Tag: EducationPolicy

New Jersey’s governor has recently signed a law prohibiting book bans to ensure that children can “read freely.”

This blog is originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

The Freedom to Read Act safeguards both books and the librarians who curate them.

On Monday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) signed the Freedom to Read Act into law, making it illegal for libraries and public schools to ban books.

“Across the nation, we have seen attempts to suppress and censor the stories and experiences of others,” Murphy said in a statement. “I’m proud to amplify the voices of our past and present, as there is no better way for our children to prepare for the future than to read freely.”

On social media, Murphy also emphasized that “reading freely is key to helping our children become lifelong learners.”

“Part of our responsibility as educators and education policymakers is to empower students by providing access to diverse ideas, knowledge, and perspectives,” said New Jersey Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “The Freedom to Read Act demonstrates our commitment to the educational excellence that defines our state. Through this legislation, we are protecting the integrity of our libraries, curated by dedicated professionals, and ensuring these resources are available to help every student grow as a critical thinker.”

Though the law will not take effect for a year, both the New Jersey state librarian and state education commissioner can begin implementing it as necessary. The law stipulates that libraries cannot ban books based on the origin, background, or views presented in the text or by its authors. Librarians are also prohibited from removing books they personally disagree with.

Additionally, school boards and library governing bodies are required to establish policies for curating and removing materials, as well as implementing systems for addressing book challenges.

The legislation also shields public library staff from criminal and civil liability for actions taken in good faith under the law, such as stocking “diverse and inclusive material” and providing residents access to all library materials.

New Jersey joins other states like Illinois, California, and Maryland, which have enacted similar measures in response to the rising trend of book banning. Last year, Illinois became the first state to pass such a bill, addressing the growing national concern over restricted access to books.

A recent report from the free-speech nonprofit PEN America revealed a significant surge in book bans during the 2023-2024 school year, with more than 10,000 books banned across the U.S. This is a sharp increase from the 3,362 books banned the previous year.

PEN America highlighted that banned books often include titles featuring romance, sexual experiences, rape or sexual abuse, as well as works with LGBTQ+ themes or those addressing race, racism, and characters of color.

Florida and Iowa have led the nation in book bans, recording over 8,000 instances between the two states. These bans are largely driven by stricter laws aimed at limiting access to certain books.

The organization also noted that these figures likely undercount the total number of book bans, as many go unreported. Schools have also implemented “soft” book bans, including policies that discourage students from checking out certain books, restricting who can access specific materials, canceling book fairs, and removing classroom collections.

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Ron DeSantis bans Florida’s sex ed classes from mentioning anatomy & contraceptives

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ Nation.

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) has mandated that local school districts submit their sex education plans for state approval. According to the FLDOE, these classes must focus on promoting abstinence and are prohibited from discussing contraception or displaying images of reproductive health organs.

This shift in policy strips local districts of their autonomy over sex education classes and materials.

Florida law has long required that sex education lessons for grades 6 through 12 highlight the “benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard” and address the consequences of teenage pregnancy. However, the new regulations eliminate any local authority regarding supplementary information that districts may wish to provide their students.

A memo from Broward County administrators, obtained by The Orlando Sentinel, summarized discussions with state officials about the state’s control over sex education. Notably, no written guidelines were given to the districts.

State officials conveyed that “pictures of external sexual/reproductive anatomy should not be included in any grade level.” While they noted that contraception could be referenced as a “health resource,” they specified that “pictures, activities, or demonstrations illustrating their use should not be included in instruction at any grade level.” Furthermore, discussions on “different types of sex (i.e., anal, oral, and vaginal) cannot be part of instruction in any grade level,” according to the Broward memo.

Previously, Orange County schools introduced sex education in 5th grade, focusing on the physical changes of puberty, while high school students engaged in discussions about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. Now, any additional curriculum must receive state approval, which may lead to the cancellation of sex education classes until the state addresses the districts’ plans.

