Dear John,

In recent years, book bans have proliferated across the country, driven by extremists who seek to erase history and eliminate discussions about diverse lived experiences. But when students don’t have access to books that are representative of their experience, tell their stories, and feature people who look like them, they are sent a message that they don’t belong or that parts of their identity are “too divisive” or “inappropriate” for school. That’s why, yesterday, we filed complaints with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights against two school districts that have removed hundreds of books featuring, telling the stories of, or are written by people of color and LGBTQIA+ people: Cobb County School District in Georgia and Collier County Public School District in Florida.

Here’s what we’re asserting in our complaints against these school districts:

• They are violating Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibit sex discrimination, including anti-LGTBQIA+ discrimination in education.
• They are violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race discrimination in education.
• Both districts have intimidated educators into censoring what they teach in their classrooms and what books they assign.
• Students, parents, and advocates in those school districts have repeatedly asserted that policies targeting books and stories about race, racism, and LGBTQIA+ identity make students feel unwelcome and unsafe at school.

Every student deserves a safe and inclusive learning environment, but students, especially queer students and students of color, often don’t receive that. Book bans can create a hostile environment for LGBTQIA+ students and students of color by making these students feel targeted, unwelcome, and unsafe at school.

That is why we are calling on OCR to require the school districts to:

• Restore all books that were banned because they feature people of color or LGBTQIA+ people or discuss race or LGBTQIA+ identity.
• Refrain from removing any books in the future because they feature people of color or LGBTQIA+ people or discuss race or LGBTQIA+ identity.
• Clarify in school district mission statements and policies that the districts value diversity and are committed to ensuring safe, inclusive, and supportive campuses free from discrimination. 
• Ensure students understand how to report incidents of harassment and discrimination to their schools and OCR.
• End the policies and practices contributing to a hostile environment for students of color and LGBTQIA+ students.

The National Women's Law Center is clear that censorship has no place within schools and we will continue to fight for a better future for all students. Thank you for being with us and we'll keep you updated on any developments!

In solidarity, 

Shiwali Patel
she/her/hers
Director of Safe and Inclusive Schools & Senior Counsel
National Women’s Law Center