Anti-censorship advocates champion students’ rights to a robust public education and wide access to a diverse, inclusive array of materials in their public schools and public libraries. The curriculum and materials must represent the reality of the world around young people and provide the tools, skills, and insight into the world into which they’ll become adults.
Student activists have been engaged in pro-library, pro-public education, and anti-censorship work in every generation where such work is necessary. It’s not different now. Student groups, some of which are highlighted here, here, and here as part of where and how anyone can get involved in anti-censorship work,
One group making its voices heard loud and clear already in 2025 is Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT). SEAT is a student-led movement to ensure that student visibility is at the forefront of educational policy, and they’ve been advocating for student rights for over two years. SEAT’s first act of 2025? Delivering a Student Bill of Rights to over 1,200 Texas policymakers the week prior to the opening session.
SEAT’s Student Bill of Rights was created with the input of over 100 students across the state, representing a range of ages, backgrounds, genders, political beliefs, identities, and more.
“We know firsthand where the faults in our education are because we see them every day. We can envision what an ideal education system can look like,” said Hayden Cohen (they/them), SEAT State Policy Director and university student in Houston, in a press release. “This legislative session will be an uphill battle for students. We are telling the people who represent us, our legislators, that we’re not staying silent in any fight. We will harness our collective power.”
“The Student Bill of Rights represents a moment where we, as students, are asserting our fundamental right to have a seat at the table,” added Grace Ding (she/her), SEAT Research Director and Katy ISD student. “Student voices have been silenced far too long in decisions affecting our educational realities. Our declaration is the product of diverse student perspectives across Texas coming together to envision a future that serves all of us.”
There are eight points in the Student Bill of Rights, alongside a pull quote from what each means:
Agency to make decisions in education
“Students are the primary stakeholders in education, but we are traditionally excluded from policy-making decisions in school boards and the state legislature. Officials cannot best represent students when they cultivate a “power over” relationship instead of “power with” students.”
High quality public education for all
“Students deserve the right to school libraries that provide access to resources and knowledge, in the form of books, the Internet, guidance by librarians, and more. Libraries and classrooms shall be boundless for fostering exploration, imagination, and possibility.”
Safe and welcoming school environments conducive to growth
“Gun violence is a public health epidemic and a reality for Generation Z and Alpha. These cycles of violence do not need to be a broken record. We are ready to turn the page toward safe storage measures and preventing guns from ending up in the hands of anyone in crisis or who has made threats of violence toward themself or others.”
Freedom of expression in a pluralistic, multicultural democracy
“As lawmakers seek to blur the separation of Church and State, public schools must support students secularly and without enforcing religious customs. We should, however, learn of diverse world faiths and defend students’ individual right to religious liberty. Nationalism, especially bolstering religious doctrine, undermines faith and education.”
Holistic student care to support health and well-being
“Entering school each day, students bring a reflection of our personal lives into the classroom. Regardless of socioeconomic status, wraparound services fulfill student needs and steer us on a track to success, fostering better social and learning environments for all.”
Truthful, critical, and substantive curriculum
“We should trust the expertise of librarians and educators to curate age-relevant and educationally-suitable collections. Interest groups and politicians with ulterior motives should not hold greater authority over the autonomy of all families in a school system.”
To be leaders of today, not only of tomorrow
“We must actualize power for civic leadership, navigating interpersonal conflict, and building professional relationships. We must be aware of our elected officials at all levels of government and understand that we play a critical role as a Fourth Branch of government. Learning how to engage in civic institutions through voting and public engagement will help us shape, not merely inherit, the world we wish to live in.”
Streamlined and personalized pathways for lifelong learning
“Education is a life-long endeavor. Opportunities for Higher Education must be affordable, accessible, and student-oriented.
There is no singular or correct path for students. Education should challenge us to be the best of ourselves while simultaneously handing us the keys to our own academic, social, and professional journeys.
Districts should provide classroom instruction and hands-on experiences for learning Career and Technical Education.”