Elissa Barr, a public health professor at the University of North Florida and a member of the advocacy group Florida Healthy Youth Alliance, has been in contact with local school officials to compile a list of terms they’ve been instructed to omit from their reproductive health plans. This list includes words like abuse, consent, domestic violence, fluids, gender identity, and LGBTQ-related content.

Barr pointed out that excluding the term “fluids” complicates discussions about HIV transmission, as it can spread through blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids. “That’s science,” she remarked.

Officials from the Orange school district received clear instructions: discard their current plans and adhere strictly to the state-adopted textbook. The district stated, “The FDOE strongly recommended the district utilize the state-adopted text.”

This state textbook emphasizes abstinence as the only effective means to prevent STDs and pregnancy, omitting any mention of contraception. It also advises students to participate in group activities instead of spending time alone with a date.

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California’s public schools are now prohibited from forcibly outing queer students

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

“LGBTQ+ students across California can breathe a sigh of relief,” stated one LGBTQ+ organization, following the passage of this groundbreaking law.

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has signed a pioneering law banning forced outings in state public schools.

The SAFETY Act prohibits school district policies that mandate educators to inform parents if their child requests to use pronouns or facilities different from the gender assigned at birth.

The law, which takes effect immediately, also protects teachers and administrators from retaliation if they choose not to follow district directives to out queer students to their parents. Additionally, it provides funding for resources to assist parents and families of queer students in having supportive conversations about their identities, ensuring that these discussions occur in a way that makes the children feel safe and respected.

The SAFETY Act — Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s Youth — passed the state Assembly in June by a vote of 60-15.

Forced outing policies have proliferated in California since 2023, with more than a dozen school districts implementing rules to notify parents and guardians of students who identify as trans or a gender different from the one listed on their birth certificate.

“The very personal decision for a student to come out should be on their own terms to whoever they choose to share that information with when they are ready,” said the bill’s author, San Diego Assemblyman Chris Ward (D), in a statement. “Teachers should not be the gender police.”

“In California, LGBTQ+ students — like all students — have the right to a safe and welcoming school environment,” Becca Cramer-Mowder with ACLU California Action said in a statement.

“With the Governor’s signature, our state becomes the first in the country to ensure protections against forced outing in school are clearly enshrined in statute,” she added. “LGBTQ+ students and their families deserve to decide on their own terms when and how to have conversations about coming out.”

Eight red states have enacted legislation mandating schools out trans students, while another five have passed laws promoting parental notification, according to the Movement Advancement Project.

In California, the policies have become a lightning rod, particularly in conservative inland areas of the state.

In April, a defiant conservative majority on the board of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District in Riverside County voted to ignore an order from the state to rescind a parental notification policy. A packed audience in the ruby red district cheered the result when it occurred.

Similar battles are being waged in other Riverside County school districts, including Temecula and Chino, both hotbeds of “parental rights” activism.

“We will continue to stand strong, linked arms all over California, to ensure the government does not infringe on parental rights — period,” Chino Valley School Board President Sonja Shaw said earlier this year.

A state investigation in Murrieta was prompted after two teachers filed a complaint. One was filed by 6th and 7th grade teacher Karen Poznanski, who is also a district parent with a nonbinary child.

“This policy, whether enforced or not, hindered our LGBTQ+ students from living authentically,” Poznanski told The Los Angeles Times. “Moreover, it not only compromised their privacy and dignity, but also perpetuated harm and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and their families.”

In a statement, the state LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Equality California said, “We are grateful to Governor Newsom for demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ+ community by signing the SAFETY Act into law. Over the past year, more than a dozen extremist school boards across California have considered or passed these harmful policies that openly discriminate against transgender students and prevent them from safely being themselves at school.”

“The SAFETY Act could not be more timely or necessary, and LGBTQ+ students across California can breathe a sigh of relief following today’s action by the Governor,” the statement continued. “LGBTQ+ youth across California can now have these important family conversations when they are ready and in ways that strengthen the relationship between parent and child, not as a result of extremist politicians intruding into the parent-child relationship.”

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