Ed Trust Tennessee > Tennessee Coalition for Truth in Classrooms
A Resource Guide for Students, Educators, and Community Advocates
The Tennessee Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms is a group of students, education advocates and community organization leaders who believe in promoting the teaching of truthful history in our schools, and honoring and valuing the diversity of our students, staff and institutions.
Our coalition believes schools must be an inclusive, safe, nurturing environment so that children can learn to address some of the world’s most complex issues. To do so, schools must teach a diverse and challenging curriculum, and students need to engage with materials that reflect the rich history of all students and our world. Schools have a responsibility to provide students with thorough, truthful, and fact-based history as a means of addressing misinformation and avoiding mistakes of the past.
Our coalition has been tracking the dangerous anti-truth, censorship bills, news, and ongoing conversations evolving since the passage of Public Chapter 493 in 2021. The development of false narratives and attacks on diversity, equity & inclusion efforts are causing disruptions in our schools, hindering students’ learning and negatively impacting teachers’ mental, social-emotional well-being as they are threatened with punitive actions.
To support our students, teachers, and community advocates with understanding and navigating the complexities of how the anti-truth and censorship movement is impacting Tennessee, we have created a hub of resources. Our hope is to spread awareness on this issue, protect full and honest instruction in our classrooms, and empower our students and teachers with factual information, helpful toolkits, and tangible guides to take action.
Action Toolkits
Download a toolkit that’s right for you to help ensure that your schools continue teaching fact-based history.
THE EDUCATION TRUST
TENNESSEE EQUALITY PROJECT
WE BEILEVE CAMPAIGN
LEARN FROM HISTORY
- Overview & Communication Guide
- School System Leaders
- Parents
- Teachers
- School Board Members
- I’m a Voter! Relational GOTV Toolkit
OUR TURN
PEN AMERICA & AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION
RACE FORWARD
Messaging Guides
Review evidence-informed guides on how to frame your advocacy language on common concerns, questions, and topics you might encounter in current education debates.
Changing the Narrative
- Social Toolkit
- Hot Topic Talking Points
- Family & Friends Messaging
- Core Messages
- Glossary
- Toolkit for Local Advocates: Teaching Diverse & Inclusive Materials & Defending DEI
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (LCCRUL)
40 Race Forward
Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)
Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE)
We Make the Future
GLSEN
Anti-Truth, Censorship Bill Movement
Learn about how to take action on current bills moving through the Tennessee General Assembly, and track the equity implications for bills moving across the country.
Tennessee Advocacy
- TN Youth Coalition Testimony in Opposition to SB1944/HB1944
- Current Censorship Laws:
- 2024:
- Public Chapter 782: Age Appropriate Materials Act Amendment
- Public Chapter 780: Anti-Discrimination & Protected Classes (K-12)
- Public Chapter 815: Penalties for Violations of Divisive Concepts
- Public Chapter 832: Student Gender Identity Parental Reporting
- Public Chapter 795: Baby Olivia Act
- 2023:
- Public Chapter 438: Implicit Bias Restrictions
- Public Chapter 448: Student Pronoun Restrictions
- Public Chapter 353: Parent Consent & Opt-In Processes
- Public Chapter 268: TN Higher Education Freedom of Expression & Transparency Act
- Public Chapter 278: Textbook Seller/Distributor Threats to “Education Obscenity”
- Public Chapter 285, 40, & 909: Anti-Trans Regulations on Sports Participation
- Public Chapter 472: Library Complaints Process; Amendment to Age Appropriate Materials Act
- 2022:
- Public Chapter 744: The Age Appropriate Materials Act & TDOE Memorandum
- Public Chapter 818: Divisive Concepts in Higher Education
- Public Chapter 1137: State Library Censorship & Textbook Commission’s Library Guidance
- 2021:
- Public Chapter 493: K-12 Classroom Censorship & TDOE Rules
Across the Country
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- Democracy Forward: Legal Warning (LAW) Project
- Every Library: Legislation of Concern
- UCLA CRT Forward Tracking Project
- Education Week: Map – Where CRT is Under Attack
- African American Policy Forum: #TruthBeTold Campaign
- FutureEd: State Legislation Restricting the Teaching of Racial History
- United Against Book Bans Campaign
- NAACP LDF’s In Defense of Truth
- PEN America Comprehensive Bill Tracker
Know Your Rights
Review helpful resources consolidated by the ACLU.
