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Follow the action steps to protect your child from harmful content. ACTION STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD OPT IN or OPT OUT of Lessons that are in conflict with your religious beliefs .In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Supreme Court upheld parents' rights to opt their children out of LGBTQ+-inclusive storybooks in Montgomery County Public Schools, citing a violation of their religious freedom under the First Amendment. The Court issued a preliminary injunction allowing opt-outs during ongoing litigation. This decision prioritizes parental rights over education policies. Use one of the templates to opt your child out of lessons and materials that are in conflict with your religious beliefs. CLICK on the PARENT RESOURCE page FOR FORMS and to view the Supreme Court Ruling. PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM INAPPROPRIATE LITERATURE 1. Monitor your child's reading assignments. Parents may request alternate materials if the text is objectionable or in conflict with your religious or moral beliefs. Your child's grades and standing should not be affected. 2. Know what your child is choosing from the media center and choosing on ebook apps. Our searches identify books in school libraries but not all the ebooks available through Destiny Follett. Libby, Sora, NC Cardinal, and NC Kids Digital Library. View links at the bottom of the page. Learn more about NC Cardinal, NC Kids Digital Library, and Sora on the READING, BOOKS, AND MORE page. 3. EMAIL the teacher, Principal and School Board Representative with your concerns about the materials your child is expected to read or use. An email provides a written record of your concerns and requests. Phone calls or written notes do not. 4. EMAIL your Representative and Senator about what you see happening in your child's school and/or district. We have been told that an email is more meaningful, provides a record, and carries more weight than a phone call. View links at the bottom of the page. Know Your School District Policies View Many School District Policies through the Online Web Hosting Services of the NCBCA. The North Carolina School Board Association (NCSBA) provides online web hosting for many of North Carolina's school boards. It offers services such as manual updates and evaluations. It is a member organization. What policy changes have been made in North Carolina to help districts follow the Parents' Bill of Rights directive that took effect in January 2024? Click here to for easy access to many district policy manuals. Challenge a Book Book banning is not PEP's goal, but we are concerned about sexually inappropriate content, gender concepts, extreme violence, self-harm, suicide, and horror in books and materials available to minors in school libraries and classrooms. Parents have the right to challenge inappropriate instructional or supplementary materials in their child's school, including in media centers, classroom libraries, or assignments. The Process Reconsideration of Instructional Materials First - Print and complete the REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FORM from your child's school district. It may be found online at the school or school district website. If it isn't, contact the Principal or Media Specialist at the school. Letter and Artifacts Second - Write a personal letter to the Principal explaining your thinking. Submit your letter, the Request for Reconsideration form, and book artifacts such as photos, chapter, and page references with objectionable material BY EMAIL. Email will provide you a paper trail if needed. Principals and Review Committees Lastly - After the Principal's review, hopefully your book will be out of circulation or use. If not,the challenge will go through a series of committee reviews. The number and make up of the review committees will be directed by school board policy. In many districts it is SB policy 3210. It will be most likely be composed of school personnel, librarian, and parents. Ask who will be on the committee. They should read and review the book just as you did. Check back on their progress weekly. Now What? If the book is approved to remain on the shelves, continue to ask school personnel to send your book challenge to the next level, which will likely be a school board committee. If you do not receive the decision you wanted, contact your district Superintendent, State Superintendent, the NC Board of Education and legislators. Email them with your documents and steps you have taken to change the situation. Address the School Board with Your Concerns Most schools have an online sign up process for comment. Check the Board's website. The process in some districts takes place on location before the meeting begins. Check it out a few days before you plan to speak. You may be asked whether you will be responding to items on the agenda or policy changes. Observe a board meeting to learn how the meeting is structured. Most school boards allow 2-3 minutes for public comment. Prepare your remarks with that in mind. Its not typical for the Board to ask or answer questions during Public Comment time. State your key idea or point. Preparing facts and statistics are helpful. So are personal stories. Be confident, this is your school district and you have every right to be heard even if others present do not agree with you. OPT IN or OPT OUT of Reproductive Health Lessons Parents currently have the option to opt