California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill penalizing schools that ban books discussing racial or LGBT issues. The move, according to the governor, is a direct response to efforts by conservative leaders in some school districts to prevent the indoctrination of children.
"Their bans on free speech and determination to criminalize teachers and librarians will not stand in CA," the Democrat wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
California is banning book bans and textbook censorship in our schools.
In partnership with @AsmCoreyJackson and @TonyThurmond, we’re cementing CA's role as the true freedom state: a place where families—not political fanatics—have the freedom to decide what’s right. pic.twitter.com/0br2MQN2rm
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) September 26, 2023
'California as the true state of freedom'
The governor maintained that what he intends to demonstrate with the decision is that California is a "freedom state: a place where families — not political fanatics — have the freedom to decide what’s right for them."
"From Temecula to Tallahassee, fringe ideologues across the country are attempting to whitewash history and ban books from schools. With this new law, we’re cementing California’s role as the true freedom state: a place where families — not political fanatics — have the freedom to decide what’s right for them," the governor said.
Newsom detailed that the law grants the superintendent of public instruction the authority to purchase textbooks for students in a school district, recover costs and assess a financial penalty if a school board intentionally decides not to provide educational materials. "The law also prohibits school boards from banning instructional materials or library books on the basis that they provide inclusive and diverse perspectives in compliance with state law", the Governor's Office explained.
While other states ban books, California is making tens of billions of dollars in strategic investments to improve education outcomes and literacy.
