Educational Censorship

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.

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

  • University of Alabama campuses didn’t have to close their DEI offices. They did anyway.

    Friday July 26
  • “Thank you for not giving up on Florida”: A rallying cry at the Unified Voices Summit in Orlando

    Monday July 22
  • Trouble in Censorville: Teachers Describe Trauma Inflicted in the War on Education

    Thursday June 27

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Monthly updates on laws, regulations, and proposals from around the country.