Florida Clarifies Guidelines for School Library Book Removals

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Florida Clarifies Guidelines for School Library Book Removals

Florida has revised its training program for local public school officials who are responsible for monitoring library and classroom books. This move comes after concerns were raised by free speech advocates about the initial guidelines, which they believed led to unnecessary book removals.

Changes to Address Misinterpretations

The Florida Department of Education has made language changes to clarify the state law regarding the removal of books containing “sexual conduct.” Initially, the department’s memorandum instructed school leaders to remove any book with such content, prompting advocacy groups to argue that this misrepresented the law’s intent.

The revised training now specifies that books with sexual conduct should only be removed if they are inappropriate or unsuitable for a particular grade level or age group. This clarification addresses concerns raised by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which had warned of potential litigation if the changes were not made.

Ongoing Concerns from Advocacy Groups

While welcoming the revisions, advocacy groups like the Florida Freedom to Read Project still have some concerns. They argue that the training should remove any references to instructional materials, as these are irrelevant to library books. Additionally, they object to a slide advising educators to “err on the side of caution” when making removal decisions.

Stephana Ferrell, co-founder of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, also expressed disappointment that it took so long for the state to make these changes, suggesting that action was only taken after the threat of litigation from FIRE.

Book Removal Data and LGBTQ Titles

According to data released by the American Library Association, Florida had more books challenged for removal than any other state in 2023, with nearly 2,700 titles targeted for censorship. Some counties have also removed LGBTQ titles from shelves following the passage of a law restricting classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation.

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FAQs

What prompted the revision of the book removal training in Florida?

Free speech advocates and advocacy groups raised concerns that the initial guidelines misrepresented state law and led to unnecessary book removals.

What are the main changes made to the training?

The revised training clarifies that books with sexual conduct should only be removed if they are inappropriate or unsuitable for a particular grade level or age group.

Do advocacy groups still have concerns about the revised training?

Yes, some groups argue that references to instructional materials should be removed, and they object to a slide advising educators to “err on the side of caution” when making removal decisions.

What data has been released regarding book removals in Florida?

According to the American Library Association, Florida had more books challenged for removal than any other state in 2023, with nearly 2,700 titles targeted for censorship.

Have LGBTQ titles been specifically targeted for removal?

Yes, some counties have removed LGBTQ titles from shelves following the passage of a law restricting classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation.