Challenged Books in Area Public Schools and Public Libraries

As of May 31, 2023, residents of our region have challenged at least 38 books in local public schools and public libraries. We are compiling information on these books, the challenges and how people can acquire them through the public libraries in a spreadsheet which we plan to update periodically. You can download a print-friendly version of this information.

If you’d like to purchase copies of these books, visit The Book Tavern on Broad Street in Augusta.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State’s web site contains several articles in the category “Schools and Learning” which match the search term “bans.”

Columbia County Advocates for Public Education has published a statement about these book challenges.

If you have information we should use to update the spreadsheet or if you want to help resist such challenges, contact us!

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Religious Freedom Recap of 1st Half of Georgia Legislative Session

On April 11, 2023, Maggie Garrett, Vice-President for Public Policy for Americans United for Separation of Church and State recapped religious freedom issues in the 2023 Georgia legislative session.

Tell Legislators to Stop Harmful New Voucher Program in Georgia

On March 20, 2023, the House Education Policy Subcommittee will hear Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. Call your House member and a member of the House Education Committee to ask them to oppose Senate Bill 233

• Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Vouchers for Private Schools: A Church-State Issue
• Stephen Owens, Bill Analysis: SB 233, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, 2023-Mar-14
• Jay Bookman, Another year, another school voucher bill to funnel public money to private schools, Georgia Recorder, 2023-Mar-16

Urgent Actions on Georgia Legislation, 2023-24 Session

Georgia Senate to vote today on SB 233, a completely new voucher bill. Urge your Senator to vote NO.

Also call your representative in the House of Representatives to oppose HB 101, which has been amended to expand an existing voucher program (“Tuition Tax Credits”) by 10 million USD per year.

• Fund Georgia’s Future fact sheet on SB 233
• Americans United for Separation of Church and State – Supporting Public Education & Working To Ensure Public Schools Welcome All Students
• Georgia Budget and Policy Institute – Resources on School Vouchers

Oppose SB 140, which would prevent transgender youth from receiving gender affirming surgery and hormone therapy. It also subjects licensed physicians who administer gender affirming care to medical board violations. Take Action On This Bill Now! 

Act to Stop Georgia SB 88

The Central Savannah River Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State calls for residents of Georgia to contact their legislators to express opposition to Senate Bill 88, misnamed “Parents and Children Protection Act of 2023.”

SB 88 is an expansive censorship bill which– despite targeting LGBTQ students and educators– could have far-reaching implications for Georgia families’ ability to access a quality education and for Georgia educators to provide one.

Here is the contact information for senators on the Education and Youth committee to which the bill has been assigned.

Georgia Equality has created some talking points. It has also created an online form to send a message to your representatives. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has published its opposition to the bill.

The Georgia Senate Education and Youth Committee discussed SB 88 on February 14, 2023. The discussion begins at minute 55:30.

2/14/23 – Committee on Education & Youth from Georgia State Senate on Vimeo.

To locate your Senator and Representative in the Georgia General Assembly and confirm your voter registration, visit https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/.

If you aren’t registered to vote, try OpenStates’s Find Your Legislators tool.