex and extensive climate of censorship between July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Our reporting on book bans remains a bellwether of a larger campaign to restrict and control education and public narratives, wreaking havoc on our public schools and democracy. The State of Book Bans Two things help us make sense of the world – information and stories. Both explain, describe, and give language to the world we encounter. It is not a surprise then that banning books is a way of erasing stories, identities, experiences, and peoples and reshaping understandings of the past. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop warns : “When children cannot find themselves reflected in the books they read, or when the images they see are distorted, negative, or laughable, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in the society of which they are a part.” Stories tell us who we are and who we can become. This right – the right to discover – is being taken from students under the guise of their “protection.” Over the past four years, a misleading campaign to “protect children” alongside advocacy for “parental rights” has been weaponized to diminish students’ First Amendment rights in schools, sow distrust in librarians and educators, and diminish the ability of authors and illustrators to connect with their intended audiences. In this upside down world, any rights of young people as students are somehow subservient to the absolute rights of their parents. In 2022, we cautioned that book bans and related threats to free expression and the First Amendment should not be ignored; that this assault on students’ freedom to read is a slippery slope; and that state censorship of this nature, once unleashed, would snowball. Today, that escalation is no longer hypothetical. For many students, families, educators, librarians, and school districts, book banning is a new normal. This change didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t a fluke of history. National and local groups touting extreme conservative views have played on parents’ fears and anxieties to exert ideological control over public education across the United States using consistent and coordinated tactics. These groups’ efforts have catalyzed censorial trends and a full-blown attack on public schools and democracy. This “ Ed Scare ,” as PEN America has termed it, has produced changes at the local, state – and increasingly, federal – levels at a frighteningly rapid pace, resulting in new policies that not only diminish students’ right to read and learn, but also take away protections for educators and librarians. Together, these trends are having a profound impact on the literary community and the country at large. As a result of these groups and their political allies, book censorship in schools has reached a new apex, now becoming a routine and expected part of school operations, particularly in states like Florida , Texas , and Tennessee . And it is being anticipated on the horizon for educators and families in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota. While we explore the specific trends that have led us to this escalated climate of censorship in this report, it is important to remember the big picture. These attacks on students’ rights and educational institutions are the symptoms of a much larger disease: the dismantling of public education and a backsliding democracy. What is a School Book Ban? PEN America defines a school book ban as any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct or threatened action by governmental officials, that leads to a book being either completely removed from availability to students, or where access to a book is restricted or diminished. Accessibility forms the core of PEN America’s definition of a school book ban and emphasizes the multiple ways book bans infringe on the rights of students, professional educators, and authors. It is important to recognize that books available in schools, whether in a school or classroom library or as part of a curriculum, were selected by librarians and educators as part of the educational offerings to students. Book bans occur when those choices are overridden by school boards, administrators, teachers, or even politicians on the basis of a particular book’s content. For the 2024-25 school year, we recorded three types of school book bans: “banned,” which includes books that have been completely prohibited; “banned pending investigation,” which includes books that are pending a review to determine what restrictions, if any, to implement on them; and “banned by restriction,” which includes grade-level or school-level restrictions or books that require parental permissions. For more details, please visit PEN America’s Methodology and Frequently Asked Questions on book bans. You can also visit our prior reports on book bans released in April 2022 , September 2022 , April 2023 , December 2023 , September 2024 , and November 2024 . Key Trends from the 2024-2025 School Year In the fourth year of book bans, several key trends stood out this year: Federal efforts to restrict education use rhetoric from state and local efforts to ban books. In 2025, a new vector of book banning pressure has appeared – the federal government. Since returning to office, the Trump Administration has mimicked rhetoric about “parents’ rights”, which, in Florida and other states, has largely been used to advance book bans and censorship of schools, against the wishes of many parents, students, families, and educators. Under the guise of “ returning education to parents ,” President Trump has released a series of Executive Orders (EOs) mainly: “ Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling ,” “ Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism ,” and “ Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing .” Although none of these EOs take a direct aim at books, they were used as justification for the July 2025 removal of almost 600 books from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools on military bases. In restricting discussion of transgender people and diversity, equity, and inclusion and barring schools from “promoting un-American ideas,” books like ABC of Equality by Chana Ewing or several volumes from the series Heartstopper by Alice Oseman were removed from access. Students and their families responded by suing . In addition to the efforts from the White House, the U.S. Department of Education declared book bans “a hoax ,” parroting language from state leaders like Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis . The Department removed a federal position within the Office of Civil Rights set up to investigate allegations of discriminatory book bans and issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to “cease using race preferences and stereotypes” or risk federal funding. Although federal judges prohibit the enforcement of the letter, several state leaders already acknowledged compliance with the directive. And while the the Department of Education chills speech and expression across public schools, the “ Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities ” EO simultaneously facilitates the closure of the Department of Education. In doing so, the EO aims to transfer educational authority back to the states and local governments. Without any federal oversight, states will have carte blanche to impose ideological control over public education. The rhetoric of the Trump Administration and the directives of the Departments of Education and Defense add yet another pressure on states and school districts to censor. Persistent attacks conflate LGBTQ+ identities as “sexually explicit” and erase LGBTQ+ representation from schools. Since book challenges and removals exploded in 2021, books depicting same-sex and trans identities have been conflated as inherently “sexual.” In sexualizing LGBTQ+ people, swaths of literature have been removed under the premise of removing “ inappropriate ” or “ obscene ” books. Efforts to ban children’s picture books especially illuminate the perniciousness of this attack. We have tracked and reported on how book banners claim that picture books like And Tango Makes Three, Everywhere Babies , The Family Book , Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, or The Purim Superhero are “ sexually explicit ,” merely for including LGBTQ+ identities. Nationally, there is evidence that extreme conservative groups have continued to circulate reports to schools with these claims, putting pressure – and providing cover – for district leaders to ban books on that basis. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ books in classroom and school libraries was at the center of a United States Supreme Court case, Mahmoud v. Taylor , which was decided this summer. This case asked whether or not Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland must allow parental notifications and opt-out if lessons related to gender and sexuality might violate a family’s religious beliefs. During oral arguments, Justice Neil Gorsuch reflected derogatory and misinformed views, often repeated by book banners – when discussing the children’s alphabet book , Pride Puppy, he referred to the presence of a leather jacket as evidence of “bondage” and drag queens as “sex workers.” The ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, to mandate “opt outs” for children whose parents object to LGBTQ+-relevant picture books, forecasts heightened censorship of LGBTQ+ content across school districts nationwide. Rather than offering histories, stories, and books that reflect all students and families, LGBTQ+ stories will be omitted from classrooms. LGBTQ+ students and their families will effectively be denied the freedom to read about themselves and those around them. One trend has remained constant throughout these four years: Many of these book bans are not due to decisions made in reconsideration policies and processes. Nor are they the direct result of legislation. As noted in PEN America’s first Banned in the USA report, just 4% of books banned in 2021-2022 followed the recommended processes for reconsideration and challenges of books in school districts. For the 2024-2025 school year, vast numbers of the books removed from shelves – pending investigation and permanently banned – came as a result of fear of legislation by school boards, administrators, and educators. Within our Title Level Index , described below, PEN America identified 2,520 book ban cases where the bans were influenced by pressure imposed from the presence or threat of state laws. Out of those, however, only 3% of the bans were triggered by a law requiring the removal of a book – the rest, 97%, came from bans caused by the fear that districts had of being out of compliance, regardless of whether the law was enjoined, hadn’t been passed yet, or didn’t call for the direct removal of books. This functions as a form of “ obeying in advance ” to anticipated restrictions from the state or administrative authorities, rooted in fear or simply a desire to avoid topics that might be deemed controversial. State-mandated bans are challenging to quantify but we can estimate the impact on students, and that impact is significant. In 2024, Utah and South Carolina introduced mechanisms to create state-mandated “no read” lists . Tennessee also enacted such a mechanism in 2024; however, it has not been used. Although we cannot verify if every district had copies of the book titles now prohibited in school libraries, we can estimate the scale of restrictions on the freedom to read. In Utah, to trigger a statewide ban, each of the 18 titles on the state’s “no read” list had to have been previously labeled as “objectionable content” and banned in at least three school districts, or two school districts and five charter schools. There are 41 public school districts in Utah and over 100 public charter schools. Each of Utah’s 18 titles were banned at least three times before being added to the “no read” list (totaling 54 bans), and if each of these 18 titles was available in each of these 41 districts, and subsequently banned, then that would amount to an astonishing 738 bans overall. In South Carolina , the State Board of Education can decide to ban a book statewide following an appeal by those dissatisfied with a district’s decision to retain a challenged title, or the board can choose to review a title on their own initiative. Once books are listed on the state’s “no read” list, those books become prohibited in all school districts. South Carolina has 81 school districts . That means that the 22 unique titles were banned at least 22 times; but if they were present in every district, and then subsequently banned, that would number 1,782 bans across South Carolina. Taken together, the “no read” lists in South Carolina and Utah may have triggered over 2,500 cases of book bans. Where there are everyday book bans, there is also everyday resistance. For the first time in our tracking, we catalogued the robust network of advocates fighting back publicly against censorship in defense of the freedom to read. Of the 87 districts impacted by book bans this year, 70 contained evidence of a public response against censorship, whether from individuals, organized groups, or whole communities. Often, it is parents, individual authors, students, educators, librarians, and community members who have been instrumental in creating the most local and direct pressure to return books to shelves. Their resistance is supported by district-specific groups, such as Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization, Marietta in the Middle, and Freedom to Read Coalition of Columbia County. We also tracked state-level groups putting out fires in almost every district in their states, including Florida Freedom to Read Project, Texas Freedom to Read Project, Let Utah Read, Annie’s Foundation, ACLU state affiliates, Families Against Book Bans, and Fight for the First state and local affiliates. Other times, national organizations were publicly outspoken about district-level bans supporting these state and local efforts, such as National Coalition Against Censorship, Authors Against Book Bans, the ACLU, EveryLibrary, American Booksellers for Free Expression, the Author’s Guild, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Military Families for Free Expression. Truly, no one fighting book censorship in schools is doing so alone, and many individuals, coalitions, and organizations are actively pushing back. A page for the letter “L” in alphabet board book Pride Puppy , one of the titles at the center of Supreme Court case Mahmoud v. Taylor . Books Bans by the Numbers During the 2024-2025 school year, PEN America recorded 6,870 instances of book bans across 23 states and 87 public school districts. 6870 Instances of book bans in the 2024-2025 school year. When taken all together, since July 2021, our Index records 22,810 cases of book bans across 45 states and 451 public school districts. The numbers are only part of the story. As we report on the fourth year of the book banning crisis, it is important to note the limitations of our data collection and reporting: First, the numbers documented here represent cases of school book bans reported directly to PEN America and/or covered in the media. As indicated in our methodology , the data presented in this report is not comprehensive, as there are likely additional school book bans that have not been reported. Further, it is important to note that books are also banned within public libraries and prisons, but those do not appear within this index. Second, school districts commonly copy one another, and pull the same book titles from their shelves. Lists of book titles are circulated online by individuals, groups , and even school districts , calling for them to be culled. As a result, commonly banned books from past years simply aren’t available in many school libraries anymore. Third, each school year PEN America’s Index captures a snapshot of books that were removed within that particular year – where a triggering action led to a ban on a particular book title. Although many titles remain banned year after year, PEN America’s Index does not count these cases. Therefore, books removed during previous school years that are still prohibited are not counted within this school year’s Index. Our data instead chronicles the books removed from shelves within the last school year. Lastly, strategic pressure from groups, school districts, and state legislation accelerate book bans, causing spikes where hundreds of books get banned all at once and shelves are emptied . These bans are difficult to count comprehensively, as often the total number of titles affected by these sweeping bans are not reported. New This Year: Title, District, and State Mandated Ban Indexes In addition, this year, Banned in the USA also includes three Indexes of School Book Bans – the Title-Level Index , as released for the past four years, the District-Level Index, and the State-Mandated Bans Index .t Title-Level Index : This index lists all titles banned within school districts, as collected by PEN America, and is most similar to data presented in previous years. District-Level Index: This index presents data on book bans by district, including the total number of books banned, sources of pressure to ban books, and pushback against book bans at the district level where it can be identified. While similar to the Title-Level Index, this Index includes some districts for which information on specific titles banned was not publicly available, but where the total number of banned books and/ or an official acknowledgement that books were removed was documented. State-Mandated Bans Index : This Index captures an unprecedented phenomenon in the book banning crisis – the removal of specific books from all public schools statewide due to state policies in Utah and South Carolina. As described above, these policies, enacted in 2024, introduced mechanisms to create state-mandated “ no read” lists . Tennessee is the third state that enacted such a mechanism in 2024; however, it has not yet been reported as used. For this category of state-level book bans, PEN America cannot verify if every district had a copy of the books that are now prohibited in school libraries, and therefore we do not include these bans within our title- and district-level indexes. Together, these three Indexes demonstrate the variety of ways in which books are today being banned in school districts – in some cases because of state legislative mandates far beyond local districts’ control. These Indexes also illustrate the shocking enormity of the book banning crisis’ effect on unique book titles, authors and illustrators, students, parents, schools and school districts. Most Banned Titles No title is safe as long as book banning efforts continue. This 2024-2025 school year, book bans affected 3,752 unique titles in 87 school districts nationwide. Some types of books are targeted for removal because of their content; but the climate of censorship that has spread in schools has impacted a wide array of titles written for all sorts of audiences. Access to literature prepares our youth to confront the real world, offering a window into experiences otherwise unknown to them. However, diverse ideas and stories featuring protagonists from historically marginalized identities are often the first topics targeted by censors. As lists of titles to remove continue to be circulated online, greater restrictions are implemented at the local and state levels, censorship rises, and students’ rights are violated. Where the Book Bans are Happening During the 2024-2025 school year, our Index of School Book Bans documented bans in 87 public school districts and 23 states. Florida led the nation with 2,304 instances of book bans for the 2024-2025 school year, owing to the passage of multiple vague laws, direct pressure from local groups and elected officials, and threats to educators’ professional licenses if they fail to comply. In holding the state accountable for censorship in their public schools, Florida Freedom to Read Project maintains an extensive system for tracking and reporting book bans, offering a blueprint for pushing back against censorship. As stated above, where there is everyday banning, there is everyday resistance. 2024-2025 Instances of School Book Bans by State Department of Defense Education Activity : 590 Bans affecting schools in seven states, two territories, and 11 countries Overall, in the course of the last four school years, book bans occurred in 45 states and 451 public school districts. No school library will be left untouched if local and state policies and pressures continue to foster a climate of censorship. In fact, the magnified number of book ban instances in these states is largely due to pressure campaigns by censorship-minded groups and individuals in local districts coupled with emerging state legislation. The chilled environment enables attacks on freedom of speech and our democracy to persist. Authors and Illustrators Impacted The damage caused by book bans doesn’t stop at the infringement of students’ free speech rights and restrictions to the freedom to read. In their wake, book bans also leave a detrimental mark on thousands of creative people in the literary world . Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, book bans affected the works of almost 2,600 artists, including 2,308 authors, 243 illustrators and 38 translators. As with books, a subset of authors are more susceptible to book bans than others. The majority of the authors whose books are overwhelmingly targeted often explore themes with race and racism, gender identity and sexuality, or depict sexual violence in their work. During the 2024-2025 school year, the works of the ten most commonly banned authors account for 13% of all book ban instances. Overview of Impacted Artists Authors 2,308 Illustrators 243 Translators 38 Total Unique Impacted Creatives 2,589 Several of these authors have penned multiple titles and been branded with a “ Scarlet Letter ” – a phenomenon dubbed by PEN America where a ban on one title from a specific author is followed by efforts to ban their entire collection. Book bans leave authors at increased financial risk due to a reduction in school visits or events, and the potential subsequent impact on their future book sales . Some authors have reported the emotional impacts of these book bans on their creativity, citing concerns about potential blowback to future works, which cause them to feel the need to self-censor . In this way, the book banning campaign has had an impact that ranges far beyond the specific titles and school districts, ultimately leaving many readers without access to current stories, and jeopardizing the stories yet to be imagined by these creators. Takeaways This year’s report is underlaid by urgency as campaigns, directives, and laws impelling censorship stretch across districts and states, and – more recently – are adopted by the Trump Administration and other federal agencies. In examining the fourth year of the book banning crisis, we note the following takeaways: The campaign to censor books is increasingly routine as individuals and boards capitulate to rapidly expanding pressures to remove books. In 2021, the book banning crisis was mostly centered around school boards as special-interest groups and individuals lobbied school board members to remove books based on the content and identities represented in certain titles. Over the last several years, censorship pressures have expanded and escalated, taking on different forms. State legislatures passed laws restricting educational materials and library books. State superintendents or departments of education issued directives to schools, causing confusion, and called out school leaders and librarians to remove educational materials. Elected leaders issued lists of books containing “explicit” material, demanding schools remove them. Groups made accusations of “porn in schools” to police and sheriffs departments, creating another form of pressure locally to ban certain titles. School districts have started issuing preemptive bans through “ do not buy” lists, barring titles from ever entering their libraries. Administrators find it safer to remove a book in the face of pressure than fight for its belonging on library shelves, and educators and librarians admit to omitting books that may be objectionable. From a birds’ eye view, school districts today are surrounded by multiple and persistent local, state, and now federal pressures to ban books, with diminishing reasons not to. The result is a kind of everyday banning – the normalization and routinization of censorship as an expected part of public education in many parts of the country. Opposing this will no longer take just counter-efforts to any one of these threats; it will require a similarly committed effort, rooted in recognition of the fundamental right to read. Book bans harm public school systems and restrict education. Book bans are the result of coordinated campaigns by individuals and groups, some of whom harbor homophobic , white supremacist, and Christian nationalist views. The onslaught of these campaigns upon public schools is an attack on the very purpose of public education – to educate all students , to generate empathy and understanding for an informed citizenry, and to serve as a great equalizer for students from all backgrounds. Persistent book ban campaigns undermine the time available for educators to dedicate to quality instruction and often can subject them to harassment and vitriol. It means educators and librarians must spend greater hours cataloging books and dedicate more administrative time overseeing processes that comply with vague legislation. It also means that districts are accruing significant legal costs to navigate lawsuits that seek to protect the civil rights of students and enforce constitutional protections and are facing burdensome demands on educators to increase transparency and provide parents with alternative options. Book bans are reported to decrease students’ engagement in reading, discourage students’ critical thinking, and interfere with a teacher’s ability to teach. Book bans and other efforts to limit and restrict education also strain systems that are already overwhelmed, as schools face teacher shortages , funding cuts , chronic absenteeism, and ongoing learning loss exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The escalation of the attacks on books has detrimental impacts on the state of public education writ large. Our public school system is foundational for free expression and for the rich exchange of information and ideas. School libraries are essential in supporting voluntary inquiry and have been defended as necessary places free from content restrictions and ideological control. And much like public libraries and other public institutions, the goal of public education is to serve everyone – equally and fairly. In sowing chaos across public education, the book banners and ideologues have laid bare their fear – namely, the fear of a more just, informed, and equitable populace. Book bans are a bellwether as censorship spreads within and beyond library shelves. During the 2024-2025 school year, in addition to targeting books for removal, censors have mobilized against a suite of other educational materials and events. Book fairs , book donations , and even scholarships aimed at supporting public education have been challenged. One of the most ironic examples is Lynchburg City Schools’ recall of “ Free Speech Handbook: A Practical Framework For Understanding Our Free Speech Protections ,” in August. After copies of the book were donated to elementary school students by the Virginia Education Foundation, school leaders requested families return them for containing alleged “adult satire.” Textbooks and curricula are also being challenged for many of the same topics that have been targeted for banning. In Colorado , despite a teachers’ committee’s recommendation in Mesa County Valley District to include “ The Colorado Story ” as part of their history curriculum, the school board vetoed the decision, citing concerns about mentions of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as negative portrayals of historical figures such as Christopher Columbus. In Florida, a biology textbook was formally challenged by multiple residents due to concerns over sections on climate change, evolution, COVID-19, and masking. These efforts to reject educational materials are illustrative of what ideological censors want to actually destroy: educational climates that allow access to critical historical narratives, the frontiers of contemporary science, and a diverse set of ideas that encourage students to learn to think critically. As PEN America has cautioned previously , the result of these efforts to police public education will inevitably narrow open inquiry and what young people learn about the world, creating a “recipe for lowest-common-denominator curricula” which puts “the avoidance of controversy ahead of the imperative of a broad and challenging education.” Conclusion “Everyday Banning” is a particularly apt phrase in the fourth year of the school book ban crisis. The climate of bans is no longer new, but something that families, educators, and all of us have become conditioned to expect as part of the U.S. education system. Book challenges and bracing for parental criticism has become as routine as preparing a syllabus or checking books in and out of the library. While most acute in a state like Florida , state laws, local policy shifts, federal policy changes, and continued attacks from conservative groups have placed extreme pressure on school district leaders to err on the side of censorship. In many parts of the country, librarians, educators, and administrators now expect lists of challenges to “objectionable” titles as an inevitability. These titles, falsely deemed “harmful” or “inappropriate,” far too often target marginalized groups and groups historically under-represented in public school library collections. Eroding students’ right to receive information about their world, their histories and identities, and their own bodies, will inevitably allow a culture of censorship to fester, impoverishing students’ educational opportunities. It is well known that censorship can be a slippery slope and that banning “just one book” will never appease coordinated efforts to remove certain topics, ideas, and identities from public schools. As Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond warned us in their book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie , those making demands will always want more. Today’s ideological censors feed not on the number of books banned, but on the ideas and people contained within these books’ pages. Banning books with trans protagonists like Call Me Max by Kyle Lukoff will never be enough, because there will always be trans stories and students. Likewise, banning Dear Martin by Nic Stone will never satisfy book banners because there will be more stories about the experiences of Black people in the U.S. and of the impact of racism on the lives of young people. It’s not about the censorship of any one book – it’s about total control of the story. “My job is to bear witness to the reality of their lives.” Jason Reynolds, award winning author of books for children and young adults said this when talking on the Daily Show in 2024. He continued speaking directly to students, “Your life, as it exists today, is a life that matters enough to be written about.” That is the extraordinary job of the literature being banned today. Stories that reflect the lives, voices and imaginations of young people are being taken from them at the very moment when they are learning to assert their right to access information, their right to speech, and their right to explore the world. But there is reason to hope as local and state organizing and awareness-raising put pressure on campaigns to ban books and uplift the need to protect and defend the freedom to read. We owe it to them, our communities, and ourselves to fight censorship wherever and whenever we see it. This can be done by messaging your state and Congressional representatives in support for the right to read, urging elected leaders to pass legislation that protects books, schools, libraries, and librarians, speaking out on October 11 for Let Freedom Read Day – and then continuing to speak out, or reaching out to a broad coalition of authors, students, and advocacy organizations to see how you can help us fight the good fight. “Never before” only turns into “no more” if we make the constant, consistent choice to fight for our democracy and the bedrock institutions within it – public schools, public libraries, and more – that uphold free expression principles, including the freedom to read and exchange books, stories, ideas, histories, and information. Acknowledgements This report was written by the Freedom to Read Program experts Sabrina Baêta, senior program manager; Tasslyn Magnusson, PhD, senior advisor; Madison Markham, program coordinator; and Yuliana Tamayo Latorre, program assistant. The report was reviewed and edited by Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director, and Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms managing director, U.S. Free Expression Programs. This report is informed by our Indexes of School Book Bans which is not possible without support from several PEN America colleagues and external consultants. Critical support for data collection and analysis was provided by consultant Sanobar Chagani and PEN America’s Daniel Cruz. Support for legislative analysis was provided by Laura Benitez, state policy manager. Geraldine Baum, chief communications officer, oversaw production of the report and Suzanne Trimel and Lisa Tolin supported its release. We thank the entire Communications team at PEN America for their support of this work. PEN America is grateful for support from the Endeavor Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, and the Long Ridge Foundation, which made this report possible. We also thank key partners in this work, including the Florida Freedom to Read Project, the Texas Freedom to Read Project, Annie’s Foundation, and Let Utah Read; as well as the contributions of the Censorship News Reports from Kelly Jensen at Book Riot. Finally, we extend our gratitude to the many authors, teachers, librarians, parents, students, and citizens who are fighting book bans, speaking out in their communities, and raising attention to these issues. We are proud to stand with you in defending the freedom to read. Learn More Facts & Fiction The content of these books that are disappearing speaks volumes about the political and cultural attack on public education across the U.S. Read More The Bills Igniting Book Bans Learn more about how state laws are propelling book bans at the local level and the impact they are having on schools and students. Read More The Normalization of Book Banning This report offers a window into the complex and extensive climate of censorship between July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Read More The Blueprint State A wave of education laws in Florida has had a detrimental impact on the state’s schools, chilling the climate for teaching and learning. Read More Cover to Cover Introduction In the 2023-2024 school year, there were more than 10,000 instances of banned books in public schools, affecting more than 4,000 unique titles. These mass book bans were often the result of targeted campaigns to remove books with characters of color, LGBTQ+ identities, and sexual content from public school classrooms and libraries. As book… Read More Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves For the last three school years, PEN America has recorded instances of book bans in public schools nationwide. In that time, efforts to erase certain stories and identities from school libraries have not only intensified; book bans have become a bellwether of the chilling of public education writ large. As this report on the 2023-24… Read More Banned in the USA: Narrating the Crisis The book ban crisis is often referred to by its numbers. A rising number of bans, more states impacted, more titles implicated. And behind every number, there is a deeper story: the narratives being censored from pages, the overworked librarians and teachers, the authors whose work has been maligned, and the students who see their… Read More Spineless Shelves: Two Years of Book Banning PEN America Needs Your Help Join us to #FreeTheBooks by taking action and making your voice heard. Download the Index Data: A July 2021 To June 2023 Cumulative Data Summary The last two years have shown an undeniable and unprecedented attack on free expression in public education. As 2023 comes to a close, the following… Read More Reading Between the Bars Introduction At Nash Correctional Institution in North Carolina, a series of low-lying brick buildings ringed with barbed wire fencing, parking lots, and stands of pine trees, Duawan Wesley McMillan eagerly awaited two books in the Colored Pencil Painting Bibles series that his sister had sent as gifts. McMillan’s sister, who lives in the sleepy village of St.… Read More
York County adopts a policy naming RatedBooks
Document reading copy
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY Approved by the York County Library Board of Trustees on June 4, 1991 Last r evised by the York County Library Board of Trustees on Feb. 6, 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS Objective Authority General Selection Criteria Adult-Collection Non-Fiction Fiction Biography Reference South Carolina-Collection Early Childhood Teacher Resource-Collection Homeschool-Collection Teen-Collection Non-Fiction Fiction Juvenile (Children)-Collection Non-Fiction Fiction Easy Juvenile Language-Collection Paperbacks Other-Collections Audio Formats Virtual Library Local Author-Collection Braille-Collection Reconsideration of Library Materials: Requests for Removal or Relocation Suggestion for Purchase of Library Materials Interlibrary Loans Gifts Commemorative Donations Collection Maintenance Appendix I: General Principles Appendix II: Definitions Appendix III: Board Approved Review and Recommendation Sources Exhibit A: Request Form: Removal of Library Materials Exhibit B: Request Form: Relocation of Library Materials Exhibit C: Request Form: Purchase of Library Materials Objective The objective of the Collection Development Policy (Policy) for the York County Library (“Library”), as may be amended from time to time, is to guide the staff librarians, under the supervision of the York County Library Director, with clear guidelines to use in the selection and organization of age and developmentally appropriate material that they purchase or receive on behalf of the library. The term “Collection” means the total diverse range of materials owned/controlled by the Library that the Library acquires, organizes, and makes available to its patrons. These materials may include written and electronic books, periodicals, newspapers, audiovisual, and online resources. The Policy is also intended to serve as a tool for meeting the objections of individuals concerned with the inclusion or rejection of specific titles or library locations. Authority The York County Board of Trustees (Board) is authorized to pass and implement policies for the York County Library, including this Policy, pursuant to South Carolina law and York County Ordinances. The Library Director is hereby charged by the Board to implement this Policy and execute the duties set forth herein. The Board retains authority to periodically evaluate the implementation of this Policy with the Library Director in order to assess whether it is being implemented as intended; and thereafter, take such confirmatory or remedial actions, as necessary. The Board reserves the right to amend this Policy at such intervals as may be determined by the Board. General Selection Criteria No single standard can be applied in all cases when making an acquisitions decision. Some materials will be judged primarily in terms of literary merit, scholarship, or overall literary value. Some will be selected to satisfy the informational, educational, or recreational needs of county residents. The final decision will be made based on the application of one, some, or all of the following considerations: Interest of the community Contemporary significance Permanent value to the collection Importance of the subject to balance the collection Favorable review in Board-approved standard selection source(s) High standards of quality in content, expression , and physical attributes (creation, binding, printing, paper quality) Availability of information elsewhere in the library or via reliable online resources Authority and reputation of author(s), editor(s), or publisher(s) Clear presentation and/or readability Durability and appropriateness of the format to the subject matter Price Shelving or storage space available in the library Literary merit, scholarship, and overall value to society Age and developmentally appropriate material The inclusion of an item in the collection does not represent an endorsement of its content by the Board. Adult-Collection The Adult-Collection (ages 18 and over) is a wide range of materials reflecting the diverse interests of the community that varies greatly in education, taste, and reading ability. The overall collection contains many specific subcategories as indicated below. Non-Fiction This collection contains material of almost any topic of interest. Accuracy of the material and the authority of the author are important selection criteria of these items. Subject areas are: 000s — Generalities Emphasis will be placed on the use and operation of computers, including hardware and software. Representative coverage will be given to other subjects in this area as needs are recognized. 100s — Philosophy Historical and classical standard works are purchased and maintained. Recent writings which examine issues and problems of human concern are also acquired. In the area of popular philosophy, parapsychology, and occultism, public demand is a major consideration in the library’s selection of materials. 200s — Religion Important writers of both Western and Eastern countries, and the sacred or distinctive books of well-known religions and sects are represented. Popular religious writings offering spiritual guidance and comfort are selected. General Christian and non-Christian denominational histories are acquired, as are explanations of doctrines directed toward the lay person. The historical mythologies of diverse cultures, with special emphasis on Greek and Roman, are acquired. 