We understand that in today's day and age, censorship and book challenges come in all shapes and forms. When you're already under pressure, it may feel overwhelming, and you may not know where to go or what to do! Below is a quick-reference guide to some of KATE's favorite tools from some of our favorite organizations for fighting censorship and book challenges. Whether you're a teacher, a librarian, a student, or a community member, we hope this page helps guide you! Note: We are not lawyers. This page serves merely as an allocation of resources.

National Council of Teachers of English

• Intellectual Freedom Center
• Report Censorship
• Book Rationales Database

American Library Association

• Report Censorship & Find Support

National Coalition Against Censorship

• Report Censorship
• More Resources by NCAC

Censorship Toolkits

• Rationales for Teaching Challenged Books​

• “Report Censorship” Toolkit​
  
• Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, and Academic Libraries

• Book Censorship Action Kit
• Defend LGBTQ Stories​

​Guidelines & Handbooks

• Guidelines for Selection of Materials in ELA Programs
  
• Guidelines for Dealing with Censorship of Instruction Materials
• NCTE Position Statement Regarding Rating or “Red-Flagging” Books
  
• Statement on Classroom Libraries
  
• The Students’ Right to Read​

• Guidelines for a Reconsideration Committee
• Working With the Media​
• Answering Questions about Youth and Access to Library Resources
• Working with Community Leaders​​

• Considerations and Guidelines for School Officials​
• The Free Expression Educators Handbook​

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Advocacy Against Educational Gag Orders / Proposed Laws

Pen America works to fight censorship and educational policies that would gag intellectual freedom. If you know of upcoming legislation that could harm ELA classrooms via censorship, be sure to reach out to them!

Contact Pen America
Issues & Advocacy