SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond June 1 sent a joint letter to all county school superintendents, district school superintendents, and charter school administrators cautioning against book bans. The letter outlines pertinent educational civil rights and corresponding legal mandates school administrators are required to follow to preserve freedom and ensure access to diverse perspectives and curricula.
The joint letter highlights case law and constitutional precedent that restricts the removal of books from libraries and schools; the responsibilities of school administrators to provide students exposure to various world views; and the legal mandates that require school administrators to provide an unbiased curriculum to students and preserve freedom of speech. Additionally, the joint letter informs local educational agencies that if they remove or ban instructional materials from classrooms or libraries, they may be requested to provide information to the Attorney General’s Office for analysis..
Details: A copy of the letter is available here.