Dismantling Unjust Florida Law and Constructing Educational Possibilities Through Culturally Relevant Elementary Public School Libraries

• In Event: Banning Books and Censoring Curriculum: Evidence From the Educational Battlegrounds

Abstract

Florida recently passed legislation governing public school libraries. In this sequential mixed methods study framed by culturally relevant pedagogy, we first use legal research methods to analyze the content of statutory and administrative law to understand how these policies limit access to texts relevant to historically marginalized students. Then, using original data on library holdings, we use descriptive and regression analyses to examine access to culturally relevant picture books in Florida public elementary schools. Emerging evidence suggests implementation of these policies further limits access to texts relevant to historically marginalized students. We discuss implications for students’ academic and social skill development and the ever-widening opportunity gap as well as strategies for dismantling these unjust laws while expanding students’ educational possibilities.

Authors

• Kelley A. Taksier, University of Florida

• María Virginia Giani, University of Florida

• Concepción Moncada Cummings, University of Florida

• Rhonda K. Jackson, University of Florida

• Danielle Jeannite, University of Florida

• Florence Bason, University of Florida

• Christopher Redding, University of Florida

• Rasheeda T. West, University of Florida