out from human sexuality instruction for their children. Schools will usually have you opt in or out of instruction when you register your child for school, or they will send home forms throughout the year for special programs, or training events. You must OPT OUT as of this posting. Anti-bullying, mental health, family diversity, social emotional learning (SEL) and sex education trainings are pathways of influence with your child. Opt out of everything or pull your child out of school during these instructional times when such material is being presented. Unless you have reviewed the curriculum and materials, parents have no way of knowing what is actually being taught and some curriculums approved for use in North Carolina are not faithfully following state statutes for NC children. Do you know what comprehensive sex education really is all about? Take a look at the graphics to learn just a few concepts and values that of some CSE programs. from Siecus There are many curriculums that North Carolina school districts may choose for their students. The Parents' Bill of Rights prevents sexual instruction before grade 4. See PBR for complete text. There are many curriculums that are not in compliance with North Carolina State Statutes. Opt Out or wait to Opt In until you have thoroughly inspected all materials and digital resources that students may access. SL SESSION LAW 2023-106 SENATE BILL 49 49 § 115C-76.25.Parent legal rights for their child's education. (a) Parents have legal rights with regards to their child's education, including the following: (1) The right to consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs, consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-81.30. (2) The right to seek a medical or religious exemption from immunization requirements, consistent with the requirements of G.S. 130A-156 and G.S. 130A-157. Stop the Viewing of Sexually Inappropriate Material on Public School Devices. REPORT INCIDENTS. We need your help to stop North Carolina schools from ignoring the harm being done to innocent children when they access adult websites on school devices. This is happening in the classroom, on the bus and at home. Please take a few minutes to hear from one mom’s experience in Wake County. See the blog: Pornography on School-Issued Device If you know of a family that has been impacted by this issue, please have them contact us . With enough complaints, legal action might proceed. It’s time to hold the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the Board of Education, and District School Boards accountable for violating obscenity laws and for not protecting minors from sexual content on school devices. OTHER GROUPS CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION IN NORTH CAROLINA Our Mission Activities Overview: Empower and unify member teachers to provide unbiased sound content and to improve public school quality and literacy; provide affordable tutoring and online courses. Pender County Concerned Citizens- CONTACT US

Negative impacts of childrns mental health, Effects of erotica on children, NC Data on Self Harm and Suicide HARMFUL AND OBSCENE CONTENT CHILDREN WIN! Heated Legislative Hearing Ben Sellers reporter for the Carolina Journal.com reported Rep. Brenden Jones accused Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) of defying Senate Bill 49, the “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” passed in August 2023, which mandates prohibits discussion of gender K-4th grade and gives parents access to curriculum content. A viral Libs of TikTok video from October 2025 showed CHCCS Board Chair George Griffin at a September 2025 forum calling parts of the law “discriminatory” and admitting the board rejected two provisions. Read his articles in entirety here: Legislators Allege School Sistricts Ignoring ‘Parents Bill of Rights’ Law Sparks Fly in Legislative Hearing on School Indoctrination The Pavement Education Project urges the House Oversight Committee to ensure all districts comply with the Parents' Bill of Rights, so parents feel confident sending their children to public schools. *In North Carolina, parents are increasingly choosing homeschooling, private schools, and charter schools over traditional public schools, with public school enrollment dropping from 84% in 2015 to 76% in 2024. Homeschooling accounts for about 10.6% of K-12 students (approximately 165,243 students), private schools 7% (131,230 students), and charter schools 7.3% (146,000 students) in the 2023-2024 school year, reflecting a 40% rise in homeschooling over the past decade and a 3.2% increase in private school enrollment from the previous year. Randolph County Commissioners Dissolve Library Board Over Book Dispute Listen to Max. In a report by Amy Diaz for Blue Ridge Public Radio, she stated Randolph County Commissioners voted 3-2 Monday to dissolve the public library’s board of trustees, two months after the board opted to retain "Call Me Max," a children’s book about a transgender boy, in the library. Read or listen in entirety here: Randolph Commissioners Dismiss Entire Library Board After Book Controversy The Pavement Education Project promotes responsible use of taxpayer funds, supporting authors’ freedom to write and publish while advocating that limited library budgets prioritize community-aligned collections, excluding materials that could potentially groom or indoctrinate children. Listen to the author... LGBTQIA+ Book Chat with Call Me Max author Kyle Lukoff Texas Library Protects