300s — Social Sciences The library attempts to provide materials of general interest on all areas of the social sciences. Works dealing with current, controversial, and social issues (i.e., abortion, child abuse, crime, divorce, adoption, etc.) are collected. Issues relating to government, current events, and political science are acquired. Popular and standard materials are purchased on the subjects of personal finance, law, etiquette, vocational and career guides, and folk traditions and culture. Study guides for basic education, scholastic achievement tests, armed forces tests, and civil service exams are added frequently. 400s — Language Materials selected include the history, study, and use of the English language. This includes up-to-date dictionaries and grammar. The collection includes books for teaching sign language to the deaf as well as learning aids for popular foreign languages, basic dictionaries, and grammar. Materials in foreign languages representing significant populations of non-English-speaking patrons and foreign languages taught in local school curriculums will be collected as resources permit. Patron requests may also be met through consortial and interlibrary loan. 500s — Pure Sciences The library purchases for the general, non-specialist reader to reflect today’s emphasis on scientific techniques and achievements and the current interest of lay persons in this field. It includes a representation of current, up-to-date materials in all branches of the pure sciences — mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, paleontology, life sciences, biology, and zoology. Science fair project books are purchased to meet the demands of school assignments. Textbooks may be acquired when they provide the best up-to-date information. 600s — Applied Sciences and Technology Current, popular, and useful materials for the layperson in most fields of the applied sciences are acquired. Emphasis is placed on the addition of current, accurate treatment of medical subjects for the layperson. Home economics receives great attention by the addition of books on cooking, child care, home decoration, and gardening. Interest in business administration is met by books on management and office practice, with special attention paid to books for the small businessperson. Titles on automotive maintenance and repair are heavily purchased. Other areas singled out for new acquisitions include pet care, building, carpentry, engineering, and agriculture. 700s — The Arts Certain subject areas are collected heavily in the arts. Materials on handicrafts, interior decoration, and sports receive special emphasis. Only art books intended for the layperson are selected for subjects such as architecture, sculpture, artists and their works, and photography. Art history and criticism for all periods and countries is acquired if it is written for the non-specialist. The section on music and the performing arts includes works on composition, orchestration, musicians, performers, musical instruments, collections of popular songs, and the history of music and the performing arts. Sheet music will not be collected. Music in audiovisual formats may be collected as resources allow. Individual subjects within this area will be covered as demand dictates. 800s — Literature The collection in literature emphasizes critical studies, literary history, and biography. The most important works of poetry, plays, essays, and other literary forms, including those of contemporary writers, are included. American literature receives the most extensive coverage, including minor as well as major works and their authors, but English literature is also heavily collected. The history of literature of other countries and classics and other distinguished works of foreign authors in English translation are collected as demand dictates. 900s — History and Travel The library collects works on the history of all areas and all periods. Heavy emphasis is placed on American history. The history of Europe also receives major emphasis. Items are chosen for the non-specialist lay person to meet informational needs as well as for the student needing supplemental educational materials. Travel books and guides are selected for all areas of the world to meet three basic needs: to help people making plans for travel; to provide current, up-to-date information about different countries and different cultures; and to provide reading material for the “armchair” traveler. Fiction This collection offers an almost limitless variety of styles, subjects, types, and levels of writing ability. Fiction will reflect local reading interest and the specific enrichment needs of the library’s patrons. Fiction titles by American, British, and other English-language authors will be acquired. Other languages are represented, selectively, in translation. Works of current, popular authors, best sellers, and genre fiction are acquired on the basis of local reading tastes. Biography The collection is a basic representation, world-wide in scope, of lives of people whose acts, accomplishments, or thoughts have influenced civilization, with special emphasis given to collecting the biographies of Americans. Collective biography will be chosen to supplement rather than duplicate individual biographies. Reference-Collection The York County Library Reference-Collection is selected and maintained to meet two basic goals: to provide answers to specific questions of any informational or educational nature from patrons’ in-person or telephoned requests; and to provide back-up reference assistance to York County Branch Libraries and the Bookmobile. The materials in the reference collection will include, but not be limited to, the following types of publications: Encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases Handbooks, dictionaries, and directories in all fields of knowledge Current and retrospective bibliographies and lists of “best books” Indexes covering material already owned or being acquired in areas of potential patron interest; these indexes may also help to identify material which could be borrowed from other libraries Computerized databases which are identified as filling an immediate need for information or which may respond to areas of potential patron interest Books in high demand in the circulating collection that may be duplicated in reference , i.e., GED tests, resumes, Armed Forces test guides, etc. Areas of special emphasis within the Reference-Collection are literature, biography, health, business, history, and current information about South Carolina. South Carolina-Collection This collection includes local, regional, and state historical materials, the genealogy collection, and the collection of materials on the Catawba Indians. Because of the strong interest in York County local history and genealogy, the Library will continue to build and maintain this collection, depending on costs, space requirements, and staff expertise. The local and regional historical materials include printed books and manuscript materials such as maps, reports, biographical sketches, newspaper clippings, and photographs pertaining to the region and its people. The Rock Hill newspaper is indexed online for material of historical importance and local current events. The genealogical collection includes print, manuscript, and microfilmed materials and electronic reference resources. Census records for all of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina, family histories, and church and cemetery records are included in this collection. Secondary but important coverage is given to the State of South Carolina. County and family histories are acquired that are of value as genealogical and historical records. The Library is not a depository for Federal or State documents or publications and will acquire only very selective materials in this area. The library will attempt to make as many of these materials available to the public as possible, either in print or online formats. However, the library reserves the authority to limit accessibility due to the fragility of materials, loss mitigation, and copyright limitations. Early Childhood Teacher Resource-Collection The Early Childhood Teacher Resource-Collection is a special collection of materials and resources for child care teachers and administrators or any adult working with children between the ages of 0 and 5. This Collection also supports educational initiatives as recommended by the SC Board of Education, designed to improve school readiness for children in their preschool years. Included in this Collection are books and other materials dealing with child development as it relates to education, childcare administration, curriculum and activities, and other issues pertaining to this age group. As space in this Collection becomes limited, older titles will be rotated to their proper Dewey Decimal location in the adult book collection. Homeschool-Collection The Homeschool Collection was created to provide supplemental curriculum and activities to assist homeschool parents of preschoolers through 12th grade. Currently, only books are catalogued in this Collection because many homeschool curriculums require online elements; these electronic resources can be accessed in the library or wherever there is a broadband connection. These materials will align with the directives as published by the SC Board of Education. Teen-Collection This collection is for teens ages 13–17 years old, with awareness of the variety of interests, backgrounds, reading skills, and development levels within this age group. Materials are selected to provide a balanced collection. Paperbacks are a format that have special appeal to teens. A current collection of popular and classic titles will be maintained. Books addressing mature themes or topics on gender identity or other mature themes may be placed in the Teen-Collection and Teen Sections of the Library Branches, as may be designated. The selection criteria for this collection includes the General Selection Criteria with the added responsibility that the materials are age and developmentally appropriate. The rulings of the South Carolina Department of Education, guidance from the South Carolina State Library, and reviews by ratedbooks.org will also be considered. In terms of sexual content, the library will additionally follow all applicable laws for minors and such State of South Carolina legislative Provisos, as may be applicable. Non-Fiction-Collection Non-fiction materials include age and developmentally appropriate books that are presented for selection using the Dewey Decimal system. The material is accurate, informative, and current, and is selected for a wide range of reading levels and interests as possible. Fiction-Collection This collection includes age and developmentally appropriate books selected for recreational reading with an emphasis on quality and contemporary interests for this age group. Juvenile (Children)-Collection This collection is for children up to 12 years of age. Format is an essential element in most children’s books and requires that paper be high quality with legible print, sturdy bindings, and illustrations appropriate to the text. Materials are selected to provide a balanced collection. The selection criteria for this collection includes the General Selection Criteria with the added responsibility that the materials are age and developmentally appropriate. The rulings of the South Carolina Department of Education, guidance from the South Carolina State Library, and reviews by ratedbooks.org will also be considered. In terms of sexual content, the library will additionally follow all applicable laws for minors and such State of South Carolina Provisos, as may be applicable. Books that contain or depict sexually explicit content are prohibited in the Juvenile-Collection and Juvenile Sections of the Library’s Branches. Books addressing topics on gender identity or other mature themes may be excluded from the Juvenile-Collection and placed in another collection. Non-Fiction-Collection Non-fiction materials include age and developmentally appropriate books that are presented for selection using the Dewey Decimal system. The material is accurate, informative, and current, and is selected for a wide range of reading levels and interests as possible within the guidelines of State and Federal regulations. Fiction-Collection This collection includes age and developmentally appropriate books provided to meet the needs of a wide range of interests and reading abilities, and includes picture books, easy-to-read books, and chapter books for children. Easy-Collection The Easy-Collection is made up of picture books specifically designed for young, developing readers, usually in grades PK–3, or those learning to read. These books often feature large, clear text, simple sentence structures, and illustrations that complement the story, aiding in decoding and comprehension. Juvenile (Children) Language-Collection The Juvenile Language-Collection is designed to provide educational and recreational materials to the non-English-speaking children of York County, and to supplement local school curriculums. Individuals speaking English as a second language will also find materials in this collection useful as supplemental resources. The collection includes a variety of quality children's fiction, non-fiction, and picture books in bilingual and/or foreign language editions. When appropriate, English and foreign language versions of the same title may be packaged together and circulated as a single unit. Paperbacks Paperback books are considered for purchase for the following reasons: to acquire a title not available in hardcover; to provide inexpensive duplicate copies of a title; to save money for the purchase of other titles. Paperback gifts are accepted and added to the collection, cataloged or un-cataloged, according to the General Selection and Children and Teen Selection Criteria, while allowing for a wider acceptance of ephemera than would be considered for purchase. Other Collection Materials a. Audio Formats Audio formats enhance two primary goals of the library: to provide informational and recreational resources to the public while recognizing the value of offering these resources in an audio format. The major part of this collection is contemporary fiction. Non-fiction, foreign language, classic adult fiction, young adult, and juvenile titles are, however, also represented in the collection. Following the General Selection Criteria of the book collection, audio formats are carefully selected for this collection. Audio materials must be in a standardized format. Abridged and unabridged titles may be purchased. b. Virtual Library-Collection To complement the Library’s physical collections, YCL offers a robust virtual library of electronic/downloadable library materials, streaming audio-visual products, and music. Direct links to free websites — evaluated and vetted by library staff — are also accessible from the Library’s homepage. c. Local Author-Collection This collection is designed to give new and emerging writers who reside in York County an opportunity to be read by their friends, neighbors, and the wider South Carolina community. Subject to applicable General Selection Criteria, the Local Author-Collection can be found in the Children's, Teen, and Adult sections within the branches of the Library. d. Braille-Collection The Braille-Collection includes both Unified English Braille and contracted Braille. The collection includes board books with Braille overlay, children easy, and children non-fiction books. Reconsideration of Library Materials: Requests for Removal or Relocation Any York County resident who contends a book or other item housed in the Library Collection has been inappropriately placed in a particular collection or in a particular branch section or is otherwise inappropriate for the overall Library Collection may complete and submit a “Request for Removal of Library Materials” form or a “Request for Relocation of Library Materials” form (sample forms attached herewith as Exhibit A and B). Forms can be downloaded from the library website or picked up at any branch location. All questions on the form must be completed. Patrons are limited to one active request at a time and no more than one request per month, with no more than four requests per calendar year. Additionally, the Board reserves the right to determine if the process is being used for burdensome as opposed to beneficial Library purposes and take such actions as may be necessary to remedy the perceived abuse of process including but not limited to limiting the frequency of the process available to certain individuals or limiting the number of Reconsiderations as may be heard by the Committee and/or the Board per month. Reconsideration Process The Reconsideration Committee, appointed by the Library Director, will meet upon call of the Committee Chair and no less than quarterly, should pending requests exist, to review the material(s) in question and consider whether its selection follows the criteria stated in the Collection Policy. Upon meeting, the committee will submit a written report of its findings with recommendations for actions to the Library Director within five business days, if practicable. Within ten business days, thereafter, the Library Director will inform the complainant of the decision and the rationale for the decision. If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision, a written appeal setting forth the specific grounds for an appeal, may be submitted within ten business days to the Board of Trustees, by hand delivery to a local branch or by postmarked mailing to the Board in care of Library Director to: York County Library; 138 East Black Street; Rock Hill, SC 29730. All appeals shall be heard by the Board at a regular or special called meeting of the Board within 60 days of receipt of the appeal, to the extent practicable. The appellant will be notified of the time and place for the hearing of the appeal. The Board reserves the right to establish guidelines for the conduct of appeals and set time limits for presentation of the complainant’s/appellant’s arguments in its appeal hearing. The appellant will be notified in writing of the Board’s decision following their discussion of the appeal. The decision of the Board is final. Suggestion for Purchase of Library Materials York County Library welcomes suggestions from YCL cardholders for titles and other library materials to add to the collection. Suggestions made will be evaluated using the same criteria pertinent to the rest of the collection. The library cannot guarantee the purchase of all requested items. The Request to Purchase Library Material form (Exhibit C, sample form attached) can be downloaded from our website or picked up at any branch location. Please fill out the form as completely as possible, leaving any unknown information blank. A staff member will review and complete the form. Interlibrary Loans Limited resources and the diverse interests of our users make it impossible to purchase everything that is wanted or needed. If materials are not available in either the York County Library system or through its partnership in the SCLENDS consortium, then an interlibrary loan (ILL) request can be made through libraries across the United States. The following materials may be borrowed: fiction, non-fiction, audiovisual materials (audiobooks, music, DVDs, Blu-ray discs), and microfilm. New books, bestsellers, and genealogy materials may be difficult to borrow based on the lending library’s policies. New items with a copyright less than 6 months old from the date of request and reference materials may not be borrowed. The lending library reserves the right to decide if the request can be filled. Gifts The York County Library encourages and accepts gifts of books, pamphlets, periodicals, and the like with the understanding that the gifts are added to the collection only if they meet the same standards required of purchased materials. Gift materials not meeting those standards, those that are out-of-date, unneeded duplicates of items already owned, or those in a form/format unsuitable for library use are given to other organizations, sold, or discarded. Gift items are integrated into the regular library collection in normal sequence, available to all library patrons, and otherwise handled as any other material belonging to the library. A letter for tax purposes may be given or sent to the donor if requested at the time the donation is made. The letter acknowledges receipt of the gift only; it does not set a value on the gift. The York County Library maintains a very fine collection of local history and genealogical materials at the Main Library. Donations of this type of material from county residents or interested people become a part of this special collection to ensure all such items are available in one location in the county system. The library is not a museum and rarely accepts objects other than printed or manuscript material. The decision to accept materials other than printed or manuscript items rests with the Director of the York County Library. Except for temporary exhibit purposes, the library does not accept storage responsibility for historical documents or objects owned or controlled by groups or individuals. Whenever a gift is no longer needed, it is disposed of in the same manner as material purchased. For historical documents that are no longer usable by the library, a reasonable attempt is made to return them to the original donor or a local historical society before the decision is made to discard the material. Commemorative Donations The York County Library welcomes gifts of books or other appropriate materials given in memory of a deceased individual or in honor of an individual or group. Materials accepted must conform to the same criteria for selection as materials purchased with library funds. The donor may make a specific request for use of his/her contribution, but the selection will be left to the discretion of the library staff. If the person or group being honored or remembered has or had a specific field of interest, staff will attempt to order materials reflecting that interest if the interest area specified meets current library needs. A bookplate is placed in the front of each book given in memory or in honor of someone and stating the name of the donor and the person or group being remembered. Collection Maintenance Deaccession (“weeding”), the systematic process of evaluating and removing materials from the Library’s Collection to ensure it remains current, relevant, and in good condition, is an integral part of the Collection maintenance process. The same care, thought, and judgment are used in this process as were used in the original selection. There are many factors which figure in the weeding process: the relationship of the book to other books on the same subject; the money available for more satisfactory titles; consideration of the degree to which the library wants to represent older material on a particular subject; or the possible usefulness of the particular title to some special group in the County. There are certain categories of books which are the most obvious candidates for deaccession. These categories include but are not limited to: duplicates of titles, purchased when the book was in heavier demand and may no longer needed; superseded editions of books may be replaced; books that are in poor physical condition that are not suitable for repair or rebinding are candidates for being discarded; books which were initially adjudged to be of interest and use but which turned out to be shelf-sitters; books which have become obsolete in content, style, or theme are candidates for weeding; and, books which have declining or nonexistent use patterns are considered for weeding. Circulation figures must be used carefully, however, because there are titles which have attained a status of “classic” which may not circulate well but which must be a part of the library’s collection. Deaccession is performed in all areas of the library’s collection, not just books. Careful, judgmental decisions are also made in the area of periodical holdings, electronic formats, and audiovisual materials. Space is also a factor when considering the length of time back issues of periodicals are kept. Physical condition plays a large part in determining the shelf life of audiovisual materials. Rarely is a single criterion used to determine whether an item should be withdrawn from the library’s collection. These decisions are made on a combination of criteria and the librarian’s experience. While the library tries to have copies of all standard and important works, it does not attempt to replace each title withdrawn because of loss, damage, or wear. Decisions are based on the following criteria: Demand for the specific item Number of copies available in the system Existing coverage, within the system, of the subject Availability of newer and better materials on the subject Price of replacement copy Appendix I: General Principles Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of the people in York County. Librarians should not exclude materials because of the origin, background, or views of the author. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal approval or disapproval and remain neutral in controversial issues. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, background, or views. Book areas and check out requirements are designated by age. Librarians shall not determine the acceptability of a book based on their personal history, political affiliation, or ideology. Appendix II: Definitions For purposes of this Policy, the following definitions shall apply: Age and Developmentally Appropriate: Topics, messages, and teaching methods suitable to particular ages or age groups of children and adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group. Gender Identity: An individual’s self-declared identity that may not align with biological sex. Appendix III: Board Approved Review and Recommendation Sources Amazon American Enterprise Institute American Spectator American Thinker Associated Press Reuters AudioFile Barnes & Noble Booklife, by Publishers Weekly Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Cato Institute Celebrity Book Club Reads Chicago Public Library's Teens Best of the Best Books New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens Claremont Review First Things Goodreads Kirkus Indie Kirkus Reviews Library Journal National Review New York Times Bestsellers Lists New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book List Notable Children's Recordings List Policy Review Publishers Weekly Pulitzer Prize winners in Fiction and Nonfiction Regnery Press School Library Journal Science Books & Films (SB&F) SELF-e South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominees South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominees South Carolina Young Adult Award Nominees Sydney Taylor Book Award List The American Conservative The Booker Prize List The Bulwark The Christian Book Awards The Christy Book Awards The Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards The Edgar Award Winners The Great American Read The Heritage Foundation The Horn Book The Lambda Literary Awards List TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Books of the 21 st Century Touchstone Townhall Video Librarian Year-End “Best Books of the Year” lists York County schools' required reading lists Exhibit A: Request Form: Removal of Library Materials Request for Removal of Library Materials (limit 1 request/month) Requestor name: ______________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ Phone: ________________________ Current Library card holder: yes _______ no __________ Please initial to confirm that you have read the York County Library Collection Policy. _______ What type of material is being addressed? ____ Book ____ eBook ____Audio book ____ Movie Where is the item currently located? ______________ Title: ________________________________________________________________________ Author: ______________________________________________________________________ Year of publication: ____________ Did you examine, read, or use the entire item? _____ Please comment on the particular concern you have with this material. Please be specific with page number references. (Use the reverse side if needed.) ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: ____________ **Titles are reviewed once during a 3-year period, unless requested by a Board Trustee.** ____________________________________________________________________________ OFFICE USE ONLY: Please forward all forms to Library Administration Received by: _________________ Date sent to Library Director: ________________________ Date received: ________________ Date response sent: _________ __ Email __ Mail __Other Exhibit B: Request Form: Relocation of Library Materials Request for Relocation of Library Materials (limit 1 request/month) Requestor name: ______________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ Phone: ________________________ Current Library card holder: yes _______ no __________ Please initial to confirm that you have read the York County Library Collection Policy. _______ What type of material is being addressed? ____ Book ____ eBook ____Audio book ____ Movie Where is the item currently located? ______________ Title: ________________________________________________________________________ Author: ______________________________________________________________________ Year of publication: ____________ Did you examine, read, or use the entire item? _____ Please comment on the particular concern you have with this material. Please be specific with page number references. (Use the reverse side if needed.) ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Where would you like the item to be relocated? ______________________________________ Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: ____________ **Please note that titles are reviewed once during a 12-month period. ** ____________________________________________________________________________ OFFICE USE ONLY: Please forward all forms to Library Administration Received by: _________________ Date sent to Library Director: ________________________ Date received: ________________ Date response sent: _________ __ Email __ Mail __Other Exhibit C: Request Form: Purchase of Lib rary Materials York County Library Suggestion for Purchase Form Please fill out the form as completely as possible to better assist library staff. Requestor name: ______________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ Phone: ________________________ York County Library Card No.: ____________________________________________________ Format: _______________________________ Title: ________________________________________________________________________ Author (if applicable): ___________________________________________________________ Reason requested: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
Rated Books
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Know Before You Read DONATE on Anedot Donate through Fidelity Charitable Download Master List Barcode Scanner App: Book Lens keyword search: York County Library in South Carolina trusts RatedBooks ! Watch how Megan was adversely affected by explicit books: Transcript Embedded publisher metadata businessName: Rated Books homePageTitle: Home
Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship - PEN America
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Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship Banned Books Suzanne Trimel January 7, 2026 Share Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship to Facebook Facebook Share Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship to X X Share Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship to Threads Threads Share Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship to LinkedIn LinkedIn Copy Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship to clipboard Copy Link https://pen.org/utah-no-read-list-lawsuit/ Event URL copied to clipboard Lawsuit Raises Literary Value of Age-Appropriate Books Utah is one of two states (with South Carolina) that has imposed a statewide “no read” book list, prohibiting these titles in all public school classrooms and libraries across the state. This week, Utah has added three more bestselling novels for young adults to that censored book list to adhere to a highly restrictive law that forbids “indecent materials” in schools. This latest censorship comes as a lawsuit against the state on behalf of authors and students argues the state’s book bans violate their First Amendment rights. The ACLU of Utah filed the suit on Tuesday with plaintiffs including the estate of Kurt Vonnegut, Elana K. Arnold, Ellen Hopkins, and Amy Reed, raising the state’s disregard of the literary value of age-appropriate books as a free speech violation. With the three latest titles – acclaimed bestsellers Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – Utah has banned 22 books from all public schools. South Carolina has also banned 22 books statewide . McKenna Samson, program manager for PEN America’s Freedom to Read Program, said: “State laws that silence authors and prevent students from learning about important ideas violate basic freedoms under the First Amendment— the right to read, learn, and share ideas. We can’t allow censorship to take root under laws with vague prohibitions against topics deemed unacceptable by an extremist movement. The right to read is fundamental. These laws are wrong and should be struck down by the courts.” Maguire’s 1995 dark fantasy novel, reimagining The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of Elphaba, the wicked witch, inspired the hit Broadway play Wicked and two blockbuster movies. Picoult’s 2007 novel about a school shooting and Chbosky’s 1995 novel about an introverted teenager were both New York Times bestsellers, as Wicked also has been. The elevation of the three banned titles to the “no read” list was triggered this week under Utah state law, HB-29 which established a “threshold” for removing books across the state if books are banned in at least three school districts or two districts and five charter schools. The books were removed due to the law’s prohibition on “objective sensitive materials” defined as “pornographic or indecent material.” The threshold was hit when only eight of 41 school districts (and 100 charter schools) banned the three books. The lawsuit by the ACLU of Utah is one of several brought by publishers, authors, and advocacy organizations against school districts in different states, including suits by PEN America in Florida and Tennessee . The Utah ACLU quoted Vonnegut’s daughter Nanette, an artist and writer, in its press release regarding the lawsuit. “In 1975, my father Kurt Vonnegut’s book Slaughterhouse-Five was among 11 books removed from library shelves in a New York school district, leading to a landmark victory in the U.S. Supreme Court case Board of Education, Island Trees School District v. Pico ,” she said. “He regarded libraries and librarians as our most vital public institutions because ‘words are the most powerful tools we have.’” Now, more than half a century later, Utah’s lawmakers’ determination to ban books like Slaughterhouse-Five denies innumerable young people in Utah the freedom to read, think, and grow; it is antithetical to what my father fought for during World War II and focused much of his literary legacy on addressing.” Since the book ban crisis began in 2021, PEN America has documented nearly 23,000 book bans in public schools nationwide, an unprecedented number. The dangerous mix of extremist activist groups and vague legislation that has led to this wave of censorship are detailed in PEN America’s latest report . The titles that have been banned in public schools span a range of genres and topics, but generally explore issues such as race, gender, sexuality and coming-of-age experiences. The Utah “no read list” also highlights the impact of book bans on female authors, often writing about female experiences, as 17 of the 22 books banned statewide are written by women. The full list of banned titles in Utah is as follows: A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Frost and Starlight , by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Mist and Fury , by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Silver Flames , by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Wings and Ruin , by Sarah J. Maas Empire of Storms , by Sarah J. Maas What Girls are Made of , by Elana K. Arnold Milk and Honey , by Rupi Kaur Forever , by Judy Blume Tilt , by Ellen Hopkins Fallout (Crank, Book 3) , by Ellen Hopkins Oryx and Crake , by Margaret Atwood Blankets , by Craig Thompson Living Dead Girl , by Elizabeth Scott Damsel , by Elana K. Arnold Like A Love Story , by Abdi Nazemian Tricks , by Ellen Hopkins Water for Elephants , by Sarah Gruen Thirteen Reasons Why , by Jay Asher Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire Nineteen Minutes , by Jodi Picoult The Perks of Being a Wallflower , by Stephen Chbosky Learn more about PEN America’s work against book bans here. Up Next Membership 2025 Annual General Meeting: Looking to Challenges Past, Present, and Future Tuesday December 23 Andrew White Read More Banned Books Top 52 Banned Books: The Most Banned Books in U.S. Schools Tuesday December 16 Lisa Tolin Read More Banned Books New Yorkers Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Freedom to Read Act Tuesday December 9 Julia Goldberg Read More Florida Why the Florida Department of Education’s Book Ban Numbers Are a Vast Undercount Thursday December 4 William Johnson Read More Banned Books November is the Month to Celebrate Native American Culture, but the Stories That Do So Are Getting Banned Wednesday November 19 Eileen AJ Connelly Read More Banned Books ‘Super Gross Butts’ Book Judged by Silly Title Wednesday November 19 Eileen AJ Connelly Read More Florida Inside Florida’s Book Ban Fight: How Communities Push Back Tuesday November 18 William Johnson Read More Banned Books No Boo! Bans of Books Featuring Monsters, Werewolves, Witches And Ghosts Haunt Schools Nationwide Thursday October 30 Eileen AJ Connelly Read More Banned Books Banned Author List 2025: Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas, Jodi Picoult Monday October 27 Read More Banned Books Margaret Atwood, George Takei Join PEN America for Events Dialing Up The Pressure During Banned Books Week 2025 Wednesday October 15 Julia Goldberg Read More Banned Books With the Spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt as Backdrop, Book Bans Take Center Stage at Literary Awards Recognizing Authors for Their Courage Wednesday October 15 Suzanne Trimel Read More Banned Books Margaret Atwood Remarks Accepting Eleanor Roosevelt Bravery in Literature Lifetime Achievement Award Wednesday October 15 Read More View All
Legislator-access promotion receives Ivory’s support
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CAPTURE fb-01 — 2026-08-02, logged OUT (login modal dismissed; content below is what renders publicly) Share URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17ohDp6SLe/ Resolves to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/353057099906284/permalink/1345232657355385/ Group: LaVerna in the Library - Utah's Mary in the Library (id 353057099906284) Tab title: LaVerna in the Library - Utah's Mary in the Library | "It should read, Utah has attempted to protect more children than any other state." | Facebook Reactions/comments/shares shown: 48 / 16 / 2 --- get_page_text, verbatim --- Utah's book removals compared to other states Summarized by AI from the post below LaVerna in the Library - Utah's Mary in the Library · Join Brooke Stephens · Admin · January 19 · "It should read, Utah has attempted to protect more children than any other state." I will be sending Utah legislators access to the NationalBookRatingIndex.com where I am cataloging all of the book removals in schools across the nation. I am linking in proof. It is easy to see that Utah doesn't come anywhere close to other states in the number of book removals. Representative Kristen Chevrier January 19 · You may have seen this post claiming Utah "bans more books than any other state." It's catchy, but false and deliberately inflammatory. We don't ban books in Utah. Every single one of these titles remains available at public libraries, bookstores, and online retailers. Adults and parents can access them freely. What Utah does is make age-appropriate decisions about school library collections—the same kind of curation every school system in America performs. Schools have never carried every book ever published. They must make choices about what's appropriate and beneficial for children at different developmental stages. The question isn't whether schools should curate their collections—they always have and always will. The question is who decides which books are appropriate: parents and elected school boards accountable to local communities, or activists who want to override parental authority. When my colleagues and I defend parental rights in education, we're not censoring anyone. We're ensuring that decisions about what children are exposed to in taxpayer-funded institutions remain with those closest to the children—their parents and their local communities. Real book banning is when government restricts adult access to materials. That's not happening in Utah. What's happening is parents exercising their rights to guide their children's education. There's a profound difference between those two. (Inspired by John Johnson. Lightly modified for clarity and emphasis. —KC) All reactions: 48 16 comments 2 shares Like Comment Most relevant Ken Ivory Sounds like a worthy goal to protect Utah children from more vulgar and pornographic books in public schools than any other state!! 27w Gary Parker replied · 11 Replies Megan Oliverson Thanks for protecting our children 27w Cher Marie Silvius It is sad how many people lie… and manipulate the people. They inflame emotions with false rhetoric. 27w 3 View more comments 3 of 5 --- end page text --- Screenshot: fb-01-screenshot.jpg (visible: "Brooke Stephens · Admin · January 19", NationalBookRatingIndex.com rendered as a hyperlink, and the post's attached image — the "Utah has now banned more books than…" graphic being rebutted). The "January 19" year is not shown by Facebook; comment ages "27w" from 2026-08-02 put the thread at ≈late January 2026.
