North Carolina's House Bill 636 is a Bad Idea for Schools, Reading, and Libraries
North Carolina's H636, titled “Promoting Wholesome Content for Students,” is anything but that.
At first glance, the bill may appear to be about protecting children, but in reality, it introduces vague regulations, restricts free expression, and imposes costly new mandates on our schools. As it advances into the State Senate, parents, educators, and community members who value local control, academic freedom, and the right to read should take a closer look at this proposed legislation.
Here’s why the North Carolina Library Association (NCLA), the North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA), and EveryLibrary are raising concerns about this bill:
1. Vague and Confusing Rules: The bill uses ambiguous terms like “pervasively vulgar” and “high value,” which are not clearly defined. This lack of clarity makes it impossible to apply the rules fairly and opens the door for censorship and discrimination against books covering essential topics such as identity, history, and adolescence.
2. Allows Unconstitutional Book Bans: The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that school boards cannot remove books simply because they disagree with the ideas presented in them (Board of Education v. Pico, 1982). House Bill 636 would allow for the removal of books based on viewpoint or ideology, which directly violates this ruling.
3. Creates a State-Run Banned Books List: The bill proposes a searchable database of “rejected” materials, which could stigmatize authors and their works while pressuring schools to conform, even when those books are approved in the curriculum or standards.
4. Costly Bureaucracy for Schools: The requirements for re-reviewing books, establishing advisory boards, tracking objections, and vetting book fairs would stretch school resources thin.
5. Misapplication of Federal Law: The bill incorrectly cites the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in contexts that do not apply to books, creating confusion and fear among educators.
These issues are not just technicalities; H636 poses fundamental threats to how North Carolina schools educate, inform, and support our students. If enacted, House Bill 636 would undermine professional judgment, silence voices, and shift decision-making power away from families and schools into the hands of political actors. That’s why we are urging concerned North Carolinians to speak out and tell their Senators that H636 is the wrong solution for our schools.
Please email your NC State Senator now.
Read NCLA's Statement of Concern and NCSLMA's Statement of Concern to learn more about problems with H636.