School board members make important decisions about library policies, instructional materials, and book review procedures. Florida establishes the state’s academic standards, but local school boards choose many of the books and instructional materials that help students meet those standards. School boards also adopt policies governing library collections and book challenges.
Join PEN America Florida and The Florida Freedom to Read Project for a free, nonpartisan workshop on evaluating school board candidates before Election Day. Learn how school boards shape access to books and information, where school boards have decision-making authority, how to research candidates using public records and community forums, and which questions reveal a candidate’s approach to intellectual freedom, library policies, instructional materials, and transparent governance.
PEN America Florida and The Florida Freedom to Read Project will provide every participant with a nonpartisan voter resource guide that includes a county-by-county list of school board candidates, along with resources for researching candidates’ public records, campaign information, and positions on public education.
Parents, educators, librarians, students, and community members will leave with practical tools to evaluate candidates, ask informed questions, and cast an informed vote in local school board elections.