Facts & Fiction - PEN America
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Facts & Fiction Stories Stripped Away By Book Bans Facts & Fiction May 7, 2026 Share Facts & Fiction to Facebook Facebook Share Facts & Fiction to X X Share Facts & Fiction to Threads Threads Share Facts & Fiction to LinkedIn LinkedIn Copy Facts & Fiction to clipboard Copy Link https://pen.org/report/facts-fiction/ Event URL copied to clipboard Home / Reports / Facts & Fiction Key Findings: 44% of banned titles feature characters or people of color, the largest percentage ever in this category; 29% are nonfiction, including an astonishing range of informational books and textbooks; Despite claims of “pornography,” only 10% of banned titles included “on the page” consensual sexual experiences. PEN America Experts: Tasslyn Magnusson Senior Advisor, Freedom to Read McKenna Samson Program Manager, Freedom to Read Yuliana Tamayo Latorre Program Assistant, Freedom to Read Kasey Meehan Director, Freedom to Read The freedom to read and learn, and the right to access information, ideas, and knowledge, is among the most fundamental building blocks of a democratic society. When books are removed from schools and banned from students’ reach in libraries and classrooms, bedrock civil and human rights are violated. The content of these books that are disappearing speaks volumes both about the stories, identities, and facts that are being suppressed and about the political and cultural attack on public education across the United States. That attack on public education restricts the freedom to read for young people of this country, hindering their ability to see themselves and others, be challenged, and explore their worlds. Since 2021, PEN America has documented the magnitude of school book bans and illuminated the normalization of educational censorship in everyday American life. Our research analyzing the content of the thousands of books banned over the past five years has consistently highlighted the effort to purge stories and books that discuss race and racism, LGBTQ+ people or characters, people or characters of color, and sex from our nation’s schools. This report extends these findings, examining the content of 3,743 unique titles banned during the 2024-2025 school year and how these trends are evolving. 3743 Unique titles banned during the 2024-2025 school year Namely, in the last school year, we found a surge in the banning of nonfiction titles. We documented bans on over 1,100 unique titles that are educational or informational books for young people—textbooks or reference texts on a wide range of subjects, history books, biographies, and autobiographies. This marked impact on books anchored in scientific and historic facts, real events, and real people represents something new and distinctive about the trajectory of book bans in public schools. As nonfiction titles are not always the targets of efforts to remove books, that books on ancient Egypt, the digestive system, and self-help for teens, to name a few examples, are impacted by censorship signals an alarming spread of book bans that ignore the educational value of texts and books. Book bans are a bellwether of broader societal trends. Since 2021, book bans have reflected backlash, at times coordinated, against the mainstream acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, efforts to reckon with the country’s history of racism and inequality, and increased comfort with open discussion of sex and sexuality. For books banned in the 2024-2025 school year, a strain of anti-intellectualism, as illustrated in bans on nonfiction titles, also mirrors the broader political attack on facts and knowledge and the skepticism and devaluation of, and disdain for, experts and expertise—tactics long associated with the rise of authoritarian regimes and intended to sow distrust in democratic institutions. At a time when faith in public institutions is in jeopardy , doubt in expertise and education is on the rise, and our literacy rates are on a decline , we should be making it easier to access in schools literature that is both relatable and educational. When we limit the kinds of books that can be accessed in schools and ban certain stories from our libraries, we corrode diverse and inclusive learning environments that reflect the identities of all learners. The absence of these books limits the perspectives students can engage with and learn from, sends harmful messages about belonging and equality, and erodes the freedom to read and think. And while this censorship continues to be sweeping, so too are its effects, ultimately impacting all of us. Nonfiction Bans and the Spread of Anti-Intellectualism I believe that censorship grows out of fear, and because fear is contagious, some parents are easily swayed. Book banning satisfies their need to feel in control of their children’s lives. This fear is often disguised as moral outrage. They want to believe that if their children don’t read about it, their children won’t know about it. And if they don’t know about it, it won’t happen. Judy Blume , Author Understanding the profound impact of book bans starts with understanding the kinds of books banned. The majority of titles removed (79%) were developed and written for children and young people. During the 2024-2025 school year, over half of all unique banned titles were young adult books (57%), followed by adult literature (20%). The remaining 22% of all banned titles included middle grade, chapter, and picture books. In 2023-2024, 32% of all unique titles banned were adult titles; in the most recent school year, the proportion of adult books decreased to 20% of titles. Instead, bans on “age-appropriate” and age-relevant literature, mainly young adult, middle grade, and chapter and picture books, increased . When we take these opportunities away, we not only lose windows and mirrors , but we lose the impact of literature in the lives of young people—the ability for them to become independent readers and explore worlds on their own. A Rise in Nonfiction Bans Without knowledge, we cannot act. Battles over education are battles over freedom. Jason Stanley, Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past To Control The Future The types of banned titles are categorized as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and the counts of their removals from public schools across the country spell out the boundaries of the larger attack on public education. While fiction titles still make up the majority of banned titles, the 2024-2025 school year saw a shift in the share of nonfiction and fiction titles compared to the previous year; fiction titles dropped from 85% to 69% of all banned titles, while nonfiction rose from 14% to a startling 29% of all banned titles. Fiction titles ranged from classics like Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to modern bestsellers such as The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Nonfiction titles are wide ranging, from memoirs such as Night by Elie Wiesel to biographies such as RuPaul by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, alongside historical and educational or informational books such as Aztec, Inca & Maya by Elizabeth Baquedano and Challenges for LGBTQ Teens by Martha Lundin. Over 1,100 unique nonfiction titles were removed from library shelves during the 2024-2025 school year. Nonfiction titles in school libraries and classrooms play a critical part of K–12 education, often recognized as “ the gateway to literacy .” For instance, a study on student preferences showed that more than 80% of first graders chose nonfiction when picking out a book to own. Nonfiction books can help young people develop into readers or serve as resources for research projects. Books in this category often deal with personal, artistic, historical, and educational topics. Exposure to nonfiction increases students’ critical thinking abilities, an important tool in an era where young people are increasingly exposed to dis- and misinformation through social media and AI . Alongside the increase in nonfiction titles is a cascading increase in several genres impacted by book bans during the 2024-2025 school year. Similar to 2023-2024, realistic/contemporary and dystopia/sci-fi/fantasy remain the dominant genres banned in the 2024-2025 school year. But of note, educational/informational titles grew from 5% of all titles in 2023-2024 to 13% of total titles banned in 2024-2025, or nearly 500 unique titles. Educational and informational books in our Index are overwhelmingly nonfiction titles, primarily written for students for reference or learning purposes and covering a wide variety of subjects—art, language, politics, geography, identity, puberty, mental health, self-help—and include textbooks, dictionaries, and other reference books. Titles in this category include books like Home Life in Ancient Egypt by Leslie C. Kaplan and A Tour of Your Digestive System by Molly Kolpin and illustrated by Chris B. Jones, as well as the Living Proud! Growing Up LGBTQ books and the Coping Skills Library series . The increase in educational/informational titles within a larger erasure of nonfiction titles underscores the rising influence of anti-intellectualism in public spheres. The removal of educational/informational titles highlights the growing censorship of information, facts, and accounting of history and events available in public K–12 education across America. Common Topics in Banned Books So many teachers and librarians have told me how this book helped their students see beyond their own biases and think about community in a whole new way. Katherine Applegate , Author To understand what a book is about, we look at the book’s topics. PEN America tracked 20 themes and topics within the 2024-2025 banned titles. When looking at all titles, three topics rise to the top—nonsexual violence, death and grief, and empowerment and self-esteem. Over 2,000 titles, or 57% of all banned books, featured themes of nonsexual violence. Books in this category address war, gun violence, natural disasters, domestic violence, human trafficking, slavery and genocide, physical fighting, and more. 48% of titles covered themes of grief and death , the second most common theme across all books. Books on difficult topics like violence and death encourage debates on morality and the complexities of being human. As students watch characters navigate difficult and sometimes morally gray situations, they can reflect and refine their own understandings of their role in their own world. Removing access to these stories is disempowering and suppresses youth autonomy. Of note in the 2024-2025 school year, we saw an increase in banned titles that had themes of empowerment and self-esteem. Fictional titles with themes of empowerment include Flor Fights Back: A Stonewall Riots Survival Story by Joy Michael Ellison and illustrated by Francesca Ficorilli and The Moon Within by Aida Salazar. Of the 3,743 unique titles, 39% of them had a theme related to empowerment and self-esteem, an increase from 31% in 2023-2024. Books about empowerment and self-esteem are notable for encouraging readers to accept themselves and overcome challenges through plotlines that highlight the importance of support systems. This theme can also be represented in titles through arcs exploring determination, self-confidence, bravery, passion, empathy, and acceptance. Stories that empower readers through plotlines and literary themes serve as invaluable resources that young people might not encounter elsewhere. To remove these books from classroom and library shelves means revoking access to books that students may rely on for personal and emotional development. Further information on LGBTQ+ themes and metaphors and consensual sexual experiences can be found below. Commonly Banned Topics in Nonfiction Titles To further examine the rise of nonfiction, we looked at the themes and topics represented within nonfiction titles. Of the 1,102 nonfiction titles banned, 52% contained themes of activism and social movements, the most commonly banned topic within nonfiction titles. These are real stories and experiences erased by the censorship movement. Whether # WomensMarch: Insisting on Equality by Rebecca Felix or IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, and Carolyn Choi and illustrated by Ashley Seil Smith, this literature is crucial in the education of young people. These books can encourage readers to challenge the status quo and resist injustice. 27% of all unique banned titles featuring themes of activism and social movements 52% of all banned nonfiction titles featuring themes of activism and social movements This increase should not be a surprise, given the increased crackdown on activism and free speech by the federal government over the last year. These themes encourage young people to question authority and societal inequities, confront injustice in their communities, and participate in social changes to address disparities in the world around them. Suppressing these themes sends a message of discouragement and the need to maintain the status quo. Erasing Stories, Erasing People The function of literature is to ask questions we don’t know the answers to; to have the wild and wonderful horrible world laid bare before us; to see ourselves, to see each other; and to broaden our minds past the confines of the geography we were born to. Literature is freedom. Maggie Tokuda-Hall , Author Book bans are about not only the books but the stories of the people inside their covers. Literature is used to convey many people’s lived experiences—in both fiction and nonfiction. Bans on diverse books remove integral narratives from library and classroom shelves, eliminating marginalized people’s stories from K–12 libraries and classrooms across the country. This is detrimental. Representation in literature not only fosters interest and love of reading, as it provides a mirror to identity , but it allows, as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop and others have suggested, a “ sliding glass door ” for exploration of unknown worlds. Identities in Book Bans Tell your story. Because if you don’t it could be wiped out… What we did. What we fought for. Our history. Who we are. They won’t teach it in schools. They don’t want us to have a history. Abdi Nazemian , Author Titles featuring marginalized characters or people and communities, especially the LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and neurodivergent and disabled communities, continued to be heavily targeted in the 2024-2025 school year. Characters or People of Color Of the 3,743 unique titles banned this year, 1,664, or 44% featured characters or people of color. This percentage is nearly half of all banned titles during the 2024-2025 school year, which is the largest percentage that PEN America has ever reported in this category. In 2024, early childhood educators Sanjuana Rodriguez and Sandra Osorio published a study of banned and challenged Latine picture books. In it they concluded that “this is especially important for Latine and Black children because books that reflect their lived experiences support positive racial identity development as they shape their perceptions and understandings of who they are.” The removal and erasure of these stories and others intended for older readers is having a deeply harmful impact on the mental health and consequently the educational outcomes of students of color . The disproportionate and significant increase in bans on titles with characters of color corresponds with the larger attacks on marginalized communities. Campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion have contributed to restrictions and removals on books with people of color and mirror efforts to suppress curriculum on Indigenous history, Black history, Asian American and Pacific Islander stories, and Latine and Hispanic contributions. These efforts continue to downplay the horrors of American colonialism, imperialism, and oppression domestically and abroad. Similarly, this suppression frequently erases the contributions of people of color to progress and innovation in the United States. Race and Racism, Immigration and Refugee Stories, and Incarceration or Negative Interactions with Police I think it’s important to tell the stories [of immigrants] right now because another story is being told about immigrants, a very dehumanizing story, a very silencing story. Edwidge Danticat , Author Overlapping with stories that simply feature marginalized people, a portion of banned titles also address issues and themes relating more commonly to the experiences of those within BIPOC communities, mainly surrounding race and racism, immigration, and police reform and incarceration. Among titles banned in the 2024-2025 school year, 22% or 805, covered race and racism, such as A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry; 17% or 631, depicted incarceration or negative interactions with police, such as Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng; and 9% or 342 titles included immigration and refugee experiences, such as Santiago’s Road Home by Alexandra Diaz. At such a pivotal moment in the United States, conversations about incarceration, law enforcement, and race and racism are necessary as we navigate the intersections of immigration, ICE , and police violence. Contemporarily, immigrant children are being isolated from classrooms across America as they go into hiding for fear of incarceration at the hands of federal agents. The removal of these themes illustrates the deliberate suppression of these timely and pertinent issues. These books matter to children and young people across this country; their removal poses an additional harm on some of the most vulnerable in our communities. LGBTQ+ Characters or People More than a third of all banned titles of the past school year included books about the LGBTQ+ community. Of the 3,743 unique titles banned in 2024-2025, 1,448, or 39% featured LGBTQ+ characters or people. This is a sharp increase from 25% of the titles in the prior school year. The number of banned titles with transgender or genderqueer characters or people has also escalated. In 2023-2024, 7% of all banned titles featured trans or genderqueer characters or people. In 2024-2025, that number nearly tripled, to a startling 19%. Banned titles featuring transgender or genderqueer characters or people include young adult fantasy adventures like Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and memoirs like that of actor Elliot Page, Pageboy . According to the Williams Institute , 1% of those aged 13 and older identify as transgender in the United States, yet nearly 20% of the literature banned in 2024-2025 featured a character or story of a transgender or genderqueer person. The heightened attack on the literature representing the LGBTQ+ community, and especially trans and genderqueer identities, reflects ongoing attempts to erode civil rights of members of this community in the United States. LGBTQ+ Themes and Metaphors I hope ‘Red’ will inspire reflection about the subtle ways children become mislabeled, judging children based on their successes rather than their failures, and the unmitigated joy of finding one’s place in the world. Michael T. Hall , Author Red: A Crayon’s Story , according to Michael Hall, is a story about the courage to be yourself, no matter who you are. It also is frequently banned because some people interpret it as a specific allegory for trans identity. This is why, in addition to tracking LGBTQ+ characters and people in banned books, we also look at LGBTQ+ metaphors. This category is important because it identifies content that may be interpreted as LGBTQ+ content or has parallels to LGBTQ+ experiences or topics, such as gender nonconformity or uniqueness, whether or not the books are explicitly about LGBTQ+ people. Books in this category include titles like And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole and My Shadow Is Pink by Scott Stuart. It can also include topics related to LGBTQ+ history, like the picture book biography by Lisa Robinson Were I Not a Girl: The Inspiring and True Story of Dr. James Barry . As direct representation is removed, so too are metaphors and allusions to LGBTQ+ identities and themes in books for young readers. Access to books with LGBTQ+ topics or metaphors can be an essential lifeline for LGBTQ+ students seeking community, validation, and representation. Children’s first interactions with these topics can be educational, teaching young people through literature to accept themselves and others while respecting differences. Neurodivergent and Disabled Characters or People As demonstrated, attacks on diverse literature impact a host of experiences and identities. In 2024-2025, 377, or 10% of the banned titles detailed the experiences of characters or people who are neurodivergent or have a physical, learning, and/or developmental disability. These banned titles frequently included stories about confidence, self-esteem, or experiences with ableism. Titles in this category include a range of classics, such as To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Hannah Green. They also include modern classics like Push by Sapphire, Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, and A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold. Representation of all students in classroom literature validates their experiences, and these titles also help able-bodied and neurotypical students to better understand their neurodivergent and disabled peers and loved ones. It’s Not Porn: Sexualizing Stories, Bodies, and Violence There’s a discrepancy between the titles impacted by book bans and the justifications made to ban books. Book banners have long cited “pornography” and “sexually explicit” material in literature to justify book challenges. Claims that these books contain “explicit” or “obscene” content grossly misrepresent the materials. Sex-related content informs young people about consent, bodily autonomy, and models of healthy (sexual and nonsexual) relationships. Research shows that information about consent and sexual health has an overwhelmingly positive impact on young people, decreasing rates of sexual violence through an emphasis on self-advocacy and warning signs of abuse and decreasing rates of STIs and teen pregnancy through information about safer sex practices . Under the misguided notion that there’s pornography in schools, efforts to ban books sweep up titles with any sexual content. Books with sexual violence and abuse themes have also been a part of the swath of books targeted by the book banning movement as containing “pornographic” or “sexually explicit” content. Accusations that books with sexual violence are pornographic are a mischaracterization of their content and utterly disregard the experiences of survivors and those who see themselves in these books. Banning of Sex-Related Content If sexuality is a part of [a character’s] journey and part of the story, then of course I’m going to write about it … That’s why there is sexuality in my books: because it is part of life. Malinda Lo , Author Of all unique titles banned during the 2024-2025 school year, more than a third (34% or 1,270) featured consensual sexual experiences, compared to 40% or 1,680, during the 2023-2024 school year. This decrease emphasizes how broad attacks on “sexually explicit” materials sweep up all kinds of books—the majority of which have no mentions of sexual experiences whatsoever. We also examined consensual sexual content through the lens of “on the page” and “off the page” scenes and descriptions. Off-the-page scenes are those in which the experience happens beyond the narration, often