Florida Freedom to Read Project

New Objection This Week: Bronxwood- Booth, Coe Grades 9-12, Parent Permission: Monday's Not Coming - Jackson, Tiffany D. Moxie - Mathieu, Jennifer Shiver - Stiefvater, Maggie Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda - Albertalli, Becky Someone I Used to Know - Blount, Patty Speak - Anderson, Laurie Halse Removed: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings - Angelou, Maya I'll Give You The Sun - Nelson, Jandy Lady Midnight - Clare, Cassandra Little & Lion - Colbert, Brandy Looking for Alaska - Green, John Loveless - Oseman, Alice Native Son - Wright, Richard Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe - Norton, Preston Perfect Chemistry - Elkeles, Simone Ramona Blue - Murphy, Julie Ready Player One - Cline, Ernest Relish: My Life in the Kitchen - Knisley, Lucy Shout - Anderson, Laurie Halse Slaughterhouse-Five: The Graphic Novel - Vonnegut Jr., Kurt

While CDF is pushing legal action against Polk, they continue to grossly impact what’s on the shelf in Nassau.

1 - new objection
6 - restricted to grades 9-12 w/ additional parent permission
14 - permanently removed

Our state tracking updated weekly: www.fftrp.org/florida_cens...

It is as bad as it sounds, and freedom to read folks have been anticipating this now for years.

Make your phone calls. Send your emails.

After the Records Arrive: Turning Public Information into Power Public records replace rumor with evidence; organize, analyze, and share them strategically to build transparency, accountability, and policy reform.

Curious how public records can be used to strengthen transparency, hold decision-makers accountable, and push for real policy change? Learn what to do once you receive records and how to make an impact.

www.freedomtoreadproject.org/after_the_re...

Florida is now claiming school libraries are “government speech.” A challenge to a monstrously regressive Florida state law that makes it easier for books to be pulled from school libraries is making its way through a federal circuit court in Atlanta. The appeal …

The District Court Judge found in favor of the plaintiffs and upheld First Amendment rights in the library.

The state wasted no time appealing to the 11th Circuit arguing that our taxpayer funded libraries are their speech, not the People’s (and 21 other states agree).

lithub.com/florida-is-n...

cover of dear evan hansen

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel explores loneliness, anxiety, grief, and the need to belong.

It gives teens language for hard feelings and opens space for empathy and conversation.

Banning stories about mental health doesn’t protect kids, it isolates them.

#FreedomToRead #BooksNotBans #LetKidsRead

Texas to fix 4,200 errors in Bible-infused Bluebonnet curriculum Taxpayers will bear the cost of fixing errors in learning materials published by the Texas Education Agency. The curriculum has drawn attention for its references to Christianity and the Bible.

“Taxpayers will bear the cost of fixing errors in learning materials published by the Texas Education Agency.”

Pay attention, Florida. The FLDOE asked legislators for the ability to produce and sell curriculum for K-12 this year.

www.texastribune.org/2026/02/25/t...

In Florida, 67% of fourth graders tested “below proficient” in 2024 (up 6 points from 2022’s 61%).

Coincidentally, FL passed its first of three revisions to school library statute in 2022, allowing anyone to object to materials and requiring oversight of teachers’ voluntary classroom libraries.

When emotions run high around books, it’s tempting to pull a title “just in case.” But constitutional rights don’t bend to pressure.

We need clear policies, transparent processes, defined criteria, and appeals, not panic or politics.

Due process protects students and democracy.

FIRE warns HB 1119 will increase Florida school book banning 'Our focus right now is on making legislators aware of the bill’s constitutional problems.'

“The FLDOE’s own report shows that during the last school year, literary classics and widely acclaimed modern works…were removed even from libraries serving students in grades 9-12. If enacted, HB 1119 will only accelerate this trend and further narrow the range of ideas on school library shelves.”

fewer than 10% of students are restricted in school libraries by their parents

When parents can set reading limits for their own child, fewer than 10% choose to restrict access.

Most families trust guidance and conversation, not bans.

You can guide your child without deciding for mine.

Protect choice. Trust librarians. Keep libraries open.

#FreedomToRead #BooksNotBans

Who should have the final say in what kids read? | Opinion Government bans impose one-size-fits-all rules that ignore the diverse needs and maturity levels of Florida students.

