"Florida School District Removes 1,600 Books, Including Dictionaries, Sparking Controversy"

The Escambia county school district in Florida removed over 1,600 books, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and biographies, due to their descriptions of "sexual conduct" in violation of a state law. This action has led to a federal lawsuit filed by PEN America, Penguin Random House, and authors, alleging a violation of free speech. The Florida Education Association criticized the ban, stating that it reflects political motivations rather than what is best for teachers, parents, and students. The school district officials claim the books were pulled for review, but only a small fraction have been reviewed so far. This book ban is part of a larger trend of increased censorship in education, particularly in Republican-led states.