Department of Education Withdraws Book Ban Complaints and Revokes Associated Guidance

January 25, 2025 TruthUSA

The newly appointed leadership of the department stated that decisions regarding the content of school libraries should rest at the local level, determined by parents and school boards.

The U.S. Department of Education has initiated actions to put an end to what it termed the “book ban hoax” propagated by the prior administration.

On January 24, the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the dismissal of 11 complaints concerning alleged book bans in educational institutions and rescinded guidance that implied the removal of specific books from school libraries might infringe on civil rights legislation.

The new leadership emphasized that decisions relating to school library content should be made locally by parents and school boards, rather than being overseen by federal civil rights agencies.

“With the dismissal of these complaints and the abolition of the position and powers of a so-called ‘book ban coordinator,’ the department is initiating the process of reinstating parents’ fundamental rights to guide their children’s education,” stated Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor.

He reaffirmed the department’s dedication to upholding local control over public education.

“The department is committed to the deeply entrenched American principle that local governance in public education empowers parents and educators to understand the educational needs of their children and communities best,” he added.

In June 2023, former President Joe Biden announced the establishment of a “book ban coordinator” within the OCR, aimed at informing school districts that prohibiting certain books could contravene federal law.

The Biden administration viewed book exclusions as a potential infringement on civil rights, particularly affecting LGBT students and other marginalized groups.

“Book banning undermines our democracy, deprives students of essential learning tools, and can foster stigma and isolation for LGBTQI+ individuals and various communities,” asserted the Biden administration at that time.

Following a review initiated on January 20, the current OCR leadership has concluded that the topic of book removal should be a determination made by parents and the community rather than a matter of civil rights. The department’s legal team clarified that books are not being “banned,” but rather school districts, in collaboration with parents and community members, have implemented “commonsense procedures” for evaluating and eliminating age-inappropriate content.

The OCR’s inquiry indicated that the first complaint was lodged on February 23, 2022, against Forsyth County School District in Georgia.

The complaint claimed the district violated Title IX and Title VI by removing eight books with sexually explicit content from the school library. Despite initial dismissal recommendations from the OCR’s Atlanta office, leadership in Washington overruled them and obtained a resolution agreement with the district, as stated by the Department of Education.

This agreement required the district to display statements supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to promote the filing of Title IX and Title VI complaints by students. It will now be nullified along with all associated requirements.

The book ban controversy has been particularly intense in states like Texas and Florida. In March 2023, a federal judge decreed the reinstatement of previously excluded books featuring sexual and racial content to libraries in Llano County, Texas. Ultimately, county commissioners decided to keep the libraries operational with the books available after contemplating possible closures.

The free speech advocacy organization PEN America reported over 10,000 instances of book exclusions in public schools during the 2023-24 academic year. The nonprofit indicated that the most frequently targeted books were those authored by women and minorities, focusing on issues of racism, sexuality, gender, and history.

Advocates of such exclusions argue that it is crucial to eliminate age-inappropriate materials to safeguard children.

The decision from the Education Department follows broader movements by the Trump administration aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump recently enacted an executive order that halts federal funding for educational institutions that require specific provisions or hire contractors engaging in DEI practices.

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