PEN America: Rise in U.S. School Book Bans
PEN America released a report on Oct. 1, 2025 finding 6,870 instances of books being challenged, restricted or removed from U.S. public school libraries during the 2024–2025 school year, a sharp increase from pre‑2023 levels. The report names the most‑challenged titles and authors, lists Florida (2,304), Texas (1,781) and Tennessee (1,622) as the states with the highest counts, and says federal moves — including an executive‑order‑driven removal of roughly 600 titles from Department of Defense schools in July — have accelerated the trend.
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🔍 Key Facts
- PEN America counted 6,870 school‑library bans in the 2024–2025 academic year
- By comparison the prior year recorded 10,046 bans, and 2021–2023 averaged ~3,000 per year
- States with highest reported bans: Florida 2,304; Texas 1,781; Tennessee 1,622
- Report cites federal actions: about 600 titles removed from DoD schools in July under executive‑order alignment; DOE rescinded prior guidance calling bans potential civil‑rights violations