You can–and should–read more about what each of these entails in the document presented by SEAT to policymakers. This Student Bill of Rights provides anyone, student or adult, an array of talking points that can and should be used with local, state, and federal level stakeholders in this era of “parental rights” and erosion of public goods.
Below, find a short conversation with the members of SEAT. I spoke with members of the group about their groundbreaking Student Bill of Rights proposal, the student-led work they’re seeing and encouraged by throughout the country, and their biggest concerns coming into the new year and new administration.
Can you give a brief introduction and history of SEAT? What was the moment when you knew you needed to develop a statewide youth-led advocacy group and what/where have you been working together since your initial founding?
SEAT, or Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, is a youth-driven initiative that fosters civic participation, promotes equity, and drives systemic change through policy advocacy and educational reforms.
After a year of elevating student voices at school board meetings in the fight against book bans and Internet censorship in Katy ISD, our founders knew we needed to address local issues in an interconnected movement. SEAT was formally established in November 2022 to launch our collective engagement during the 2023 Texas Legislative Session. During this critical period, we mobilized to challenge the HB 900 book ban and advocate for inclusive legislation that upheld youth rights across Texas.
Our efforts centered on advancing equity and improving shared experiences within educational, domestic, and social contexts. Despite the eventual passage of HB 900 and other bills later proving detrimental to us as youth, we recognized the enduring need for a platform to amplify student voices and support the ongoing fight against systemic inequities. These legislative outcomes highlighted the urgent necessity for sustained advocacy, and we have grown tremendously from collective student leadership.
Since our founding, we have expanded our work beyond addressing local and state issues, taking our advocacy efforts to the federal level. Our unwavering mission is to ensure that students’ voices are centermost in education decision-making and instrumental in shaping the policies that impact our education and broader societal experiences.
What was the impetus for creating a Student Bill of Rights and delivering it to Texas policymakers?
The Student Bill of Rights directly responded to growing inequities and systemic barriers in Texas schools, from book bans and curriculum restrictions to underfunded public education. We knew a policy agenda can change to meet needs of the present day, but we wanted to envision ideals for what students deserve. Authored by proud young Texans with broadly comprehensive backgrounds—including aspiring educators, future Armed Forces members, and students of diverse faiths—this Bill represents a commitment to uphold the values that define our state and nation. As students, we see ourselves as the future of Texas, and investing in our education, our voices, and our participation in democracy is an investment in the state’s future.
Inspired by the principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights—which safeguard liberties and empower “We the People”—our Student Bill of Rights reflects these founding ideals. Through statewide listening sessions, surveys, and collaborations with student leaders from diverse communities, we crafted a document embodying young Texans’ aspirations and frustrations. Delivering the Student Bill of Rights to policymakers was an act of advocacy and civic responsibility, a step toward forming a more equitable and inclusive Texas. At SEAT, we are committed to upholding our shared duty to create a better future for all Texans. Together, we ask: What kind of leaders do we want our fellow students to become?
What are you most worried about when it comes to student rights in the coming legislative session in Texas? In the US more broadly?
In Texas, the upcoming legislative session poses significant challenges, including potential expansions of book bans, restrictions on teaching accurate history, and the introduction of school voucher programs that threaten to divert essential funding away from public education. We’re deeply concerned about policies that not only silence marginalized voices, such as LGBTQ+ students and students of color, but also exacerbate inequities for those in underfunded schools.
Efforts to suppress student-led advocacy and limit access to resources that reflect diverse perspectives, as we saw with the impact of SB 17’s DEI ban on public universities across the state, present further barriers to educational equity and civic engagement. School districts statewide have been challenging Title IX nondiscrimination protections for transgender students, and school boards have proposed harmful anti-trans policies. We’re fighting back.