Educator & Student Resource
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- ACLU TN FAQ: Censorship in TN Schools: Age Appropriate Materials Act (2024)
- ACLU-TN FAQ: Censorship in Tennessee’s Schools
- ACLU-TN Legal Intake Form
- ACLU-TN FAQ: Censorship in Tennessee’s Schools
- ACLU Right to Learn Toolkit: Your Guide to Combatting Classroom Censorship
- ACLU-TN Youth & Students’ Rights Resources
- ACLU-TN FAQ: Critical Race Theory
Censorship in the News
Review recent media highlights on anti-truth, censorship issues in Tennessee and across the country.
Research, Podcasts & Publications
- ALA: Start of America’s Libraries 2024
- RAND: The Diverging State of Teaching & Learning Two Years into Classroom Limitations on Race or Gender
- The Education Trust: The Search for More Complex Racial and Ethnic Representation in Grade School Books
- Ipsos: Most Americans say they are less likely to support a candidate who stands for curriculum restrictions or book bans in 2024
Tennessee
- Nashville Scene: Banned Together – How Book Censorship is Affecting Tennessee
- WLPN: Activists and librarians are fighting a wave of challenges to books, many with LGBTQ themes
- Tennessee Lookout: Williamson School Member Balks at “Age Appropriate Materials Act”
- Chalkbeat TN: Tennessee textbook commission hires first staff to prepare for school library book appeals
- Chalkbeat TN: Teachers can challenge Tennessee law limiting instruction on race, gender and bias, judge rules
- Chalkbeat TN: Where Tennessee lawmakers landed on vouchers, guns, AI, and other education issues in 2024
- Williamson Harold: Lawsuit against WCS school board advances after judge denies request to dismiss it
- Tennessean: Tennessee censorship laws directly affect children’s ability to learn to read | Opinion
- Knoxville News Centennial: Students need to feel safe, supported and taught the truth about US history | Opinion
- Chalkbeat: Students of color deserve to see themselves in their school curriculum
Across the Country
Events
Register now for virtual opportunities to learn more and take action.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
- 6/7/23 Know Your Rights What You Need to Know About Tennessee’s Censorship Bills from the 2023 Legislative Session
- 11/02/22 Know Your Rights: Updates on What You Need to Know About Tennessee’s K-12 Censorship Bills
- 5/18/22: Know Your Rights: What You Need to Know about Tennessee’s latest Censorship Bills
- 4/1/22: Chalkbeat: How the CRT debate and the culture wars impact students in Tennessee
Timeline
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February, 2021actionHB0580 / SB0623, Tennessee’s first anti-truth prohibited concepts law, filed
- responseMay 4, 2021: Letter sent to Tennessee General Assembly, Opposing HB580
- responseMay 12, 2021: TN Educators of Color Alliance Urges Gov. Lee to Veto HB580/SB623 in Letter Signed by Over 350 Teachers, Parents, and Education Leaders
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June, 2021actionHB0580 / SB0623 becomes Public Chapter 493
- responseAugust, 2021: Ed Trust TN & Alliance partners submit public comment on TDOE draft rules
- responseNovember 23, 2021: Ed Trust TN Issues Statement on Recent TDOE Emergency Rules Regarding “Prohibited Concepts in Instruction”
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February, 2022actionTennessee censorship movement grows, TNGA files 8 censorship bills
- responseTN Coalition for Truth in Our Classrooms eventestablished
- responseCoalition launches email campaigns & statewide digital social media ads using 2022 Censorship Bills Advocacy Toolkit
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March - April, 2022actionBook banning debate evolves; five censorship bills killed
- responseMemphis Press Rally: ‘This is not progress’: Memphis students oppose bills banning ‘obscene’ and LGBTQ books
- responseTN Youth Coalition organizers testify before TN Senate Judiciary Committee opposing HB/SB1944 on library censorship; as a result, bill is killed & deferred to summer study
- responseFour other censorship bills killed: HB2451/SB2360 (Parents Bill of Rights Act), HB1723/SB2006 (Inspection of School Instructional Materials), HB2417/SB2283 (Higher Education Restrictions on Academic Courses), & HB2569/SB2440 (Anti-Affirmative Action)
- eventChalkbeat TN Panel: CRT laws promote bias in school, hurt mental health
