No credited phone calls due to library surges and student involvement in KY
Kentucky schools reported a surge in library book checkouts after banning calls during the school day.
Free speech advocacy groups on October 1 warned that book censorship in US public schools has “ramped” and that book bans have increased significantly in recent years.
Book censorship is not a new issue, but the US has seen a massive increase in book bans and bans since 2021. Penn America’s “US Prohibition” report was released on October 1st and recorded approximately 6,800 books that were removed from schools in the 2024-2025 grade.
The new numbers have fallen from the bans reported over 10,000 reports for the 2023-2024 academic year, but Penn America noted that it is an increase from the previous year when advocacy groups did not publish an annual report or index for the ban on Books. Since July 2021, Penn America has recorded more than 22,800 book bans in 45 states and 451 public school districts.
The systematic removal of books from schools and school libraries in many parts of the country has resulted in “normalization and normalization of censorship” in public education, according to the report. Penn America cited “amazing censorship pressures” in school districts, including recent federal efforts to limit education, continuing attacks on LGBTQ+ identities and a ban on nationally mandated books.
A few days after President Donald Trump took office in January, the U.S. Department of Education called the book a “hoax” and revoked all departmental guidance that suggested that the removal of age-inappropriate books from the district’s libraries could violate civil rights laws.
“The pressure of censorship has grown and escalated, taking many forms, including laws, instructions, confusion, lists of books that are mislabeled as “explicit” material, and “not to buy” lists. “For the past four years, the “ban on daily life” and normalization of censorship has deteriorated and spread. The results are unprecedented. ”
Most prohibited states with books
From July 2024 to July 2025 to June 2025, Penn America tracked 6,870 book bans in 23 states and 87 public school districts, according to the report.
The report says Florida has been leading the country for the third year in a row, with more than 2,300 books bans for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Following Florida, Texas has banned more than 1,780, while Tennessee has surpassed 1,600.
Advocacy groups said in their report that school districts are often attacked by extremist groups with anti-LGBTQ+ stances and often remove the title of opposing diversity, equity and inclusive efforts. “Educators and the school board are afraid of losing funds, being fired or harassed or police involvement,” Penn America said in a news release.
The report found that part of the Florida book ban was not a formal objection submitted by parents to the local school board, but a result of direct pressure from local groups and elected officials. The report added that the increase in bans within the state was due to the passage of multiple “ambiguous laws” and the threat to professional licences if educators fail to comply.
“If local book bans continue to wreathe freedom to read in public schools, the bookshelves will not be left untouched,” said Sabrina Baeta, senior manager of Penn America’s Freedom Program, in a statement. “The ban on books is in the way of a more fair, informed and fair world. They chill the freedom to read and restrict students’ rights to access and read freely.”
According to Meehan, this is especially important when a book ban occurs in Florida. She said the organization is particularly watching Florida’s actions, as it sees pressure placed on Florida school districts happening often through the Trump administration’s orders at other state or federal levels.
“We’ve always called Florida a blueprint because what’s going on in Florida about the book ban drips into other states,” Meehan said.
Top 5 is prohibited
Pen America previously reported that the majority of targeted books are written by people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or female members.
“The books that are most frequently targeted typically contain themes that portray race and racism, gender identity and sexuality, or sexual violence,” the organization said.
According to the report, the top five books for the 2024-2025 academic year were:
- 23 bans on “Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess
- Patricia McCormick “sells” with 20 bans
- Jennifer Niven bans 20 people “breathless”
- 199 ban and “Last Night” by Malinda Law
- “The Court of Fog and Anger” by Sarah J. Mars
Most prohibited authors
The report said the book ban continues to affect the “broad group of creative experts” in the literature department. From 2024 to 2025, Book Bans influenced roughly 2,600 works, including over 2,300 authors, over 240 illustrators and nearly 40 translators, according to the report.
The report states that the top five people for the 2024-2025 academic year were banned:
- Stephen King: 87 titles are banned, totaling 206 times.
- Ellen Hopkins: 18 titles were banned, totaling 167 times.
- Sarah J. Mars:21 titles are prohibited, totaling 162 times
- Jody Picoll:23 titles are banned, totaling 62 times.
- Yūsei Matsui: 22 comic books from the Assassination Classroom series were banned, for a total of 54 times.
Contribution: Stephany Matt, USA Today Network -Florida