“Removing professionally selected materials doesn’t protect children — it undermines educators and takes away options from every family.”

A blue graphic showing the state of Florida, with the text "Let's talk about 'government speech'" and the AABB logo.

A thread about on ongoing suit in Florida that could have massive free speech & censorship implications. Get informed. Tell your friends.

The Disappearance of Young Adult Books and Services in Public Libraries: Book Censorship News, February 20, 2026 Teen collections in public libraries are disappearing. So, too, are professionals dedicated to serving this demographic.

The parallel disappearance of YA books from public libraries due to book bans and the disappearance of YA expertise in public libraries due to budget cuts, deemphasis in serving teens.

bookriot.com/the-disappea...

Florida legislature considers bill that would place broad restrictions on school library materials FIRE opposes HB 1119 because bill’s broad restrictions on school library materials would likely lead to arbitrary book removals and potential First Amendment violations.

“HB 1119 would compound the First Amendment problems of a statute that a federal court has already declared unconstitutional”

Read the full letter from @thefireorg.bsky.social to FL Senators on the Rules Committee here:

www.fire.org/cases/florid...

The most marginalized population are young people, and they're being pushed further and further out of public spaces. That's because they're not seen as people, but they are certainly convenient props for the "culture war."

“This restricts the professional judgement of librarians in terms of what to include in a book collection,” Fralinger said. [It also affects] university students by potentially restricting their access to literature or information when attending K-12 schools and arriving in college less prepared.”

The Founders, Libraries, and the Danger of Calling Knowledge “Government Speech” Founders championed libraries and free exchange; calling libraries “government speech” invites political censorship, undermines democracy, and silences diverse community voices.

We just celebrated Presidents’ Day, a good time to remember the Founders believed democracy depends on access to ideas, not government control of them.

Our newest piece explores why calling libraries “government speech” threatens the freedom to read.
www.freedomtoreadproject.org/the_founders...

Is your state one of the 21 states that sent an amicus brief to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Florida’s argument that our libraries are government speech and patrons have no First Amendment rights in them?

Take a look:
drive.google.com/file/d/1-zr4...

BREAKING: The Department of Education has ended its directive that attempted to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in schools nationwide.

This is a victory for academic freedom and education equity.

This is tomorrow evening! Sign up and tune in. It's free.

Penguin Random House LLC, et al. v. Gibson, et al. FIRE filed an amicus brief, joined by the Florida Freedom to Read Project, urging the Eleventh Circuit to follow the Eighth Circuit in rejecting the libraries-as-government speech claim.

We joined @thefireorg.bsky.social on an amicus brief filed in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals urging the court to reject the state’s libraries-as-government speech claim.

Read more about the case and the brief here: www.thefire.org/cases/pengui...

Amidst Lawsuit, Utah Bans Its 23rd Book from All Public Schools On Friday the 13, Utah banned a Stephen King book from every school district in the state. That was Utah's 23rd state-sanctioned ban.

Utah banned its 23rd book from all public schools across the state.

The book is a 1998 title by @stephenking.bsky.social.

bookriot.com/utah-bans-23...

Clay updated their online database yesterday for February’s submitted objections.

Out of the 36 filed this month:

10- age/grade restricted
8 - returned at same level
8 - parental advisory status
5 - removed
3 - age/grade restricted + parental advisory status
2 - not in collection

Chapters deleted, sections added: Florida's new sociology textbook is 'stop-gap,' says professor The controversial new Introduction to Sociology textbook, created by the state of Florida to meet its new academic restrictions, is missing entire chapters like Race and Ethnicity, Global Inequality a...

“…the entire Race and Ethnicity chapter is missing, along with chapters titled Deviance, Crime and Social Control; Media and Technology; Social Stratification in the United States; Global Inequality; and Gender, Sex and Sexuality.”

www.wlrn.org/government-p...

Lastly, it’s important to note that as some formal objections are assigned to committees in Polk, CDF has pressured the district to create lists like this one titled, “PCPS List of books that may not be purchased for school or classroom libraries.”

drive.google.com/file/d/1SFPK...

Screenshot of page 1 an example committee review form from “A Gathering of Old Man” that recognizes the literary value of the work.

Screenshot of page 2 an example committee review form from “A Gathering of Old Man” that recognizes the literary value of the work.

Polk County Schools started using this form after CDF filed their lawsuit in an effort to appease the plaintiffs.

