Institutional fines. Colleges and universities at risk of losing their funding. Educators under attack for teaching "forbidden" topics in classrooms. Librarians threatened with jail time. 

Across the country, the freedom to learn is facing unprecedented threats. In PEN America's latest report, we analyze 137 educational gag orders introduced in 36 states so far this year, comparing them to the 54 gag order bills filed in 22 states in 2021. This is a 250 percent increase compared to 2021.

This year, most gag order bills have continued to target teaching about race, but a growing number have also targeted LGBTQ+ identities. This year's bills also contained more and harsher punishments for schools and teachers, and they contained more restrictions on colleges and even on private schools.

Educational gag orders don't just lead to sanitized lesson plans—they rob young people of opportunities to learn from a wide range of views and life experiences. And they send a dangerous message that the perspectives of some individuals—especially people of color and members of LGBTQ+ communities—don’t belong in the classroom. By seeking to silence critical perspectives and stifle debate, lawmakers are depriving students of the tools they need to navigate a diverse and complex world.

We hope you’ll read the report, share our findings with your communities, and join us in calling on legislators to withdraw and repeal these bills. 

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