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What to do if a book is challenged in your school or library.

If you’ve heard rumors that books in your school library are being challenged—or if you have school board members expressing concerns about the books your kids have access to—now is the time to take action! 

Not sure what to do? We’ve been through this right here, in Minnesota, and we’ve learned a lot! Based on our experience, here are some ways to get started.

(expand each section for additional details and resources)

Attend school board meetings
Understand what is happening in your district. If your school board is introducing a new policy or trying to change a policy, listen to the changes they are proposing and review all relevant policies carefully. Consider how they will impact your school.

Connect your people
A private Facebook group works really well for connecting people and spurring them to action, but be sure to “vet” people you let into the group. It’s likely bad actors will try to infiltrate your group and see what you’re up to, and it's important to have an environment where people feel safe.

Public School Strong Minnesota
Parents, students, educators and community members who support each other in turning out to local school board meetings and speak up to promote, protect and strengthen our public education system.
https://healtogether.controlshift.app/groups/public-school-strong-minnesota

Find your people!
Decide on the best way to connect those fighting the ban so you have somewhere to direct people who are on your side. Is it an email list? A Facebook group? A signal chat? Then figure out where your people are and meet them there. There is strength in community and strength in numbers.  Start with people in your area who you know. Ask them to talk to people they know. 

  • Spread the word online, on local bulletin boards with paper flyers, at community meetings, and by word of mouth to rally people to your cause. Post in local community groups. POST ON EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA platform you can think of! Many people don't know these things are happening behind closed doors but once they do, they’ll stand up for inclusion.
  • When you attend school board meetings, note probable allies and reach out to them. 
  • Go to events with an inclusive agenda, such as library events, Pride events, and school events that project inclusivity. Then, talk to people! 
  • Join your PTA or other parent-led organizations within your school and look for likeminded parents.
  • Reach out to local professionals (physicians, child therapists, community leaders, public teachers, etc.) and encourage them to join your group and write to your school board about the importance of inclusivity, representation, and access to books of all kinds. 

School Boards Matter Guide
A Guide to Effectively Advocating At The School Board Level
Find your allies

Make your voices heard
Show up, reach out, and speak up!

  • SHOW UP to school board meetings and TAKE UP THEIR TIME. Make them listen to you and your group at every single school board meeting! Call them. Email them. Write to them.
  • Reach out to the board of your county library system and local organizations that value inclusivity and ask them to write letters to the school board or speak at a meeting.
  • Start a petition or letter writing campaign in your community. Use online tools to share petitions or set up a letter others can sign and email directly to the school board. Flooding them with hundreds of letters can have a big impact!

School Boards Matter
A Guide to Effectively Advocating At The School Board Level
Navigating School Board Meetings

Organize a rally

Right before a school board meeting is a good time. Make matching T-shirts or wear the same color. Make signs. Contact the news media and encourage them to do a story about your district. Message us to get connected with people who can bring authors and others who can help in public settings like this!

School Boards Matter
A Guide to Effectively Advocating At The School Board Level

Organize for a Schoolboard Meeting

Correct misinformation when you see or hear it
—both online and in person

A calm, fact-based approach can shift the conversation, especially when proponents of the ban use alarming, inflammatory language to further their false narrative.
Fact Checking Guide - ( coming soon )

Continue to show up at school board meetings
Keep your group updated on what is happening since not everyone is going to be able to make it to every meeting.

School Boards Matter
A Guide to Effectively Advocating At The School Board Level
Hold an Ally Meeting
Speaking at a School Board Meeting

Public School Strong Minnesota
Parents, students, educators and community members who support each other in turning out to local school board meetings and speak up to promote, protect and strengthen our public education system.
https://healtogether.controlshift.app/groups/public-school-strong-minnesota

Draw attention
Make TikToks or reels to keep the story relevant on social media.

Schoolboard Book Ban Content Contributors

@cbsdschoolboardwatch

@dougiesharpe

@nikkiforbooks

Equip your school board
Make it easy for your school board to do the right thing by pointing them to sample policies and other school districts who have left library book selection where it belongs, in the hands of trained school and library professionals. Reach out to us for help with this! If a book ban is already in place in your district, you may need to consider legal action by contacting the ACLU.

Policy Samples - coming soon
Ally Districts/Leaders - coming soon

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
The ACLU offers online resources and support links for book bans and other issues affecting civil liberties and freedoms of educators, students, and the community.

Get involved in local school board elections
You can partner with The School Board Integrity Project and also take a free online seminar with Public School Strong to learn more about how to do this. Once you have a community around you to support these issues, this won't feel as overwhelming as it sounds.

School Board Integrity Project
If you’re interested in running for school board, getting reelected to your school board, or adding capacity as a volunteer to candidates running for school board, please contact us!

[email protected]

Candidate Filings
Find the school board candidates who have already filed for upcoming elections in your district.
https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/
screenshot of candidate search for school board position

Candidate Periods
Before a general election, there is a two-week filing period during which candidates can submit their affidavit of candidacy to the filing officer. Prospective candidates should contact the filing officer to learn which offices will be on the ballot at the upcoming election—some offices may only be up for election every two, three, four, or six years. Special elections to fill vacancies may have filing periods of different lengths.
Candidate Filing Periods > School Board Districts