School book bans hit record high with nearly 12,000 removals, study finds
First reported 5 Oct, 10:00 UTCUpdated 20h ago5 sources
3 left · 1 center · 1 right · Full breakdown
Polyview Briefing
AI-generatedPEN America found nearly 12,000 book bans in U.S. public schools during the 2025-2026 school year, marking a record high. Stephen King was identified as the most banned author. The increase has sparked debate over school curricula and free expression.
How the Left framed it
Left-leaning outlets stress that many bans arise from objections to sexual content, profanity, and racial slurs or stereotypes, and they note that Texas accounted for the largest share of bans with 8,100 removals.
How the Center framed it
Center outlets report the record high of 11,982 bans in the 2025-2026 school year, describing it as a big jump from the 6,870 bans recorded the previous year.
How the Right framed it
Right-leaning outlets highlight that Stephen King tops the list of most banned authors again and add that schools are turning to AI in the context of book bans.
What everyone reports
- PEN America conducted the study on school book bans
- Nearly 12,000 bans occurred in public schools during the 2025-2026 school year
- This total represents a record high since tracking began five years ago
- Stephen King was the most banned author
Where coverage differs
- Left-leaning outlets emphasize that bans often stem from objections to sexual content, profanity, and racial slurs or stereotypes (Washington Post, Guardian)
- Left-leaning outlets highlight Texas as the state with the highest number of bans, 8,100 removals (Guardian)
- Right-leaning outlets mention that schools are turning to AI in relation to book bans (Washington Times)
Written by AI from the headlines and excerpts of 5 outlets (OpenRouter) on 5 Oct, 19:46 UTC. It can make mistakes — read the original reporting below. How briefings work
Compare the headlines
How outlets on each side framed it
Texas tops list with 8,100 bans while Stephen King is again most banned author, PEN America finds The US saw almost 12,000 book bans in public schools during the 2025-2026 school year, the highest number in a single year, according to the free-expression non-profit PEN America . In a report released on Monday, PEN…
School book bans have hit a record high at almost 12,000 removals, according to a new report from PEN America, a free-speech organization. The group found 11,982 books banned in the 2025-26 school year, a big jump from the 6,870 the previous year. Among those almost 12,000 books were 7,370 unique titles taken out of…
Nearly 12,000 bans took place in public schools over the past year, according to a new study from PEN America, the highest total since the free expression organization began tracking removals five years ago. For the second straight year, Stephen King was the author most likely to have his work withdrawn.
Full coverage
5 outlets — tap a headline to read it at the source
- Banned book or not? Can you guess from the plot? (opens The Washington Post in a new tab)
Objections rise from issues like sexual content and profanity or racial slurs and stereotypes. PEN America counted nearly 12,000 bans in the 2025-2026 school year.
- Book bans hit record near 12,000 as Stephen King tops list again and schools turn to AI (opens The Washington Times in a new tab)
Nearly 12,000 bans took place in public schools over the past year, according to a new study from PEN America, the highest total since the free expression organization began tracking removals five years ago. For the second straight year, Stephen King was the author most likely to have his work withdrawn.
- US book bans in public schools reach record annual high of 12,000 (opens The Guardian in a new tab)
Texas tops list with 8,100 bans while Stephen King is again most banned author, PEN America finds The US saw almost 12,000 book bans in public schools during the 2025-2026 school year, the highest number in a single year, according to the free-expression non-profit PEN America . In a report released on Monday, PEN…
- Stephen King is the most banned author as school book removals hit record high (opens NBC News in a new tab)
Nearly 12,000 bans took place in public schools over the past year, according to a new study from PEN America, the highest total since the free expression organization began tracking removals five years ago.
- School book bans hit record high with nearly 12,000 removals, study finds (opens The Hill in a new tab)
School book bans have hit a record high at almost 12,000 removals, according to a new report from PEN America, a free-speech organization. The group found 11,982 books banned in the 2025-26 school year, a big jump from the 6,870 the previous year. Among those almost 12,000 books were 7,370 unique titles taken out of…
