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Florida has become a national leader in restoring accountability and common sense to public education. With policies centered on transparency, parental rights, and protecting children from inappropriate materials, Florida is setting the standard — and the rest of the country should take note.

Detractors, including groups like PEN America and activist organizations, have tried to brand Florida as the “blueprint state” for censorship. But what Florida has actually created is a blueprint for how to protect childhood innocence, uphold parental authority, and ensure our public schools remain focused on education — not ideology.

The claim that Florida’s policies are anti-LGBTQ or racially motivated is not only false — it’s intentionally misleading. The vast majority of books that have been flagged or removed from school libraries are not being challenged because of the identities of the characters, but because of the graphic and explicit content they contain. These materials include graphic depictions of rape, incest, pedophilia, necrophilia, and other forms of sexual violence. This is not literature for children. Period.

Critics argue that students should be “exposed to different viewpoints” or that removing books is equivalent censorship, but let’s be honest: rated R or X movies aren’t shown in schools. Is that “banning” movies? Schools are not public movie theaters, bookstores, or streaming platforms — they are institutions of learning, meant to foster development in age-appropriate ways. Age restrictions exist in nearly every other part of society. Why should public school libraries be the exception?In one notable example, the superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools refused to read aloud a challenged book during a public Board of Education meeting—because its content was too graphic for adults in the room. That same material was being made available to children in public schools. If it’s inappropriate to say out loud in a room full of adults, it’s certainly inappropriate to allow minor children to read in a school library.

The reality is that Florida’s policies have empowered parents — regardless of political party or identity. Legislation like the Parental Rights in Education law ensures that parents, not bureaucrats or activist teachers, get to decide what is best for their children. And most parents agree: they want transparency, they want age-appropriate materials, and they want a say in their child’s education.

Despite claims that these policies are driven by a small group of “radicals,” the data shows otherwise. In counties where parents must opt in for their child to access school libraries, over 80% still do—showing that most parents aren’t looking to limit access entirely. But what these laws do provide is a mechanism for families to be aware of and involved in what their children are exposed to. That’s not censorship; that’s responsible parenting.

Florida’s Department of Education maintains a list of books that have been removed across districts, with more than 700 titles currently removed. Activist groups call this a “banned books list,” but in reality, it serves as a resource for transparency and consistency across the state. If one district had a particular book that contains sexually explicit material unsuitable for minors, other districts have the opportunity to evaluate that same content for their own libraries. That’s not banning—it’s coordinating to protect children.

Organizations like Moms for Liberty have been demonized for advocating on behalf of parental rights, but the truth is, they represent the majority of families who are simply tired of being shut out of the education process. Parents are not the enemy. They are — and should always be — partners in shaping the next generation.

Opponents often fall back on vague appeals to “democracy” or the idea that children need to be challenged with “dangerous ideas.” We live in a constitutional republic and it doesn’t thrive on confusion, overexposure, or indoctrination. It thrives when young citizens are grounded in values, facts, and critical thinking. Shielding children from pornographic and sexually explicit material is not the same as limiting their education. In fact, it enhances it—by allowing them to grow in stages, with age-appropriate learning that respects both their developmental needs and their families’ values.

Florida’s education reforms are working. Students are reading more age-appropriate material. Parents feel more informed and involved. Schools are re-centering their focus on academics rather than activism.

This is what responsible governance looks like. Not censorship, but stewardship. Not control, but accountability. And not division, but protection—for every child, in every classroom.

It’s time for the rest of the country to follow Florida’s lead. Let’s continue to push back against the chaos and return education to its rightful purpose. Protect the kids. Support the parents. And yes—make America Florida.