State Lawmakers React as South Carolina Expands School Book Bans

South Carolina lawmakers are responding after the South Carolina Board of Education voted to ban 10 additional books from public school libraries, bringing the statewide total to 22 banned titles.

Originally reported by Eriana Meadows, WSPA (May 7–9, 2025)
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According to PEN America, South Carolina now leads the nation in statewide book bans. The removals stem from a new state regulation that labels any book depicting sexual conduct as inappropriate for all K–12 students, regardless of age, context, or educational value.

“This means that people have lost the freedom to read,” said State Representative Chaundra Dillard. “As a state that prides itself on giving people freedom, this is quite contrary to who we say we are.”

Supporters of the regulation argue it ensures parental involvement. Critics, including educators and civil liberties advocates, say the policy overrides professional judgment and due process. Paul Bowers of the ACLU of South Carolina noted that parents already have the right to opt their own children out of specific materials—but that banning books statewide allows one complaint to dictate access for all students.

Advocates also raised concerns about the review process itself. Under current regulations, the State Board of Education is not required to read the full books before banning them, relying instead on selected passages reviewed by legal staff.

“This approach doesn’t consider literary merit or educational value,” Bowers said. “If trained educators and librarians are not making these decisions, then we have failed our students.”

Freedom to Read SC continues to monitor these developments and supports South Carolinians working to protect students’ access to books, professional standards, and First Amendment rights in schools across the state.