leaving the experience to a reader’s imagination through implied references or a fade-to-black approach. Books with on-the-page sexual experiences between characters, however, contain more descriptive scenes. Sometimes titles have both. In our analysis, only 10% of titles banned in 2024–25 (or 377 of 3,743) actually contain on-the-page consensual sexual content, suggesting a widespread oversexualization in the rhetoric that is used to justify banning these books. Lastly, titles with sexual health and puberty education composed 8% of all unique banned titles, which was double the proportion from the previous school year (4%). Books with sexual education themes include titles like You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth and The Little Black Book for Girlz: A Book on Healthy Sexuality by St. Stephen’s Community House. The Sexualization of Nudity It just seems such a shame. How is it hurting someone, for goodness’s sake? Everybody sees themselves naked in the mirror. Don Nardo , Author The cries of “pornography” or “sexually explicit material” in schools and in state legislation targeting sexual content have led to a large number of books with any nudity being banned. Of books banned during the 2024-2025 school year, 293, or 8% of all unique titles included nudity (informational or artistic). Books about art and historical books about ancient civilizations such as Greece, Egypt, and more have been banned for containing nudity. As have picture books such as Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle, which was banned in Florida, Iowa, and Texas . The mere presence of a nude body is not inherently sexual or pornographic. Nudity can be used in instruction around anatomy or biology, education about historical artifacts and works of art. It can also encourage conversations around bodies, consent, and artistic license. Under the guise of removing all “explicit” or “inappropriate” material, students’ access to important knowledge about sex, bodies, and health is being taken away. As school districts struggle to comply with overly vague state laws , books with any reference to sexual experiences, puberty, and sexual health information, as well as mere depictions of naked bodies, are all being swept off the shelves. Sexual Violence is Violence: Depictions in Literature I’ve watched with dismay as the sexual violence I experienced as a child has been labeled pornography, dismissed as fiction, called part of a ‘pedophile agenda’. Julia Scheeres , Author In our content analysis, we make a distinction between consensual sexual experiences and nonconsensual sexual violence, which includes rape, sexual abuse, and sexual assault. People who are using rhetoric of sexual explicitness to attack literature far too often ignore this distinction and equate sexual violence with sexual content . In 2024-2025, 724, or 19% of all banned titles contained sexual violence. According to RAINN , 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. With so many of these titles banned since 2021, it is possible that some young people who have experienced sexual violence no longer have access to books that could help them. Young people who have experienced sexual violence should be able to find literature to which they relate and that can help them through that experience, instead of seeing their own pain and abuse mischaracterized and censored. Books containing experiences of sexual violence include The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, set in a 1960s Southern juvenile reform school, and Laurie Halse Anderson’s memoir Shout , a call to action for sexual abuse and trauma survivors in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Such stories are not sexual but violent —and they have important value for the students who seek them out and want to learn from them. To suggest otherwise distorts and ignores the true content of these titles, the intentions of their authors, and the experiences of their readers. Conclusion The public has only just jumped on board with celebrating inclusive books and truly supporting them with dollars and library checkouts. To have those same books and identities threatened again, and so quickly, is disturbing. I am worried for our democracy. I worry for our children. I worry for every person whose identity is being censored. Charlotte Sullivan Wild , Author Book bans withhold knowledge from young readers, erase stories of the past and present, and reinforce growing distrust in public institutions. Reducing complex, diverse stories to “sexual content” to justify censorship is both inaccurate and harmful to everyone—readers, educators, librarians, and community members alike. Removing books that feature people of color and LGBTQ+ people and themes sends harmful messages to students about belonging and restricts opportunities for all young people to both see themselves reflected in books and empathize with the experiences of others. Censoring away nonfiction titles on topics relevant to young readers, like social movements and activism, puts extreme limits on the information and knowledge detailing real events and real people. As the literacy crisis ripples across the country, we know learners are more likely to engage with literature that piques their interest. Teachers report that their students are more enthusiastic readers when diverse books are available to them, whether they are reading fiction and nonfiction titles for pleasure or seeking reference books for educational purposes. During a pivotal time in the United States, the ongoing disempowerment of historically marginalized communities, the distrust in public schools and expertise, and the normalization of book bans and educational censorship illustrate conditions long associated with the rise of authoritarianism. At what point do we decide that the erasure of literature, stories, and histories and the disdain for expertise have hit a breaking point? The fact is, educational censorship in our schools affects us all. As the author and senator Paul Wellstone once said , “We all do better when we all do better.” H.R. 7661 , a federal censorship bill introduced in February, must be stopped . Bans on books in schools and libraries across the country must not go on. The freedom to read is for all of us to uphold. Join us now in speaking for books, readers, authors, and freedom. Methodology PEN America tracks book ban cases occurring in public school districts across the United States. A ban case represents the banning of a title in a school district. A title is banned when an action is taken against a book based on its content, either as a result of parent or community challenges or administrative decisions or in response to direct or threatened action by government officials. A book ban leads either to the complete removal of a book’s availability to students or to restricted or diminished access to a book. Multiple copies of the book may be banned across schools in the district, but they will be featured only once as a ban case. The banning of a single book title can mean that anywhere from one to hundreds of copies are pulled from libraries or classrooms in a school district, and often, the same title is banned in libraries, classrooms, or both in a single district. We also track the banning of unique titles . If the same book is banned in 10 school districts, that would count as 10 bans (10 book ban cases) but one unique title. The data presented in this report is based on total unique titles banned during the 2024-2025 school year, rather than total cases of book bans. This report examines 3,743 unique titles extracted from our Index of School Book Bans, which records 6,870 book ban cases during the 2024-2025 school year. Using a team of staff researchers, expert consultants, and author volunteers, each unique title was reviewed across 37 variables, primarily the type of book (e.g., genre, age level) and content within the title (e.g., LGBTQ+ characters or people, sexual experiences between characters). Final coding was reviewed, cleaned, and analyzed by PEN America’s research team. A small reduction (9 titles) in our initially reported count of unique banned titles (3,752) occurred in the process of analysis because of incidental duplicates. This did not impact the total number of book ban cases reported in the 2024-2025 school year (6,870). For more information about our standard methodology and definitions, please visit our 2024-2025 report, The Normalization of Book Banning , our frequently asked questions page, and the PEN America Index of School Book Bans – 2024-2025 . Acknowledgements This report was written by Freedom to Read Program experts Tasslyn Magnusson, senior advisor, McKenna Samson, program manager, and Yuliana Tamayo Latorre, program assistant. Data analysis was reviewed by Sabrina Baêta and additional support was provided by Madison Markham, program coordinator. The report was reviewed and edited by Kasey Meehan, director, freedom to read and Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms managing director, U.S. Free Expression Programs. This brief details a comprehensive analysis of the content and themes present in banned books. We thank the following individuals for providing key support in coding the content and themes of banned titles: Octavia Driscoll, Daniel Shank Cruz, and Sanobar Wilkins. PEN America is grateful for support from the Endeavor Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, and the Long Ridge Foundation, which made this report possible. We also thank key partners in this work, including Authors Against Book Bans , EveryLibrary and EveryLibrary Institute, American Library Association , the Florida Freedom to Read Project , Let Utah Read , the Texas Freedom to Read Project and many more. This work is deeply informed by Censorship News Reports from Kelly Jensen at Book Riot . Learn More Facts & Fiction The content of these books that are disappearing speaks volumes about the political and cultural attack on public education across the U.S. Read More The Bills Igniting Book Bans Learn more about how state laws are propelling book bans at the local level and the impact they are having on schools and students. Read More The Normalization of Book Banning This report offers a window into the complex and extensive climate of censorship between July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Read More The Blueprint State A wave of education laws in Florida has had a detrimental impact on the state’s schools, chilling the climate for teaching and learning. Read More Cover to Cover Introduction In the 2023-2024 school year, there were more than 10,000 instances of banned books in public schools, affecting more than 4,000 unique titles. These mass book bans were often the result of targeted campaigns to remove books with characters of color, LGBTQ+ identities, and sexual content from public school classrooms and libraries. As book… Read More Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves For the last three school years, PEN America has recorded instances of book bans in public schools nationwide. In that time, efforts to erase certain stories and identities from school libraries have not only intensified; book bans have become a bellwether of the chilling of public education writ large. As this report on the 2023-24… Read More
Banned Nonfiction Books Double in Public Schools, Erasing Authentic Stories & Histories - PEN America
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Banned Nonfiction Books Double in Public Schools, Erasing Authentic Stories & Histories By Removing Nonfiction, Book Ban Campaigns Embrace “Anti-Intellectualism” Banned Books Educational Censorship May 7, 2026 (NEW YORK)— In its latest report on book bans in public schools, PEN America today documents a doubling of censorship of nonfiction on subjects from history and health to general knowledge, including biographies and memoirs. The targeting of titles about real events or people underscores “an embrace of anti-intellectualism” within the book banning movement, according to the new report Facts & Fiction: Stories Stripped Away By Book Bans . The report offers detailed analysis of the content of the 3,743 unique titles that were removed from school libraries and classrooms from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Over this same period, PEN America tracked 6,780 total instances of bans across 23 states. Twenty-nine percent of the unique titles banned last school year were nonfiction. In addition, approximately 13% of all unique titles fell into the educational/informational genre – texts primarily written for students for reference or learning purposes and covering a range of subjects. Overall, the rise of banned nonfiction and educational titles exposed a new casualty in the campaign to suppress and restrict learning, which goes hand in hand with efforts to undermine public education and librarianship itself, the report states. “This latest trend shows an embrace of anti-intellectualism , undermining public knowledge by devaluing education and expertise,” said Kasey Meehan, director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read program. “It is another example of how censorship sweeps broadly, leading to removals of all kinds of books, in its efforts to sow fear and distrust in our public education system.” As book bans in public schools have exploded since 2021, PEN America, the writers and free expression organization, has documented the crisis nationwide, counting more than 23,000 bans over the period. The increase in nonfiction bans over 2024-2025 is especially troubling as reading scores and literacy rates decline while the report notes that nonfiction “ is the gateway to literacy ” and essential for young people to make sense of the world and form their own opinions. Books in this category often deal with personal, artistic, historical, and educational topics – just this month, Utah added the memoir of Jaycee Dugard , who was abducted from the street at age 11 and held for 18 years, to its list of books banned statewide. Nonfiction books banned included titles for young adult and middle grade readers: Night by Elie Wiesel, biographies such as RuPaul by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, alongside historical and educational or informational books such as Aztec, Inca, and Maya by Elizabeth Baquedano, and Challenges for LGBTQ Teens by Martha Lundin. Notably, activism was the most commonly banned topic within nonfiction titles. Of the 1,102 nonfiction titles banned, 52% were titles with themes of activism and social movements. Relatedly, out of all unique titles, 39% of the books had a theme related to empowerment/self esteem. Banned titles among these include Flor Fights Back: A Stonewall Riots Survival Story by Joy Michale Ellison and illustrated by Francesca Ficorilli, The Moon Within by Aida Salazar, and Intersection Allies: We Make Room For All by Chelsea Johnson, LaToya Council, Charolyn Choi and illustrated by Ashley Seil Smith. McKenna Samson, a co-author of the report and Freedom to Read program manager, noted the harms of removing books on empowerment and social movements at a time when school boards, state legislators, and the federal government are restricting speech. She said: “These titles help students learn about their rights and the stories of those who confronted injustice and participated in social movements to change the world around them.” Another co-author, Yuliana Tamayo Latorre, Freedom to Read program assistant, said removing books on these topics “silences the voices of marginalized communities and erode their ability to take action amid rising authoritarian tactics by our government and attacks on free speech.” PEN America’s analysis showed literature featuring people and characters with marginalized identities and communities continued to be the predominant target of book bans; These titles focus on LGBTQ+ (39 % of banned books) and transgender (19%) characters or people, Black and other characters or people of color (44%), and disabled and neurodivergent characters or people (10%). The report notes that book bans that target people of color have deeply harmful impacts on the mental health of students of color – and consequently the educational outcomes of students of color . As stated in the report, representation in literature provides a mirror to identity and offers a “ sliding glass door ” to explore unknown worlds. The bans on books about disabilities and neurodivergence – making up 10% of all banned titles — not only erases the potential validation of the experience of students receiving accommodations or special education but the titles also help their able-bodied and neurotypical peers to better understand them. Banned titles in this category include a range of classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and and “modern classics” like Push by Sapphire and A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold. The report also debunks myths about books with sexual content, also a key target in the spread of book bans since 2021 with groups and individuals wrongly labelling books “pornography.” During the 2024-2025 school year, more than one third (34%) of all unique titles or 1,270 books feature consensual sexual experiences, a decrease proportion from the prior school year in which 40% or 1,680 of all banned titles included consensual sexual experiences. While over a third of the books removed contained some sexual content, claims that the books contain “explicit” or “obscene” content grossly mischaracterize the book titles. Sex education books were also banned from every intended age group including titles like You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty and Other Things by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth and The Little Black Book for Girlz: A Book on Healthy Sexuality by St. Stephen’s Community House. Books with sexual references are often swept up in bans as the result of new laws that target the topic; these sweeps scoop up books with any nudity as well. Books about art and historical books about ancient civilizations such as Greece, Egypt and more have been banned for containing nudity. Though the exposure of a naked human is not inherently sexual, nudity is cited as justification for censorship. Books about sexual violence have been caught up in the removals, also falsely labeled as “porn,” which invalidates the experiences of survivors. In 2024-2025, 724 or 19% of all banned titles contained sexual violence, which impacts 443,000 young people 12 and older every year, according to RAINN . Using rhetoric of “ sexual explicitness” to attack literature ignores the distinction between sex and violence, harmfully equating sexual violence with sexual content . Tasslyn Magnusson, co-author and Freedom to Read senior advisor, said: “Young people who have had sexually violent experiences deserve information that helps them understand the harm caused to them and stories that show survival from violent sexual trauma. Removing knowledge about sexual violence creates a silence — and that silence only serves abusers. Books aren’t harmful – censorship is.” The rampant spread of book bans continues to be alarming, and the stories ripped from shelves point to ongoing efforts to erase LGBTQ+ identities & people of color, repress sexuality and openness around sex, and dismiss expertise and devalue education. This ongoing assault has taken a new path with recent bills introduced in the U.S. Congress that would withhold federal funds from school districts over books vaguely described as having “sexually-oriented material,” which likely would target books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters. The normalization of book bans echoes conditions long associated with the rise of authoritarianism. As censorship sweeps books from library shelves, the rippling consequences ultimately impact all of us. About PEN America PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org . Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected] , [contact redacted]
Jordan School District | Rated Books
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Jordan School District JSD Library Media Policy Rated 5/4 Map (5/1/23) Rated 4/3 Map (5/1/23) Rated 3A Map (5/1/23) Rated 3B Map (5/1/23) Important Forms: Material Review Committee Parent Application Review Request Form Appeal Request Form Books in Jordan Link to February 2025 most current list . The below books below were all found to be in Jordan School District in April 2023. You can verify book locations by searching Follett . Watch this video to teach you how to search your school. Filter by All 5/5 Rating (Deviant Content/Aberrant Content) 4/5 Rating (Adults Only/Not for Minors) 3/5 Rating (Youth Restricted/Minor Restricted) 3/5 Rating Slaughterhouse-Five: Graphic Novel by Kurt Vonnegut with Ryan North 4/5 Rating Yolo by Lauren Myracle 4/5 Rating This is Kind of an Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender 4/5 Rating The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed 4/5 Rating The Duff by Kody Keplinger 4/5 Rating Storm and Fury: Harbinger Book 1 by Jennifer L. Armentrout 4/5 Rating Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 4/5 Rating Shine by Lauren Myracle 4/5 Rating From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout 4/5 Rating Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk 4/5 Rating A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess 3/5 Rating Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles 3/5 Rating The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis 4/5 Rating Blazed by Jason Myers 5/5 Rating A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard 3/5 Rating A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R.R. Martin 4/5 Rating A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin 5/5 Rating Collected Poems 1947-1980 by Allen Ginsberg 4/5 Rating One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston 4/5 Rating Man O' War by Cory McCarthy 3/5 Rating We Are the Ants by Shaun Davis Hutchinson 5/5 Rating Tricks by Ellen Hopkins 4/5 Rating Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur 4/5 Rating The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur 3/5 Rating Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 3/5 Rating Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 4/5 Rating Red Hood by Elana Arnold 3/5 Rating Traffick by Ellen Hopkins 3/5 Rating The Kite Runner Graphic Novel by Khaled Hosseini 3/5 Rating Fade by Lisa McMann 3/5 Rating The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood 4/5 Rating Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 3/5 Rating The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones 3/5 Rating Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover 3/5 Rating Slammed by Colleen Hoover 4/5 Rating Damsel by Elana Arnold 4/5 Rating It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 4/5 Rating Breathless by Jennifer Niven 3/5 Rating Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda by J.P. Stassen 3/5 Rating Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin 4/5 Rating House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J Maas 4/5 Rating Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood 4/5 Rating Perfect by Ellen Hopkins 4/5 Rating House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas 4/5 Rating The Haters by Jesse Andrews 4/5 Rating The Nerdy and the Dirty by B T Gottfred 4/5 Rating Identical by Ellen Hopkins 4/5 Rating What Girls Are Made Of by Elena K Arnold Embedded publisher metadata businessName: Rated Books homePageTitle: Home
Survey Draft
Public correspondence reading copy
