Florida Legislators Want Parents to Help Decide Which Books Are Appropriate for School

Conservative groups in particular have been publicly objecting to books they claim to be inappropriate for school-aged students and have even asked officials to remove certain titles from libraries.

A proposal now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis could give parents and community members a bigger role in helping select the books used in schools.

If the governor signs the bill into law, which is part of a broader “parental rights” effort led by Republicans, the Florida Department of Education will also be required to submit a list of instructional materials that Florida schools have banned. This information would then be shared with districts, so they can review it and make decisions.

Is It Necessary?

According to Miami-Dade County School Board Vice Chair Steve Gallon III, “many [bills] appear to be a strategy to amplify a call for parental engagement that may be outside the scope of education,” adding that in Miami-Dade, schools already have a platform for parents to review and consider instructional materials related to their child’s education. In fact, state districts have a process in place by which a parent or resident of the county may object to specific materials.

However, in recent months, conservative groups in particular have been publicly objecting to books they claim to be inappropriate for school-aged students and have even asked officials to remove certain titles from libraries that touch on LGBTQ themes, like “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan.

Homophobes Are Emboldened

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) is worried the current administration has emboldened homophobic people to challenge books about gender identity.

“They feel that by making objections to book content that included LGBTQ people, no matter how unreasonable and homophobic and transphobic that their objection is, that this Legislature and this governor has their back,” he said.