Nationally, the erosion of democratic values in education is troubling, as seen in the proliferation of anti-censorship laws, the rollback of diversity initiatives, and attacks on student free speech. Growing authoritarian trends threaten to create an environment where students feel disempowered and unheard. Our work focuses on ensuring these rights remain protected and that student advocacy continues to flourish despite these hurdles.
What wins has SEAT celebrated? What student-led wins outside of Texas and SEAT have you been encouraged and inspired by?
We are proud to have developed the Fight Book Bans Act, introduced to Congress by Rep. Maxwell Frost and Sen. Cory Booker. We’re hoping to reintroduce this legislation in the new Congress to continue fighting for a safeguard against the movement to censor. Meanwhile, we have distributed hundreds of banned books to students across Texas, donated by publishers, non-profits, and customers of local bookstores.
In school districts like Fort Worth ISD, we’re proud of student efforts we spearheaded with SEAT organizers like Emma-Eliz Barberena to return 90+ books to school shelves. We’re showing up where decisions are made and demonstrating our power as youth.
We’ve partnered with coalitions across Texas to shut down numerous attempts to pass vouchers in the Texas Legislature, and we’ve done the same in school districts where they attempt to pass anti-transgender policies. We’ve filed legal action to uphold Title IX nondiscrimination protections and the First Amendment, and we’re making headway as a peer-mentor network of 100+ unstoppable student.
SEAT is endlessly awed by student leaders and initiatives nationwide, including DAYLO in South Carolina, Kentucky Student Voice Team, Golden State Readers, chapter leaders of NCAC’s Student Advocates for Speech, and the 2024 Banned Books Week Youth Honorary Chair Julia Garnett. Our voices are powerful and change the world, one story and one action at a time.
What can other youth-led groups focused on fair education, anti-censorship, and rights to democratic engagement do to have their voices heard in our current sociopolitical environment? Where and how can those most harmed by the current legislation and systems do the work safely and effectively?
Youth-led groups can amplify their voices by building coalitions, leveraging social media for awareness campaigns, and engaging in direct advocacy with policymakers. Storytelling is a powerful tool—personal narratives can humanize issues and drive change. We’ve successfully leveraged intergenerational adult allies and professionals by combining our unique perspectives and strategies with their subject matter expertise and experiences. This unified approach, driven by a vision for change that honors the past and propels the present, has driven our efforts forward. Additionally, we’ve strategically utilized media to amplify our message and extend our reach.
Safety must come first for those most impacted by harmful legislation. This means creating spaces for mutual support, organizing through trusted networks, and using digital tools to connect and mobilize. Collaborating with established advocacy organizations can also provide resources and protection while amplifying their efforts.
Where and how can adults in Texas help to ensure legislators take the Student Bill of Rights seriously?
Ensuring legislators take our Student Bill of Rights seriously lies in the actions of allies who show up—both in presence and support. By attending hearings, writing to legislators, and advocating alongside students, allies can lend the credibility and weight that only collaboration across generations can provide. Referencing our Bill of Rights in meetings with lawmakers or in professional settings gives power to student voices. Ensuring student input, engagement, and agency is involved in decision-making–in both projects and policy–is critical for valuing student voice. Financially backing youth groups like SEAT is equally critical; this investment ensures these organizations have the resources to sustain and amplify their work. The question we must ask ourselves is: What kind of message are we sending to our legislators and communities if we fail to show up for the next generation today?
How can adults who care about student rights in education support you and other youth-led groups like yours across the US?
Intergenerational allies can support by mentoring young advocates, providing skill-based, financial, or logistical resources, and creating platforms for centering youth voices. Being an upstander means challenging harmful stereotypes, addressing the real issues students face, and breaking down barriers that perpetuate inequity. Allies can foster understanding by educating their peers about the critical importance of youth-led advocacy and its transformative potential.
Additionally, adults should encourage civic education, ensuring that young people understand their rights and how to exercise them effectively. By fostering intergenerational partnerships, we can create a united front for equity and justice in education.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Student advocacy is not just about the future—it’s about the present. Young people are already leading, organizing, and making a difference. SEAT exists to amplify these efforts and remind the world that students are powerful change agents.
