PEN America Report: Florida Schools Removed Approximately 3,200 Books Last Year
During Banned Books Week, a PEN America report indicates Florida schools removed approximately 3,200 books last year, placing the state second nationally behind Texas. State education officials are reportedly encouraging further book removals from school shelves.
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, October 6, 2026 — During Banned Books Week, a recent report from PEN America has highlighted the significant number of books removed from school shelves across Florida. According to the report, Florida schools removed approximately 3,200 books over the past year. This figure places the state second nationally in terms of book removals, with Texas ranking first.
The report from PEN America indicates that state education officials have reportedly been encouraging further removals of books from school libraries and classrooms. The exact nature of these encouragements and the specific directives from state officials were not detailed in the summary provided.
PEN America is an organization that advocates for writers and readers. Their reports often track censorship efforts and the availability of literature in educational institutions. The trend of book removals has been a growing concern for many educational and civil liberties groups across the United States.
The summary did not specify the types of books removed, the specific school districts involved in Florida, or the timeline for the reported encouragement from state education officials. Information regarding the criteria used for removal or any subsequent actions taken by schools or districts was also not provided.
While the PEN America report identifies Florida as second nationally, the exact number of books removed by Texas schools was not stated in the provided summary. The scale of removals in Florida signifies a notable trend in the state’s approach to curriculum and library content in public schools.
Further details concerning the methodology of the PEN America report, the specific policies enacted by Florida education officials, or the impact of these removals on students and educators were not available in the trend summary. The report underscores a continuing national debate surrounding access to diverse literature in schools.
Story summarized from the original created by By Jeffrey S. Solochek, Times staff on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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