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Educational Censorship

Educational Censorship

PEN America is a national leader in fighting government censorship in education.

A young person stands with tape over their mouth, holding a Silence = Death in Florida sign—highlighting educational censorship. Another holds a Say Gay sign. The bold red and blue background features the Florida Capitol building.
AP Photo/Samantha Hendrickson and Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP

PEN America’s signature campaign against educational gag orders — and other legislative restrictions on the freedom to learn and teach that have swept the country since January 2021 — defends students and faculty against legislative infringements on free expression on campus and in the classroom.

What You Need to Know

Over the past three years, state legislators have launched an onslaught of policy efforts to restrict teaching about topics such as race, gender, American history, and LGBTQ+ identities.

These “educational gag order” laws are often so vaguely written that it’s unclear what they do or don’t ban.

The policies create a chilling effect: Out of caution, people avoid talking about any issues or ideas that could possibly be covered, whether or not they’re mentioned in the laws.

A color key with three labels: a dark red square for Laws, an orange square for State Policies/Executive Orders, and a light orange square for Proposed Bills.

PEN America Research

Resources

A large classroom with students seated at wooden desks, facing a teacher at the front. Text over the image reads Index of Educational Gag Orders in white, bold letters, highlighting the growing concern over educational censorship.

Index of Educational Gag Orders

PEN America tracks these bills in state legislatures in our Index of Educational Gag Orders.

Browse the Index

Champions of Higher Education

More than 200 college, university, and system heads are banding together as Champions of Higher Education to coordinate communications and coalition-building efforts to fight political interference and government overreach on campus.

Meet the Champions
A presenter faces a seated audience in a lecture hall amidst discussions on educational censorship, with the words Champions of Higher Education boldly displayed over the image.
Blurred image of a graduation ceremony with people in caps and gowns. Overlaid text reads, A Resource Guide for Campus Leaders, framed by red brackets, subtly hinting at the challenges of educational censorship.

Making the Case for Academic Freedom in a Challenging Political Environment

This guide offers specific guidance to campus stakeholders, explaining how they can address issues with a range of audiences, including lawmakers, trustees, and community members.

Get the Guide

Tipsheet: Fight Censorship in Your Community

Here are a few steps you can take to combat these threats in your own community.

Learn more
A blurred image of a bookshelf brimming with books features overlay text: Educational Censorship Gag Orders In Your Community in bold white letters, framed by two striking red brackets on either side.
Blurred image of a graduation ceremony with people in caps and gowns. Overlaid text reads, A Resource Guide for Campus Leaders, framed by red brackets, subtly hinting at the challenges of educational censorship.

Freedom to Learn Op-Ed Series

Edited and published by the Made by History editorial team and sponsored by PEN America, the Freedom to Learn series provides historical context for the current assault on public education in the United States and elsewhere.

Read the series

The Latest from the Educational Censorship Blog

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a black top is smiling slightly, next to the cover of the book 24 Hours at the Capitol by Nora Neus, featuring the U.S. Capitol dome and bold orange text.

    Well Meaning Or Not, Virginia Bill Restricting How To Teach About Jan. 6 Is An Educational Gag Order

    Monday March 30
    Eileen AJ Connelly, Jonathan Friedman
    Read More
  • Four people sit in large chairs on a stage in front of plants and a wooden wall, having a panel discussion. Audience members watch, some filming with phones. The atmosphere is formal and attentive.

    ‘You Have to Teach the Thing They Tell You Not to’: Defending Academic Freedom at the University of Texas

    Tuesday March 17
    Read More
  • A man stands at an outdoor table covered with PEN America materials, talking to another man carrying a backpack. The table is set up in front of a building with large windows.

    Inside the Fight to Keep Academic Freedom Alive at Texas A&M

    Thursday March 12
    Clare Carter, Julia Goldberg
    Read More

Our Experts

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