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Across Florida, classrooms and libraries are changing. Shelves are being emptied, and books are being boxed, making them unavailable to students. In “Pages They Pulled,” we explore the effects of Florida’s aggressive book ban laws and how they’re affecting education.
In 2022, Florida passed legislation backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to limit books deemed sexually explicit, obscene or inappropriate for the grade level. The law, House Bill 1069, expanded the ability for parents and residents to challenge school library books, leading to large-scale removals across districts.
In August, a federal court ruled Florida’s House Bill 1069 unconstitutional – a decision issued by U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza – but the state filed an appeal in September. The ruling stated the law was overly broad and removed books before any real review could take place.
Miami-Dade County English teacher Melissa Romero says she not only noticed a loss of different stories and voices, but also her students’ reactions.
“We made students more curious because they want to know why those stories aren’t supposed to be talked about anymore,” said Romero.
For three years in a row, Florida has been rated No. 1 in the nation for most books banned. PEN America, a free speech group, found more than 2,300 banned books during the 2024-2025 school year – last year it was 4,500.
Florida International University professor Hannibal Travis explains how state laws, parent complaints and court challenges shape what ends up on a school shelf.
“In theory, a parent could allege that a book or other material provided to their child is a lewd or lascivious act,” said Travis. “This might cause the school either to settle the case, to withdraw the offending material, to pay damages or take other conduct to resolve the case.”
Miami-Dade high school senior Oona Chandler described the ban becoming real in ways she never expected, extending into spaces like military academies and even her own classroom.
“I was really shocked, because you don’t think something like this could happen in the United States. They drill freedom of speech into our heads, and you expect this in authoritarian countries — not here,” stated Chandler.
As the appeal moves forward, the future of Florida’s book restrictions remains uncertain. Until the courts decide, districts across the state continue operating under shifting rules, leaving students, teachers, authors and communities unsure of what stories will be allowed back on their shelves.
