Educational Censorship
PEN America is a national leader in fighting government censorship in education.
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.
Educational Gag Orders, K-12 and Higher Ed, 2021-2024
Resources
Index of Educational Gag Orders
PEN America tracks these bills in our Index of Educational Gag Orders, updated weekly.
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.
Making the Case for Academic Freedom in a Challenging Political Environment: A Resource Guide for Campus Leaders
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.
Tipsheet: Fight Censorship in Your Community
Here are a few steps you can take to combat these threats in your own community.
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.
The Latest from the Educational Censorship Blog
Research
From school boards to state legislatures, educational censors are attempting to curtail the freedom to learn for public school students in K-12 and in higher education.
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America’s Censored Classrooms 2024
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America’s Censored Classrooms 2023
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Educational Intimidation
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America’s Censored Classrooms
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Educational Gag Orders
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Missing from the Shelf
Our Experts
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Amy Reid
Senior Manager, Freedom to Learn
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Clare Carter
Program Assistant, Freedom to Learn
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Jonathan Friedman
Sy Syms Managing Director, U.S. Free Expression Programs
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Jeffrey Adam Sachs
Research Consultant, PEN America
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