Educational Censorship
The Issue
PEN America is a national leader in fighting educational censorship in both higher ed and K-12. Our signature campaign against educational gag orders — legislative restrictions on the freedom to learn and teach that have swept the country since January 2021 — has generated media coverage in over a hundred publications. We will continue to expand our work to defend students and teachers against legislative infringements on free expression in the classroom.
Index of Educational Gag Orders
PEN America tracks these bills in our Index of Educational Gag Orders, updated weekly.
Making the Case for Academic Freedom in a Challenging Political Environment: A Resource Guide for Campus Leaders
The new resource guide, Making the Case for Academic Freedom in a Challenging Political Environment: A Resource Guide for Campus Leaders, provides an overview of the trends that are unfolding and the forces that shape them. It offers specific guidance to campus stakeholders, explaining how they can address these issues with a range of audiences, including lawmakers, trustees, and community members.
Champions of Higher Education
Galvanized by legislative threats and united by a shared vision of American higher education as an essential pillar of democracy, over 200 college, university, and system heads are banding together to launch the Champions of Higher Education. Together, these higher education champions will coordinate communications and coalition-building efforts to fight political interference and government overreach on campus.
Educational Gag Orders In Your Community: A Tip Sheet for Changing the Conversation
Legislative restrictions on the freedom to read, learn, and teach threaten free expression and academic freedom in the classroom and limit the ideas and perspectives students can discuss and understand. If you live in the United States, it’s likely that your state legislature or school district has either passed an educational gag order or is considering doing so. Here are a few steps you can take to combat these threats in your own community.