Freedom to Read Project

@freedomreadproject

Parent-led nonprofit dedicated to protecting access to information in our schools and public libraries. www.freedomtoreadproject.org

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Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 7d

Teachers rarely hear from parents who support intellectual freedom. A kind, respectful message reminds them they have allies in the community. A simple email can go a long way. #FreedomToRead #RightToRead #SupportTeachers #Libraries #Education

back to school. connect with teachers about the freedom to read. sending a polite message.

sample email: I appreciate the work you do for our students. I also want you to know that access to diverse books and the freedom to read are important to my family. Thank you for fostering a classroom where students can explore ideas, build empathy, and develop critical thinking skills.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 8d

More than 2 out of every 3 book challenges ended in removal in 2025. According to the ALA, 66% of challenged books were ultimately banned, the highest rate since tracking began in 1990. When review becomes removal, students lose access to diverse ideas. #FreedomToRead

ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom documented 5,668 books banned from libraries (66% of the total challenged) in 2025. This is both the highest number of titles censored in one year and the highest rate of challenges resulting in censorship from 1990–2025.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 20d

THE LOVELY BONES is a powerful exploration of grief, love, trauma & healing. It invites readers to grapple with difficult realities while honoring the resilience of those left behind. Books that tackle painful subjects are opportunities for empathy, reflection & conversation.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 21d

An informed public is essential to a healthy democracy. We hope this guide helps you better understand how education policy takes shape and where you can participate along the way. #FreedomToRead #CivicEducation #EducationPolicy #SchoolBoards #PublicEducation #KnowYourGovernment #DemocracyInAction

Step 6: Agencies write the rules. Laws often set broad requirements.

Education agencies or school boards at the federal or state level may then create rules explaining:

How the law will be implemented
Required procedures
Timelines
Guidance for schools

This process often includes opportunities for public input.

Step 7: Local schools districts implement it. Districts develop policies and procedures to comply with new law.

School boards may vote on:

New policies
Curriculum procedures
Library policies
Staff training
Administrative practices

Where can you have a voice? You don't have to wait until a local policy is passed to comply with the law.

You can:

• Contact legislators
• Attend committee hearings
• Speak at school board meetings
• Submit comments during rulemaking
• Vote in local, state, and federal elections

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 21d

Understanding this process helps you know where your voice can make a difference. Whether you contact your legislators, attend a school board meeting, submit public comments, or simply stay informed, civic engagement is most effective when you know how decisions are made.

Step 3: Committee review. Committees study the bill before the full legislature votes.

They may:

Hear public testimony
Debate the proposal
Amend the language
Vote to move it forward or stop it

Many bills never make it out of committee.

Step 4: House and Senate votes. If approved by committee, the bill is debated and voted on by both legislative chambers.

For a bill to pass:

House approves
Senate approves

If the chambers pass different versions, they must agree on the final language.

Step 5: The leader decides. The president (for federal) or governor (for state) can:

Sign the bill into law
Veto it
In some instances, allow it to become law without a signature

Only after this step does the bill become law.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 21d

Education laws don't appear overnight. They move through a series of steps: from an idea, to committee hearings, to legislative votes, to the president’s or governor's desk, and finally to implementation by state agencies and local school districts.

Step 1: Someone has an idea. A legislator proposes a bill to address an issue in education.

Ideas can come from:

Industry stakeholders (parents, educators, administrators)
Advocacy groups
Government agencies
Constituents

Step 2: The bill is introduced. The bill is assigned a number and officially filed.

It usually includes:

What the law would change
Who it affects
When it would take effect

At this point, it's only a proposal, not law.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 22d

"Don't join the book burners." These words from President Dwight D. Eisenhower are just as relevant today. We don't preserve democracy by hiding difficult history or silencing ideas, we strengthen it by confronting them. The freedom to read protects our freedom to learn. #FreedomToRead

Dwight D. Eisenhower: Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 27d

THEY CALLED US ENEMY by George Takei is a powerful graphic memoir about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. When nonfiction books like this are removed from school libraries, students lose access to firsthand history & the chance to learn from our nation's past.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 28d

Continued...

Question ideas to ask school board candidates. Option 4: If elected chair, how will you ensure book review policies are followed fairly and decisions aren't based on viewpoint?

Question ideas to ask school board candidates. Option 5: Do you believe one parent's objection should determine what every student can access in a public school library? Why or why not?

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 28d

School board elections matter & so do the questions we ask. Whether you're attending a candidate forum, meeting candidates in your community, or sending an email, asking thoughtful questions about the freedom to read can help voters better understand where candidates stand on the freedom to read.

Question ideas to ask school board candidates. Option 1: Can you share your views on the freedom to read? HOw will you ensure school libraries remain places where students can access diverse ideas?

Question ideas to ask school board candidates. Option 2: How will you protect students' First Amendment rights while respecting parents' ability to guide their own children's reading?

Question ideas to ask school board candidates. Option 3: What is your position on book challenges and the freedom to read in our school libraries?

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· 29d

This is not a coincidence. When stories representing marginalized communities are disproportionately targeted, students lose access to perspectives that foster empathy, understanding, and belonging. Every reader deserves to see themselves (and others) reflected on library shelves.

of the unique titles challenged in 2025, 39% represent the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color. That's 1,671 books challenged.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jul 8

SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL tells the true story of Sylvia Mendez's fight to end school segregation before Brown v. Board of Education. When books like this are challenged, students lose access to documented history and the chance to learn from those who changed our country.

cover of separate is never equal: sylvia mendez & her family's fight for desegregation

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jul 7

Every purchase is a vote for the world you want to build. Support independent bookstores, borrow challenged books from your library, and invest in publishers and organizations defending the freedom to read. Every intentional choice helps keep diverse stories available for future readers.