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May, 2022actionThree new censorship bills become law: Public Chapter 744 (Age Appropriate Materials Act), Public Chapter 1137 (State Library Censorship), Public Chapter 818 (Divisive Concepts in Higher Education)
- eventMay 18, 2022: Coalition Webinar - Know Your Rights: What You Need to Know about Tennnessee’s latest Censorship Laws
- actionOne law established that promotes the teaching of holistic history: Public Chapter 938 (Requires the teaching of Black History & Culture in grades 5-8)
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July 2022actionParents Choice Tennessee Sues School Board Over Critical Race Theory: Parents' Choice v. Golden Case
- responseOne WillCo speaks out to Education Week
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August 2022actionTN Department of Education releases memo on Age Appropriate Materials Act, requiring educators to list all their classroom books online
- responseTN Association for School Librarians speak out to Chalkbeat & Mom’s for Social Justice - Chattanooga create examples of local level guidance to support
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September 2022actionTN State Board of Education Educator Advisory Team meets on Social Studies Review Revision Process
- responseCoalition creates action toolkit to support community members submit public comment
- response20 Coalition members send letter of recommendations to TN SBE Educator Advisory Team on social studies standards
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November 2022eventCoalition Webinar - Know Your Rights: Updates on What You Need to Know About Tennessee’s Censorship Laws
- responseACLU-TN creates Coalition Resource FAQ: Censorship in Tennessee’s Schools
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December 2022actionTN Textbook Commission misses guidance deadline & Parents’ Choice Lawsuit Dismissed
- actionTennessee’s Textbook & Instructional Materials Quality Commission misses guidance deadline & says its ill equipped to manage library book appeals
- actionParents' Choice v. Golden Case: Judge says lawsuit does "not even come close to CRT” and grants the Williamson County Board of Education's motion to dismiss
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February 2023 - PresentactionTennessee censorship movement grows; TNGA files multiple censorship bills
- responseCoalition launches 2023 Censorship Bills Advocacy Toolkit
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March - April 2023actionTNGA education committees debate bills
- responseCoalition sends letter in support of HB1078/HB1040, which passes the full Senate, but fails in the House K-12 Subcommittee
- responseCoalition sends letter of opposition to SB1141/HB1377, which successfully failed in the Senate Education committee
- action3 bills taken off notice including HB0571/SB0603 (DEI Restrictions for Health Degrees), HB1414/SB0620 (The Families’ Rights & Responsibilities Act), and HB1411/SB1117 (Parent Consent)
- actionTennessee’s Textbook & Instructional Materials Quality Commission voted & approved Library Guidance in accordance to TCA 49-6-2201
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May 2023action7 new censorship bills become law
- actionNew laws: Public Chapter 438 (Implicit Bias), Public Chapter 448 (Student Pronouns), Public Chapter 353 (Parent Consent), Public Chapter 268 (Higher Education Freedom of Expression & Transparency Act), Public Chapter 278 (Textbook Seller/Distributor Threats), Public Chapter 285: (Anti-Trans Sports Regulations), & Public Chapter 472 (Library Complaints Process)
- actionOne law established that promotes the teaching of holistic history: Public Chapter 127 (requiring the teaching of the Civil Rights Movement in 9-12)
- responseTN Association of School Librarians speak out to the Tennessean and Mom’s for Social Justice - Chattanooga advocate to the Washington Post
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June 2023eventCoalition Webinar - Know Your Rights: What You Need to Know About Tennessee’s Censorship Bills from the 2023 Legislative Session
- responseNew resources launched, incuding ACLU-TN’s Censorship in Tennessee’s Public Higher Education Institutions
- responseCoalition voices - including One WillCo, TN Youth Coalition & Facing History & Ourselves - are elevated in media through Chalkbeat, the AP, and the Tennessean