Subject: Survey Draft Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:17:09 +0000 From: "Mike Green" <[contact redacted]> To: "Emily Green" <[contact redacted]>, "Emily Green" <[contact redacted]>
Library Review Survey Document Review
Public correspondence reading copy
Subject: Library Review Survey Document Review Date: Tue, 4 Aug 2026 23:27:07 +0000 From: Emily Green <[contact redacted]> To: Joseph Kerry <[contact redacted]>, Rod Hall <[contact redacted]>, Cole Kelley <[contact redacted]>, Erin Longacre <[contact redacted]> Dear Fellow Board Members, I hope this finds you well! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this week. Over the past several months, I have been working to develop a set of questions that I believe will help guide the Library Review approved by the Standards and Assessment Committee and Law and Licensing Committee. While the review document provides a solid framework, I have not yet seen a comprehensive list of questions that will help us fully understand the processes and relationships involved in library procurement and collection development. The attached document is intended to serve as a companion to the review document. It aligns with each section of the proposed review and offers questions that may help ensure our work is thorough, objective, and informative. My hope is that it can be used throughout the review as a reference to identify where additional information may be needed. This will help us better understand the front end of the library curation and procurement process, including how materials are selected, recommended, acquired, and ultimately placed in our school libraries. A meaningful review requires understanding the entire ecosystem, including funding, purchasing, practices, distributor and vendor relationships, professional standards, and the roles of organizations that influence collection development. These sections will follow the timelines as recommended in the Library Review Document currently in board backup to ensure it is done thoroughly and incrementally. I would greatly appreciate your feedback on these questions. If there are additional areas you believe should be explored, or questions that should be refined, please let me know. My goal is to ensure this review is as comprehensive and useful as possible. I'm sending this to all board members this evening and it has been submitted for board backup. I hope this is helpful. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to our discussion. Sincerly, Emily [cid:0eded7c8-ecb7-4891-8af5-30aa55749db6]
INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS | PEP.org
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Book Galleries and Lists Inappropriate Books Found in NC Schools The books seen on our site have been read and reviewed by our team and other groups working together nationally. These books are available in school media centers and libraries in North Carolina. The PEP Team partnered with Rated Books to show a growing group of books that have questionable content and graphics. These books are also often available in classroom libraries or as digital media. We believe: Parents have a right to know what is available to their children in the schools and through media. Many books are age inappropriate, promote harmful ideologies, include explicit sexual and violent content, and should not be available to children for group or independent reading in public school without parental knowledge and consent. Most books are developmentally inappropriate for elementary, middle schools or high school students. Rubrics and rating scales should be used choosing books for children. Rated Books provides a method for evaluating books using a rubric or rating scale similar to the movie industry. Parents and guardians will find it helpful when determining if a book is suitable for their child. School staff must evaluate books with a more detailed and rigorous rating tool when purchasing books and addressing book challenges. See below. Red flag systems and secluded books behind a librarian's desk will not be enough to keep inappropriate literature out of a child's hands. It will require media specialists or staff to become book police, wasting precious time and resources in management. Parent must take action. The mental health of our young is at stake. We can no longer trust that the adults in charge hold or promote values similar to yours. Check my Child's School BOOK GALLERIES Gender Ideology/LGBTQ+ Comprehensive Rating Scale PRINTABLE Search Lists PEP BY AUTHOR Book Search List Sexually Inappropriate Harmful to Minors Books 8/22/2024 Gender Ideologies May 2026 COPY.xlsx Gender Ideologies List May2026.docx North Carolina Book Locations If you do not see your child's school district, it may be in the works. We could use your assistance to complete the work. Join our team. Join our Team Evaluating Children's Books for Media Centers and Libraries School districts throughout our country struggle to find a tool that educators can use in decision making which books to purchase and when evaluating challenged books for their content and placement. While none is perfect, the policy and model used in Keller Independent School District, Texas is a fine example. Rating scales used in North Carolina should adhere to NC § 14-190.1. Obscene literature and exhibitions. It can be viewed here. View KISD documents here COMPREHENSIVE RATING SCALE RatedBooks.org is a website that provides detailed content reviews and ratings for thousands of books (over 33,000+), with a focus on titles commonly found in school libraries. The site offers short summaries, cover images, content warnings, age-range filters, and in-depth reports so that readers, families, and educators can make informed choices and avoid surprises. The National Book Rating Index (or NBRI ) is RatedBooks.org’s expanded database and subscription service. It builds on their reviews with advanced search features, library inventory matching/audits for schools and districts, side-by-side comparisons from multiple review sources, and tracking of book challenges or removals. It aims to provide institutions and parents with a comprehensive, professional-style tool for evaluating and managing book collections based on content transparency. View it here. Our Recommended Rating and Tier System Rating scales used in North Carolina should adhere to NC § 14-190.1. Obscene literature and exhibitions. It can be viewed here. We believe an amendment is necessary to strengthen NC § 14-190.15. Disseminating harmful material to minors; exhibiting harmful performances to minors. View the statute here . View our model amendment here. Obscenity Law Amendment (Final).docx OPT in or OPT out..Student Access to Ebooks and Audio Books Through Public Libraries Many school districts offer access to ebooks located within nearby public libraries. Some use app links to Sora, Libby, or Overdrive. Most participating schools in NC use a program called Student Access. We believe this was a practice that began during Covid shut down with the intention of providing reading material to all students. Many districts have continued the practice, along with a program called NCKids Digital, funded by the NC General Assembly. NC Cardinal is a program of the State Library of North Carolina, supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Federal Library Services and Technology Act. These apps and programs are available to students on the school issued devices. We are concerned that filters are not in place and may leave students vulnerable. We are also concerned that some of the books included would introduce gender identity and ideology to students before 4th grade. Parents need to thoroughly explore the practices and policies of their district regarding these apps. If you believe your child is at risk, don't hesitate to OPT OUT of these programs. There are other apps that we will discuss at a later date. Sample from Henderson County Sample from Iredell-Statesville Schools Check the books in North Carolina Schools through the Book Locations/Schools Page Don't see your school district? Join our team and be part of a volunteer network. Contact Us/ Join Our Team Embedded publisher metadata homePageTitle: HOME
Allies | Protect Salado Kids
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Allies Note: These website summaries are gently-edited versions of the “About” page on each website. Advocates Protecting Children Advocates Protecting Children is a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to fighting the gender industry, and especially its predation on children in the form of unethical social and medical transition for the sake of political and financial profit. We serve and support churches, schools, organizations, families, and individuals who seek facts and guidance on responding to gender ideology and activism. Learn more… Association of Library Professionals The mission of the Association of Library Professionals is rooted in the values of institutional neutrality, open inquiry, individual liberty, freedom of thought and speech, and intellectual freedom. It is committed to upholding the core principles of librarianship and supporting the ability of library workers to serve the needs of individual users and communities without advancing specific political agendas. Learn more… Child & Parental Rights Campaign Child & Parental Rights Campaign (CPR-C) is a non-partisan, non-profit public interest law firm whose mission is to defend the well-being of children and the rights of parents against the harms caused by gender identity ideology. At its core, it is a campaign, waged in the legal system, the legislative arena, and the local community, that seeks to protect the basic rights of children and parents. Learn more… Child Protection League Child Protection League (CPL) was created by parents and community members who opposed a proposed Minnesota state law in 2013. CPL promotes the welfare of children and protects them from exploitation, indoctrination, and violence. We educate citizens on issues that protect or threaten the safety of children. We equip and activate parents and the public to reclaim self-governance and to expose and defeat the cultural revolution in our midst. Learn more… Courage Is A Habit We believe that parents instinctively know how to protect their children’s innocence. Our mission is to create actionable tools for parents so they can confidently fight for their children without apology. Learn more… Freedom Forever Freedom Forever is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting children from abuse, trafficking and exploitation in all forms. Our #1 mission is to identify the vulnerabilities and access points so we can intervene before more kids are groomed, abused and exploited. Our activism work includes education initiatives, policy advocacy, local & national demonstrations, investigative journalism and grass roots community engagement. Learn more… Miriam Grossman, M.D. Miriam Grossman, M.D., is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. Dr. Grossman’s practice focuses on gender-distressed young people and their parents. She believes that every child is born in the right body. Dr. Grossman has been vocal about the capture of her profession by ideologues, leading to dangerous and experimental treatments on children and betrayal of parents. Her expert psychiatric opinion is sought for witness testimony and court reports. Learn more… No Shushing Now: Exposing Today’s Woke Libraries A newsletter which exposes the truth about what’s really going on in public, school, and academic libraries. Learn more… Our Country Our Children We provide parents and communities with the information required to recognize child trafficking and all forms of neglect and abuse in our neighborhoods and provide the legal tools to do something about it at the local, state and national level. OCOC also provides evidenced-based information, acts as a platform to share peoples experiences and knowledge, and networks actively with like minded citizens and organizations. Learn more… Parents of ROGD Kids Parents of ROGD Kids support groups have been established to give parents and primary caregivers a confidential and safe place to express their concerns regarding transgender identities as asserted or adopted by our children, and to receive support from others who share those concerns. Our groups provide every participant with the opportunity to speak freely about their own personal situation, without fear of judgment. Learn more… Protect Child Health Coalition The Protect Child Health Coalition is a network of people and organizations representing diverse fields who believe that all children should be protected from harmful materials, especially pornographic, obscene, or erotic materials. We are a nonpartisan coalition that welcomes people of all faiths (and of no faith) who have an interest in protecting the health and innocence of children. Learn more… Protect Childhood Substack This Substack is published by Christin Bentley, State Republican Executive Committeewoman from SD-1 and chair of the legislative priority subcommittee Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids. Follow this page to stay up to date on what you can do to help clean up children’s libraries, including in their public schools and larger communities. Learn more… Protect Kids Colorado Protect Kids Colorado seeks to educate, unify, and mobilize dads, moms, grandparents, business owners, community leaders, elected representatives and every member of society to protect the kids from becoming minions of “false truths”. Our heart is to mobilize the Church to engage with biblical and medical truth. Our goal is to educate our audience and connect them with resources and organizations across Colorado, creating a social movement. Learn more… Rated Books Unlike books’ younger cousins in the media family, books remain unrated. This didn’t used to be an issue, but graphic and explicit content has made its way into books on library shelves. To protect our children from this obscenity, we read and rate books. We present the evidence so that parents and schools can choose wisely and protect our vulnerable youth from pornography as well as other materials harmful to minors. Learn more… Safe Schools Safe Libraries The National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s Safe Schools, Safe Libraries project is a grassroots campaign designed to empower parents throughout the country with the tools needed to identify the local schools and public libraries where children are at risk. Using our tactics, many concerned citizens around the country have been able to get their local schools and libraries to improve policies. Learn more… SafeLibraries SafeLibraries is the blog of Dan Kleinman, a long-time defender of children’s innocence in the library setting. Mr. Kleinman uses his background as a patent attorney to make sure the ALA and librarians follow the law to protect children. His blog has many excellent resources for citizens who want to keep libraries a safe space for kids. Learn more… Texas Coalition for Kids Texas Coalition for Kids is a nonprofit organization that defends children against the toxic, indoctrinating agenda of the Left. We aim to expose the Left’s attempts to propel these ideologies along with the people, sources, and institutions behind them. Learn more… Texas Family Project Strong families are the foundation of a healthy and thriving Texas, and we exist to advocate for policies and initiatives that empower parents to raise their children in safe, nurturing environments. We do this through Activism, Legislation, and Community. Learn more… Texas Values The Texas Values mission is to preserve and advance a culture of family values in the state of Texas. The Texas Values vision is to stand for biblical, Judeo-Christian values by ensuring Texas is a state in which religious liberty flourishes, families prosper, and every human life is valued. Learn more…
Davis review-cost model: about $674 per title
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# Davis book challenges: annual volume and estimated review cost Prepared October 18, 2026. The district tracker reports a last refresh of October 17, 2026, at 17:08:13.43. ## Findings Davis recorded fewer new title submissions in 2025–26 than in 2022–23: 56 compared with 71, a 21.1% decrease. The number of titles with a recorded committee decision fell by less: 51 compared with 55, a 7.3% decrease. Both measures rebounded from 2024–25. At the same September 2026 cost benchmark for every year, the illustrative review cost declines from about $37,063 in 2022–23 to $34,367 in 2025–26. The model therefore shows a 7.3% decrease between those years. It does not establish the district's actual spending or its change over time. ## Annual figures School years are defined here as July 1 through June 30. Dollar amounts are calculated before rounding to the nearest dollar. | School year | Titles by submission date | Titles with dated committee decisions | Illustrative review cost, September 2026 dollars | |---|---:|---:|---:| | 2022–23 | 71 | 55 | $37,063 | | 2023–24 | 10 | 54 | $36,389 | | 2024–25 | 26 | 23 | $15,499 | | 2025–26 | 56 | 51 | $34,367 | | 2026–27, partial through October 17, 2026 | 28 | 16 | $10,782 | The partial year is not a full-year forecast. Its values should not be compared with full-year totals as evidence of an annual decline. ## What the two count series measure **Title submissions** count distinct title records by the public tracker's `Submission Date`. These are not counts of request forms, individual complainants, copies, or statewide bans. The complete public snapshot contains 222 unique title records. Its annual submission totals independently match the title totals in the existing DSD Banned Books Spreadsheet. **Titles with dated committee decisions** count each title once using the public field `Objective Committee Date of Decision`. This field is used for dating only. Historical records include several committee types, so the chart does not label every entry as an objective review. A committee decision can occur in a different school year from the original submission. The chart counts a dated committee decision even when a later stage remains open. In 2025–26, the 51 dated titles comprise 49 currently labeled `Review Completed` and two labeled `Review Ongoing`. All 16 dated titles in the partial 2026–27 period are currently labeled ongoing. Excluding those rows would incorrectly erase recorded committee activity. The model assigns one review allowance per dated title. The public tracker does not provide a complete annual count of every reading, meeting, committee stage, repeat review, or appeal. Its generic `Decision Date` sometimes reflects an appeal, so it is not used to place committee work in a year. ## Cost model Kelly Jensen's March 4, 2022 example totals $575: $155 for books and 28 person-hours at $15 per hour. The time allowance represents seven people spending two hours reading and two hours discussing a title. Paperwork is excluded. This is an illustrative assumption, not a measured Davis cost. The inflation adjustment uses the national CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted: | Model input | Value | |---|---:| | March 2022 CPI-U | 287.504 | | September 2026 CPI-U | 336.940 | | Inflation factor | 1.1719489120151372 | | September 2026 benchmark per dated title | $673.8706244087039 | **Annual illustrative cost = number of dated titles × $575 × 336.940 ÷ 287.504.** The chart displays approximately $674 per title, consistent with the earlier rough figure of $675. The same unrounded benchmark is applied to every year. This isolates volume differences from inflation; the historical bars are expressed in September 2026 dollars, not in each year's nominal dollars. Paperwork, appeals, additional review stages and work on titles without a recorded committee date are unpriced. The chart is not a comprehensive cost estimate or an observed payroll total. If administrative time is later added under Jensen's original labor assumption, each additional person-hour would add $17.5792 in September 2026 dollars. Actual staffing, compensation, book purchases and hours could differ from the benchmark. ## Source date issues retained Two titles submitted in 2022–23 have committee dates recorded in the preceding school year: | Title | Submission date | Recorded committee date | |---|---|---| | Milk and Honey | September 20, 2022 | January 30, 2022 | | The Kite Runner | November 3, 2022 | May 30, 2022 | These dates were preserved, not silently corrected. They therefore do not contribute to the chart's 2022–23 committee count. No committee date within the four full school years shown precedes its corresponding submission date. The snapshot includes 31 submission records and three recorded committee dates in 2021–22. Two of those three dates are the anomalies above; this early bucket is outside the displayed comparison. The chart starts with 2022–23. `99 Days` has two dates in the committee-date cell: `9/26/2025; 11/5/2025`. Both are in 2025–26, and the title is counted once. The script raises an error if a future input contains multiple committee dates spanning school years, rather than silently choosing a year. These are counts of what the current tracker records, not a certification that every historical committee action is present or correctly dated. Correcting source dates or obtaining a full event log could change annual totals. ## Sources 1. [Davis School District, Sensitive Materials Review](https://www.davis.k12.ut.us/o/dsd/page/sensitive-materials-review), including its embedded public Power BI tracker. Retrieved October 18, 2026; dataset refresh October 17, 2026. The public query returned all 222 rows, matching its reported row count. 2. [Public Davis Power BI report](https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZjhmMTJkNGYtNDZkNi00MDg4LWEwZmEtM2EzOWE1OWYyYjBlIiwidCI6IjNkOWNmMjc0LTU0N2UtNGFmNS04ZGRlLTAxYTYzNmUwYjYwNyIsImMiOjZ9). 3. [Kelly Jensen, “How Much Does a Book Challenge Cost?” Book Riot, March 4, 2022](https://bookriot.com/book-censorship-news-march-4-2022/). 4. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2022 CPI release](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_04122022.htm), published April 12, 2022. 5. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Table 1](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t01.htm), displaying September 2026 when retrieved October 18, 2026. This live page will change with future releases; the input value used here is recorded above. ## Reproducing the chart The analysis archive contains this note, the chart, the factual source fields used in the analysis, the derived annual counts and formulas, and `build_chart.py`. Run the script with Python 3, matplotlib and numpy installed. It reads the supplied snapshot and needs no network access. The source snapshot retains title, author, status, submission date, request count, recorded decision dates, committee type and final outcome. Committee feedback text is not needed for the calculation and is omitted. Submission timestamps were converted to ISO dates; committee dates and statuses retain their source text.
davis-book-review-analysis
Source details
{
"scope": "Davis School District",
"snapshot_last_refresh": "2026-10-17T17:08:13.43",
"school_year_definition": "July 1 through June 30",
"dollar_basis": "Constant September 2026 US dollars",
"model": {
"jensen_original_usd": 575,
"cpi_u_march_2022": 287.504,
"cpi_u_september_2026": 336.94,
"benchmark_cost_usd": 673.8706244087039,
"formula": "Dated title count * 575 * 336.940 / 287.504",
"admin_hourly_if_added_usd": 17.57923368022706,
"admin_hours_included": 0,
"interpretation": "One benchmark review per title with a recorded committee date; not observed district expenditure."