Consumer activism: how to support the freedom to read with your purchasing power. buy books from independent bookstores. check out challenged titles from your library. support publishers committed to diverse voices. donate banned books. contribute to organizations defending intellectual freedom

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jul 6

Protecting the freedom to read doesn't mean everyone has to agree with every book or every idea. It means defending the right to explore different perspectives, ask questions, and think critically. When we protect the freedom to read, we help protect the freedoms that make open dialogue possible.

"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech." -Benjamin Franklin

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jul 1

J IS FOR JUSTICE: AN ACTIVISM ALPHABET encourages young readers to explore fairness, empathy, community, and civic engagement. Despite being a nonfiction picture book, it's one of many informational titles challenged or removed from schools.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 30

Standing up for the freedom to read starts locally, but you don't have to do it alone. We have tips and resources for you whether you are new to advocacy or are a seasoned pro. Looking for info we don’t have yet? Let us know! We’ll do our best to get it to you.

Did you know...? A few facts about Freedom to Read Project

We are made up of concerned parents. This work is close to our hearts. We believe every child deserves the freedom to read, discover, and think for themselves--including our own.

We have over 70 articles on our site. From tips on writing op-eds to breaking down the latest research, we have a plethora of info at your fingertips.

We have a free digital workbook. Download Turning the Page: An Advocate's Guide to the Freedom to Read for free and get tips and resources for your activism

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 29

22,810. That's how many instances of books were banned in U.S. public schools from 2021–2025, according to PEN America. Behind every number is a student who lost access to a book and new ideas. Read. Learn. Speak up. Defend the freedom to read. #FreedomToRead #BookBans #RightToRead

22,810 instance of books banned in US public schools from 2021-2025 according to PEN America

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 26

Let's choose our workbook winners! If you didn't win, don't worry, you can download our digital version FOR FREE on our website: www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 24

STAMPED: RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi challenges readers to think critically about the history of race in America & how those ideas continue to shape our world today. This book gives readers the tools to ask questions, examine history & engage w/ complex issues.

cover of stamped: racism, antiracism, and you

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 23

We're giving away THREE paperback copies of Turning the Page: An Advocate's Guide to the Freedom to Read, a physical workbook that isn't available anywhere else! Want to enter? 📚 Like this post 📚 Follow us 📚 Comment with the state where you're fighting for the freedom to read

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 22

The freedom to read isn't about agreeing with every idea, perspective, or story. It's about protecting the right to explore them. When access to books is restricted because some people dislike their content, everyone loses a piece of their freedom. #FreedomToRead #RightToRead #FreeExpression

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 17

Eric Carle's Draw Me a Star celebrates creativity, imagination, and curiosity. Books like this shouldn't be banned, they encourage children to explore ideas, ask questions, and see the world through wonder. Every child deserves access to stories that inspire them to think and create.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 16

the first amendment belongs to everyone, regardless of politics, relision, or ideology

we defend it because every person deserves the freedom to explore ideas and make up their own mind

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 16

Why do YOU defend the First Amendment?

when books are removed without die process, it's not just a library issue. it's a first amendment issue

we started this work after watching books disappear from shelves and policies get ignored under political pressure

we believe ideas should be challenges with discussion, not censorship

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 16

Why does the Freedom to Read Project defend the First Amendment? Because the freedom to read is connected to the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. We believe people, not politicians or pressure groups, should decide what they read and what ideas they explore.

because the freedom to read doesn't stand alone

the same amendment that protects your right to read also protects your right to: speak, access information, practice your faith, gather peacefully, petition your government

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 15

When people think of book challenges, they often imagine concerned parents. But according to the American Library Association, 92% of book challenges in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups, government officials, administrators, and other decision-makers. Who is driving censorship matters.

according to the American Library Association, 92% of book challenges in 2025 were initiated by pressure groups, government officials, administrators, and other decision-makers.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 10

The Upside of Unrequited is a funny, heartfelt YA novel about family, friendship, first love, and finding where you belong. Its authentic LGBTQ characters and relatable themes help readers feel seen, build empathy, and celebrate the many ways people create family and community.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 9

continued...

books broaden perspectives. LGBTQ stories help readers better understand the world and the many ways people experience it

diverse reading strengthens critical thinking. engaging with different viewpoints encourages readers to question assumptions and think more deeply

everyone benefits from diverse stories. LGBTQ books explore universal themes like family, friendship, love, identity, courage, and belonging, making them meaningful for readers of all ages.

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 9

Pride Month is the perfect time to discover a new LGBTQ+ book! Whether you're looking for a mirror that reflects your own experiences or a window into someone else's, queer stories offer insight, empathy, and unforgettable characters. Read widely. Read boldly. Celebrate the freedom to read.

the benefits of reading LGBTQ books at any age

reading LGBTQ books build empathy. studies show that reading stories about people with different experiences can increase understanding and compassion

representation matters. seeing diverse identities in books helps LGBTQ readers feels seen, values, and less alone

Freedom to Read Project@freedomreadproject· Jun 8

“One piece of data about banned books that always surprises people is that the vast majority of the books being banned are not new books. That means the average publication date of the books banned over the last five years is 18 years old...