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05/22/2023

Education Department: Book Removals May Have Violated Student Civil Rights

This could affect how schools handle book challenges

In a move that could affect how schools handle book challenges, the federal government has concluded that a Georgia school district's removal of titles with Black and LGBTQ characters may have created a "hostile environment" for students, potentially violating their civil rights.

The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights released its findings in a letter Friday wrapping up its investigation into Forsyth County Schools’ 2022 decision to pull nearly a dozen books from shelves after parents complained of titles’ sexual and LGBTQ content. To resolve the investigation, the district north of Atlanta agreed to offer “supportive measures” to students affected by the book removals and to administer a school climate survey, per the letter.

Forsyth schools spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo wrote in a statement Monday that the district's "implementation of the [department's] recommendations … will further our mission to provide an unparalleled education for all to succeed."

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post. 

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