},
"annual_summary": [
{
"school_year": "2022–23",
"partial_year": false,
"title_submissions": 71,
"titles_with_dated_committee_decisions": 55,
"benchmark_cost_usd": 673.8706244087039,
"illustrative_total_usd": 37062.88434247871
},
{
"school_year": "2023–24",
"partial_year": false,
"title_submissions": 10,
"titles_with_dated_committee_decisions": 54,
"benchmark_cost_usd": 673.8706244087039,
"illustrative_total_usd": 36389.01371807001
},
{
"school_year": "2024–25",
"partial_year": false,
"title_submissions": 26,
"titles_with_dated_committee_decisions": 23,
"benchmark_cost_usd": 673.8706244087039,
"illustrative_total_usd": 15499.024361400188
},
{
"school_year": "2025–26",
"partial_year": false,
"title_submissions": 56,
"titles_with_dated_committee_decisions": 51,
"benchmark_cost_usd": 673.8706244087039,
"illustrative_total_usd": 34367.401844843895
},
{
"school_year": "2026–27",
"partial_year": true,
"title_submissions": 28,
"titles_with_dated_committee_decisions": 16,
"benchmark_cost_usd": 673.8706244087039,
"illustrative_total_usd": 10781.929990539262
}
]
}Timeline source index
- January 24, 2018 · S&S Apps forms in California
- May 4, 2018 · S&S Apps names Aaron and Brooke Stephens in its filing
- August 5, 2018 (App Store release date) · Storylabs launches as a language-learning app
- September 24, 2018 · S&S Apps files the Storylabs trademark application
- 2021, recalled by Ivory in 2024 · Ivory later dates the first contact to 2021
- November 13, 2021 · Stephens signs nine Legacy Junior High book challenges
- November 15, 2021 · Republican delegates select Ivory to return to the Utah House
- November 23, 2021 (interview publication) · KUER reports on Stephens’ school-library organizing
- December 8, 2021 (publication) · 100 Books in Question in Murray
- February 1, 2022 (publication) · Do Parents Have the Right to Give Verbal Public Comment at School Board Meetings? HB135
- February 15, 2022 · Stephens supports HB209, Federalism Commission Amendments
- February 16, 2022 · Stephens files a criminal complaint over Davis school-library books
- February 22, 2022 · UPU calls for support of Ivory’s school-library bill
- February 25, 2022 · Stephens helps Ivory present HB374
- February 28, 2022 · Stephens again supports HB209
- March 23, 2022 · UPU calls Stephens instrumental in work with Ivory
- March 24, 2022 · Cox signs HB374 into law
- March 30, 2022 · Stephens signs nineteen Layton High School challenge forms
- May 4, 2022 · Cline’s model-policy draft calls for vetting materials
- May 6, 2022 · Ivory and Stephens appear in the same USBE comment queue
- May 7, 2022 (interview publication) · Stephens describes combining book lists and learning catalog searches
- May 8, 2022 · Stephens demonstrates finding and mapping school-library titles
- May 11, 2022 (publication) · Cari Bartholomew and Ivory’s podcast episode is published
- May 12, 2022 · UPU promotes the Cari–Ivory episode
- May 21, 2022 (preserved page) · UPU publishes Stephens’ question to Tim Ballard
- June 30, 2022 · USBE advances a competing model-library policy
- July 3, 2022 (archived page) · RatedBooks has a page titled “No Left Turn in Education”
- July 6, 2022 (archived page) · RatedBooks describes its searchable reviews database
- July 18, 2022 · UPU asks readers to judge 12 books under HB374
- July 26, 2022 · USBE adopts the Library Materials Model Policy
- July 31, 2022 (local) / August 1, 2022 (UTC) · UPU links Ivory’s law with Stephens’ ratings hub
- August 14, 2022 · UPU responds to Alpine removals
- September 19, 2022 (publication) · PEN America reports on the growing movement to censor books
- September 20, 2022 (preserved page) · LaVerna page sends readers to RatedBooks and paid district pages
- October 6, 2022 · Ivory publicly recommends RatedBooks
- October 19, 2022 · Ivory introduces Stephens and RatedBooks in committee
- October 22, 2022 · UPU publishes curriculum-audit action guide
- December 8, 2022 · UPU shares 21-title Davis removal list and report links
- February 16, 2023 (publication) · Education and Inspiration in Abundance at Protect Child Health Coalition Conference
- February 23, 2023 · Stephens joins Ivory’s HB464 presentation
- March 25, 2023 · UPU responds to the Bible challenge
- April 2023 (publication) · 2023 Legislative Session: Holding the Line
- May 1, 2023 · UPU describes Ivory’s Jordan testimony alongside Stephens’ work
- June 8, 2023 · Ivory’s newsletter refers Jordan parents to RatedBooks
- June 25, 2023 (interview publication) · Friedman describes recruiting readers and pooling challenge reports
- July 5, 2023 (interview publication) · Stephens recalls learning to search school catalogs at a conference
- October 11, 2023 · Committee seeks another draft before the audit clause appears
- November 15, 2023 · Stephens supports the next sensitive-materials draft
- January 18, 2024 (publication) · Pavement Education Project nonprofit articles filed
- January 23, 2024 · Stephens helps Ivory present HB29
- January 24, 2024 · Stephens and Ivory publicly thank each other
- February 9, 2024 · Stephens again helps present HB29 in the Senate
- February 22, 2024 · Ivory defends the website while Stephens publishes an open letter
- March 10, 2024 (publication) · Six organizations urge Cox to sign HB29
- March 18, 2024 · Cox signs HB29 and its statewide removal process
- April 5, 2024 · Stephens credits Ivory with a 12-page Pico analysis
- April 5, 2024 · A committee member asks who orders school-library books
- April 16, 2024 · Green asks about purchasing; staff offer procurement help
- June 6, 2024 · Two public commenters refer the Board to RatedBooks
- June 7, 2024 · USBE approves R277-628, Sensitive Materials
- July 16, 2024 · Disclosure lists a $50 contribution under Stephens’ name
- August 22, 2024 (publication) · The State of Book Bans: Utah’s No-Read List
- September 2024 (publication) · HB29 explanation and advocacy guidance
- September 13, 2024 (preserved page) · 13 sexually explicit books are removed from public school libraries
- October 23, 2024 (publication) · Moms for America Announces New Utah Team and Hosts Utah Summit
- November 19, 2024 · School-book audit is spoken in the motion but missing from the minutes
- March 22, 2025 · Ivory asks for Utah school locations
- April 2025 (publication) · Let Utah Read coalition update
- May 8, 2025 (upload date) · Cari describes her school-book advocacy and substitute teaching
- May 16, 2025 · RatedBooks.org incorporates in Utah
- May 22, 2025 · SPLC includes Utah Parents United in its 2024 antigovernment list
- June 18, 2025 · First audit says removal procedures are largely working
- June 18, 2025 · Adams moves for a second review; committee approves
- June 19, 2025, 11:44 p.m. MDT (Telegram post) · Brown reports Ivory wanted specific books examined in the audit
- July 15, 2025 (publication) · Codifying Censorship or Reclaiming Rights? The State-by-State 2025 Legislative Landscape for Libraries
- August 9, 2025 (saved upload date) · Book-club excerpt discusses banning, shelves and burning
- August 13, 2025, 7:58 p.m. MDT · Stephens circulates Bag of Bones report
- August 13, 2025, about 10:11 p.m. MDT · Ivory replies and copies officials
- August 14, 2025, 12:12–12:44 p.m. MDT · Ivory asks about contact from auditors
- August 14, 2025, 1:05 p.m. MDT · Ivory sends report to an eligible challenger
- August 14, 2025, 1:47 p.m. MDT · Stephens endorses Ivory’s referral
- August 16, 2025 · Barnett reports filing; Ivory relays it to Stephens
- September 28, 2025 · Stephens promotes RatedBooks in a USBE hotline complaint
- September 30, 2025 · USBE refers the complaint and points Stephens to OLAG
- October 2025 (version label) · The rating scale’s Version 2.0 is dated October 2025
- October 1, 2025 (publication) · The Normalization of Book Banning
- October 3, 2025 · Stephens disputes Davis’s rejection of RatedBooks as a legal test
- October 6, 2025 · USBE responds to the second library-book audit
- October 14, 2025 · Audit uses a RatedBooks list supplied by an unnamed legislator
- October 14, 2025 · Auditors count profanity and violence outside the sensitive-material criteria
- Audit scope and findings (background for the earlier cost model)
- October 15, 2025, 12:38 p.m. (zone unstated) · Stephens sends Ivory a Jordan school-by-school list
- October 27, 2025 · USBE reports 19 statewide-removal titles
- November 6, 2025, 5:18 p.m. MST · Ivory forwards the list and audit to Jordan leadership
- November 6, 2025, 5:38 p.m. MST · Barnett replies about catalog access
- November 19, 2025 · USBE responds as legislators hear both library audits
- December 1, 2025 · Staff attempts to arrange a meeting
- Approximately December 5, 2025 · Ivory praises an NBRI membership promotion
- December 5, 2025 · Green describes the library procurement chain
- December 11, 2025 · York County adopts a policy naming RatedBooks
- December 24, 2025 · Stephens asks how draft legislation would handle quiet removals
- December 27, 2025 · Stephens relays Texas advice into the Utah drafting thread
- January 6, 2026 · Vonnegut estate and other plaintiffs’ original complaint
- January 7, 2026 (publication) · Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide No Read List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship
- January 12, 2026, 10:23 a.m. MST · HB197 lobbying email includes Ivory
- January 13, 2026, 9:29 p.m. MST · Ivory includes Stephens in constituent response
- January 13–14, 2026 · Stephens supplies excerpts; Ivory discusses media use
- January 19, 2026 (likely year) · Legislator-access promotion receives Ivory’s support
- February 13, 2026 · Bag of Bones reaches the statewide removal threshold
- March 1, 2026 (likely year) · Ivory requests a Jordan list during Davis challenge recruitment
- April 2026 (version label) · Version 2.1 adds an explicit gender-identity discussion restriction
- May 7, 2026 (publication) · Facts & Fiction: Stories Stripped Away By Book Bans
- May 8, 2026 · Brinton proposes looking at Texas vendor ratings
- May 18, 2026 · Green moves for a statewide library-acquisition review
- June 1, 2026 (video publication) · Stephens uses a Clay County (FL) challenge packet in the NBRI demo
- June 5, 2026 · RatedBooks comes up during the model-policy debate
- June 5, 2026 · Committee requests $60,000 for the library review
- June 30, 2026 (interview aired) · Stephens credits an unnamed senator for an audit
- July 1, 2026 (saved upload date) · Cari and Brooke discuss classics and Dr. Seuss
- July 14, 2026 · Law and Licensing approves the review and funding on first reading
- July 28, 2026 (preserved export) · RatedBooks’ Utah workbook links titles, locations and legal claims
- August 4, 2026 · Mike Green sends Emily Green a survey naming RatedBooks
- August 5, 2026 · The board-formatted addendum retains RatedBooks
- August 6, 2026 · USBE adopts the review with Green’s addendum
- August 16, 2026 (preserved download) · The Davis challenge kit pairs a worklist with filing instructions
- August 26, 2026 (preserved page) · Inappropriate Books
- September 3, 2026 · USBE carries consent to the following day
- September 4, 2026 · USBE approves consent after acknowledging a minutes edit
- September 5, 2026 (preserved page) · Allies
- October 11, 2026 (saved upload date) · Cari and Christine discuss banned-book displays
- October 18, 2026 (analysis prepared) · Davis review-cost model: about $674 per title
Records and preserved publications
Select a publication:
- Storylabs launches as a language-learning app
- He’s back! Former Rep. Ken Ivory will return to the Utah Legislature
- Source references
- 100 Books in Question In Murray - Utah Parents United
- Do Parents Have the Right to Give Verbal Public Comment at School Board Meetings? HB 135 - Utah Parents United
- HB0209
- Source references
- HB0374
- UPU promotes the Cari–Ivory episode
- Utah Parents United – Telegram
- No Left Turn in Education | Rated Books
- Reviews | Rated Books
- Utah Parents United – Telegram
- Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools - PEN America
- LaVerna IN THE LIBRARY - Utah Parents United
- Ivory publicly recommends RatedBooks
- Utah Parents United – Telegram
- Utah Parents United – Telegram
- Education and Inspiration in Abundance at Protect Child Health Coalition Conference | Family Watch®
- Our Report on the Protect Child Health Coalition Conference | Family Watch®
- Utah Legislature HB0464S01
- Utah Parents United – Telegram
- Ivory’s newsletter refers Jordan parents to RatedBooks
- Stephens and Ivory publicly thank each other
- How to protect children from explicit material | Opinion – Deseret News
- Ivory defends the website while Stephens publishes an open letter
- Ivory defends the website while Stephens publishes an open letter
- Cox signs HB29 and its statewide removal process
- About Us | Protect Child Health Coalition
- Campaign disclosure: Brooke Stephens
- The State of Book Bans: Utah’s ‘No-Read List’ - PEN America
- 13 sexually explicit books are removed from public school libraries
- Moms for America Announces New Utah Team and Hosts Utah Summit
- Source references
- Cari describes her school-book advocacy and substitute teaching
- Cari describes her school-book advocacy and substitute teaching
- Brown reports Ivory wanted specific books examined in the audit
- Book-club excerpt discusses banning, shelves and burning
- Source references
- The Normalization of Book Banning - PEN America
- York County adopts a policy naming RatedBooks
- Rated Books
- Utah Adds Three Titles to Statewide ‘No Read’ List as Authors and Students Sue Over Censorship - PEN America
- Legislator-access promotion receives Ivory’s support
- Facts & Fiction - PEN America
- Banned Nonfiction Books Double in Public Schools, Erasing Authentic Stories & Histories - PEN America
- Jordan School District | Rated Books
- Survey Draft
- Library Review Survey Document Review
- INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS | PEP.org
- Allies | Protect Salado Kids
- Davis review-cost model: about $674 per title
- davis-book-review-analysis