However, even with this misrepresentation of the law, committees continue to retain access to books facing CDF objection like “A Gathering of Old Men.”

That’s why CDF wants HB 1119.

Screenshot of statute: If the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due to content that meets the requirements under sub-sub-subparagraph b. (I), the school district shall discontinue the use of the material in the school district. If the district school board finds that any material meets the requirements under sub-subparagraph a. or that any other material contains prohibited content under sub-sub-subparagraph b.(I), the school district shall discontinue use of the material. If the district school board finds that any other material contains prohibited content under sub-sub-subparagraphs b. (II)- (IV), the school district shall discontinue use of the material for any grade level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or unsuitable.

Here’s what the statute actually states.

If the material is found to be pornographic or “harmful to minors” (violating 847.012), it must be discontinued.

If it’s found to be II-IV (including containing “sexual conduct”), it must be restricted to where it is age/grade appropriate to offer access.

Screenshot of this portion of the acknowledgement form: §847.012 (7) also defines material that is "Harmful to minors" Any reproduction, imitation, characterization, description, exhibition, presentation, or representation, of whatever kind or form, depicting nudity, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement when it: (a) Predominantly appeals to a prurient, shameful, or morbid interest. (b) Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material or conduct for minors; and (c) Taken as a whole, is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. ACKNOWLEDGMENT I acknowledge that I have read and understand the above summary of Florida Law. I understand that material containing any amount of pornography, or "sexual conduct" as defined in the above listed sections of Florida Statute is prohibited material and must be removed from all school and classroom libraries. As a member of a media committee, by my signature below, I agree to base my recommendation on the criteria required by Florida law.

And here is the final “Acknowledgment” section where committee members are asked to sign.

Directly above it, you will see the “harmful to minors” definition, but notice how it isn’t referenced as a criteria in the final acknowledgment. Instead, it wrongly states any “sexual conduct” is prohibited.

Screenshot from the top of the form. DESCRIPTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS DUTIES Pursuant to section §1006.28, Florida Statutes, each School District must adopt a procedure to address any objections raised by a parent or resident of the county regarding a specific material being utilized by the School District. Typically, a book, but any material could be the subject to an objection if it is located in a classroom, or made available in a school or classroom library. The undersigned acknowledge that they are acting as members of a material review committee. Undersigned agrees to examine the objected to material to determine if it is prohibited by Florida Statute. The material in question is prohibited material if the undersigned finds any of the following are applicable: • The material is Pornographic; or • The material depicts or describes "sexual conduct." See below in § 847.001(19) F.S., and § 847.012 (3)(a-b). [Unless the objected to material is for a required a course covering health education; prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking; and sexual abstinence and the consequences of teenage pregnancy]; or • The material is not suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented. See below in 5847.012 (7). or • The material is inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used. See below in §847.012 (7).

Screenshot of how these four criteria actually appear in Florida’s statute: (I) Is pornographic or prohibited under s. 847.012; (II) Depicts or describes sexual conduct as defined in s. 847.001(19), unless such material is for a course required by s. 1003.46 or s. 1003.42(2)(o)1.g. or 3., or identified by State Board of Education rule; (III) Is not suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented; or (IV) Is inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used.

So, what is on the acknowledgment form exactly?

Here is the top section of the form.

It looks as if it quotes from statute, but it misses the “harmful to minors” reference in the first bullet and instead assigns it to the latter two objection criteria.

Screenshot of the deposition of a district employee that helps to oversee objection committee reviews: Q. And is that given to them at the beginning or the end of the meeting, or where are they being told to receive this acknowledgment form? A. It's provided to them in their packet they have at the beginning of the meeting. Q. Okay. And are they -- are people signing the form? I'm just curious how they react to this form. A. It depends on the person. Q. Okay. But at least some people have signed it? A. Some people have signed it. Q. Okay. What would happen if they don't sign it? A. I'm not an attorney. Q. Okay. And then just to backtrack here on the statutes, more specifically the penalties that are involved in the statutes, do you know if the members have knowledge of the penalties that are in those statutes? A. Yes. It's listed on the acknowledgment form the attorney created. Q. Gotcha.

In this and other depositions in the Polk case, the district’s use of an “Acknowledgment Form” for review committee members comes up.

Here, a district employee is asked about the guidance given to committee members about the form and they need for them to sign it.