To all students reading this: your voice matters. To all adult allies: your support is invaluable. Together, we can build a future where every student’s rights are respected and their potential is fully realized.
Book Censorship News for January 17, 2025
- Midland Public Libraries (TX) will now have citizen-led groups deciding what is or is not appropriate in the materials for children and teens. Perfect way to delegitimize the work done by professional library workers, part 50000.
- Four more books are on the chopping block from all public schools in South Carolina.
- A new policy in Pine-Richland School District (PA) would give the power of making final decisions over book bans to the school board. Talk about an easy way to get more books banned. The meeting over this policy last week went on for nearly seven hours. A meeting this week was a little less lengthy, but it resulted in the superintendent stating the policy was too extreme (it would basically ban use of books not “generations old”) and the board electing not to make a final decision. That meeting also resulted in the YA book Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink being pulled from use in ninth-grade classrooms. Pink’s novel is about the historic 1921 Tulsa massacre.
- “Penguin Random House, along with national free expression organization PEN America, said in a Tuesday letter to the Escambia County School Board [FL] that the decision to remove “Too Bright to See” by Kyle Lukoff from its libraries represented “further steps to restrict Escambia County students’ right to read and put their ability to learn in jeopardy.” Read more here.
- A small contingent of parents in Plattville, Wisconsin, complained about the usual suspects and now, a materials review committee is listening to them in their work to determine whether or not to ban their use in middle schools. Sigh.
- Katy Independent School District (TX) denied students access to over 400 LGBTQ+ themed books, despite those books not being officially “banned.” Still book censorship, folks.
- Thanks to the hard work of local library supporters on the ground, the Livingston Parish Public Library’s (LA) board will be completely removed and a new board will be sworn in.
- Rutherford County Schools (TN) have voted to remove several more books from school libraries and will be putting an opt-in restriction on several more. Among the titles requiring mommy or daddy’s permission is Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, so there’s that.
- It’s the playbook working as planned. In Monroe County Libraries (GA), some “concerned citizens” were mad about LGBTQ+ books they found in the public library. Conveniently, the board will have three new members who will be deciding the fate of said books. Note the line about there only being four LGBTQ+ books in the children’s collection.
- “Responding to county commissioners’ concerns that children had too easy access to what they called “disturbing” material, the commission’s Library Advisory Committee on Tuesday began discussing potential changes to the rules for where books are placed on shelves and how they may be checked out.” This is the Pasco County Public Libraries in Florida. This is called Censorship with a big C, as the complaints came from the county commission (aka the government). Remember the part about “we only care about books in school libraries?” Here’s more proof on top of the mounds we already have that that line was nothing but a lie.
- Fairhope City Council (AL) reappointed three members to the library board who had become targets of Clean Up Alabama (aka, the book banners).
- Murfreesboro Schools (TN) banned the book It Feels Good To Be Yourself.
- The Eight Circuit court is taking up an issue of book bans in prisons and what First Amendment Rights those experiencing incarceration have when it comes to book access.
- A look at book censorship as it plays out in parts of New Zealand.
- Nassau Schools (FL) have seen 34 new book challenges–and conveniently, many of those titles are the same ones that they recently settled a lawsuit about and were ordered to return to shelves.
- Sarasota Schools (FL) held a board meeting this week to discuss science books. Did you know that some science books have had to have nearly 100 pages removed to meet Florida standards, which means anything related to climate change has been censored? You do now.
- In a college-level class in Kalama School District (WA), an English educator used the graphic novel Fun Home. A junior in the class took a photo of a sex scene in the book and sent it to their mom, who did the only mature thing about it–complained on Facebook. The challenge to the book’s use was not approved, and the district said there was no agenda in why the book was used. So it can be used.
- The state of Idaho is considering a ban on all flags in schools, except for the US and Idaho state flags. This state government hates gay people and Black people so much.
