Texas Implements Controversial Laws in Schools and Social Media

Some school districts in Virginia are using a new law requiring parental notification of sexually explicit materials in the classroom as a pretext to remove certain books from schools altogether. Legislatures in other states have passed similar laws, but school districts are still figuring out whether that includes library books, books used in the classroom, or both. Critics say vague legislation and loose guidance have a chilling effect on school decision-makers, who become overly cautious. Book bans have increased nationwide in the past few years, with efforts to ban books disproportionately targeting titles about LGBTQ+ communities and communities of color.