Education Department Finds Possible Violation of Students' Rights in Forsyth Book Removals

The US Department of Education has reached a settlement with a Georgia school district after investigating whether book removals created a hostile environment for students based on race, sex, or national origin. The district had removed some books after receiving complaints from parents about sexually explicit or LGBTQ content. The Education Department found that the removal of books created a hostile environment for students, and the district agreed to take certain steps as part of the settlement, including conducting a survey of students about their school environment and submitting to ongoing monitoring by the Office for Civil Rights. Book bans have become a potent national political issue, with a growing and organized movement to remove books on certain subjects from school districts and libraries.