Students' Rights

The ACLU works to protect students' right to read and learn free from viewpoint-based or partisan censorship.

students in classroom

For over a year now, we’ve seen state lawmakers introduce classroom censorship bills that restrict students and teachers from learning about race and gender in schools. Now, state officials and local school boards across the country are waging campaigns to remove books from schools that are by and about communities of color, LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups. We work in the courts, legislature, and community to ensure students are able to learn in an environment that is free from viewpoint-based or partisan censorship.

Students' Rights in the Courts

In April of 2023, ACLU of SC filed suit on behalf of NAACP and individual plaintiffs against Pickens County School District due to its politically and racially motivated removal of the book Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You from district classrooms, libraries, and media centers. The book was removed by the school board despite being reviewed by school and district-level panels who both unanimously agreed that the book is developmentally appropriate for junior English Language Arts classes.

Our lawsuit asks the court to declare that removing Stamped was unconstitutional and order its return to Pickens County school classrooms, libraries, and curriculums. We believe that students should be free to learn about the world around them without being hindered by politically motivated viewpoint-based censorship.

Read about NAACP v Pickens County

In the Legislature

The South Carolina General Assembly continues to attempt to enact classroom censorship legislation similar to the anti-CRT bills moving through legislatures across the state.

H. 3728, or the Transparency and Integrity in Education Act, is a bill that would prohibit specific discussions of race, gender, or sexual orientation and how they factor into the inequities that exist today. The bill subjects teachers and administrators to a burdensome complaint and investigation process, no matter how frivolous the complaint.

Classroom Censorship Legislation

In the Community

ACLU of SC works with advocates across the state to mobilize communities to resist classroom censorship legislation and oppose book bans.

We are proud members of ProTruth SC and Freedom to Read SC.

The Latest

News & Commentary
Jackson speaks on a radio broadcast from the headquarters of Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) at its annual convention. July 1973, photograph by John H. White

Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson

The Rev. Jesse Jackson (1941-2026) was a South Carolina icon and a champion of civil rights for all people. He believed in the power of a rainbow coalition, a patchwork quilt of Americans from all backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and identities laboring for a better tomorrow. May we all carry on that work together.
News & Commentary
"Statehouse Dispatch: Feb. 2, 2026. This week under the copper dome." Background photo of the South Carolina Statehouse dome in pink and blue tints.

Statehouse Dispatch: Feb. 2, 2026

S.C. lawmakers keep attacking the rights of women, LGBTQ+ people, and students. We have some better ideas for them.
Podcast
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Episode 19: What’s Going On (In the Statehouse)?

South Carolina lawmakers started 2026 with a barrage of bills attacking our reproductive freedom, voting rights, free speech rights, and more. But even on the ugliest days of the legislative session, South Carolinians showed up, spoke out, and wrote in to their lawmakers demanding something better. How do we keep showing up for this work, and just as importantly, why? We get into it with advocacy director Courtney.
News & Commentary
"Statehouse Dispatch: Jan. 26, 2026." Background photo of the Statehouse dome tinted yellow and blue.

Statehouse Dispatch: Jan. 26, 2026

Our lawmakers want to dismantle the wall between church and state, take away our reproductive rights, and make life harder for trans youth
Legislation
Jan 13, 2026

Studying the Root Causes of Truancy (H. 4735)

This bill would establish a Truancy Root Cause Intervention Study Committee to assess current truancy intervention programs and investigate the factors that lead to truancy, including home environment and other circumstances.
Status: Active
Position: Support
Legislation
Jan 13, 2026

Surveillance of Special Education (H. 4725)

This bill would require public schools to record audio and video of all special education classroom instruction. These recordings would be available to the general public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act.
Status: Active
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Jan 14, 2026

Anti-Trans School Bathroom Policy (S. 199)

Status: Active
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Jan 13, 2026

Classroom Censorship Policy (H. 4757)

This bill would allow parents to exempt their children from any classroom instruction in a public school if it conflicts with their “beliefs or practices regarding sex, morality, or religion.” It would also forbid classroom discussions of "gender roles or stereotypes, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation” unless a teacher gives parents five days' advance notice and receives affirmative consent from the parents.
Status: Active
Position: Oppose