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.
191: number of educational gag order bills introduced in state legislatures since January 2021
41: number of states where an educational gag order bill has been introduced
19: number of educational gag orders that have become law
15: number of states with an educational gag order law
7: number of states with higher ed gag orders in force
19: total number of states with an educational gag order in force via law, policy, or executive order
122 million: number of people living in states with educational gag orders in force
REPORTS
America's Censored Classrooms
Educational Gag Orders
From PEN America
Failed Bill Brought by Arizona Democrats Would Have Restricted What Teachers Can Teach
July 5, 20225 Myths about Educational Gag Orders
June 10, 2022Joint Statement from PEN America, AAC&U: Legislative Restrictions on Teaching and Learning Violate Academic Freedom and Threaten Higher Ed’s Autonomy
June 8, 2022
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.
Want to help combat this threat to free expression, but don’t know where to start? Here are a few steps you can take as a citizen to help change the conversation in your community.