Minors from Explicit Books—for Now! The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the Little v. Llano case upholds Llano County's right to remove 17 inappropriate titles from children's access, a win for community standards and child safety. Sheena Rodriguez, Live Action.org reports on the outcome. Read more here: Texas Library Can Keep Sexually Explicit Material From Minors... for now Your donation empowers parents with the tools needed to monitor public school content. Every dollar promotes safe, family-aligned education. Give today! Contact us at pepnc@protonmail.com SUPPORT NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH The effects of inappropriate material, pornography, and Covid shutdowns have negatively impacted the mental health of the young. Review of statistics show our children have increased sense of hopelessness and persistent feelings of sadness that has increased 40% between 2009-2019 for U.S. high school students. Some schools and school media centers in North Carolina are allowing sexually explicit content to be available to minors that puts students at HIGHER risk of anxiety, depression, isolation, sexual assault, and suicide. Why are we allowing this to happen to our children? Sixteen states have passed resolutions stating viewing pornography is a mental health crisis. At a crucial stage in brain development, exposure to pornography can change neural pathways that permanently affect a child's views of sex, people and real relationships. Sadly, pornography can also cause children to harm other children. When young children see pornography, they tend to practice it on others. See if your child's school district is on our website by looking on the book locations page. Explore further by clicking on the links. We do not include books located in classroom libraries or reading sets. You will need to ask teachers and administrators. If you feel as we do, we ask you to call your school, Superintendent, and General Assembly representatives, and sign our petition. This needs to change. We can and must protect our child's innocence. https://www.rainn.org/news/grooming-know-warning-signs https://protectyoungeyes.com/5-ways-pornography-harms-children-teens/ https://brainheartworld.org/ RESEARCH ON READING EROTICA AND RELATIONSHIPS Little research has been done to learn the effects of reading erotica and viewing erotic images on children or minors. For one thing, no responsible parent would want or allow their child to take part in such a study. For another, presenting such material to a minor is unethical and illegal. The only research that gives us clues is the data collected on changes within the adult brain after viewing pornography. Additionally, there has been research on reading erotica depicting a sexually dominant woman compared to a sexually dominant man. We will continue to add resources as they become available. Is Reading Erotica As Harmful As Watching Porn? Read More Grooming: Know the Warning Signs Read More Is There a Connection Between Violent Crime and Watching Porn? Read More The Association Between Exposure to Violent Pornography and Teen Dating Violence in Grade 10 High School Students Read More 15 Ways Porn is Connected to Real Sexual Violence Read More 5 Ways Pornography Harms Children and Teens Read More The Relationship Between Pornography Use and Harmful Sexual Behaviors Read More NORTH CAROLINA SUICIDE AND SELF INJURY DATA APRIL-JUNE 2023 Self-Inflicted Injury Update 8/9/2023 Suicidal Ideation in North Carolina 2020 NC Violent Death Reporting System Ahttps://injuryfreenc.dph.ncdhhs.gov/DataSurveillance/SuicideData.htm JOIN OUR TEAM

eBooks These sexually explicit ebooks are available through Libby and Overdrive. All that is needed is a library card nu Many schools also have subscriptions to ebooks that may include these titles. Libby is a reading app for borrowing digital books and audiobooks from the library's OverDrive collection. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas All Boys Aren't Blue by George M Johnson Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan S Foer Looking for Alaska by John Green George by Alex Gino Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Perez Identical by Ellen Hopkins Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo l8r, g8r by Lauren Myracle Little and Lion by Brandy Colbert Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Speak by Laurie Anderson The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Thirteen Reasons Why: A Novel by Jay Asher This One Summer by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki ttfn by Lauren Myracle When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds CONTACT US

NC School Report Cards, DEI programs supported by Federal Tax dollars, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT THE LATEST ON SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT 2024-2025 As of September 25, 2025, North Carolina's full academic progress report remains unavailable to the public. Preliminary data indicates minimal growth, with some districts showing less than 1% improvement, while others have regressed. These lackluster results suggest that, without significant intervention, the state risks perpetuating an undereducated population, many of whom hold high school diplomas despite lacking essential literacy skills. News reports highlight that the state superintendent is reviewing the school grading system to address this poor performance. However, is adjusting how schools are graded the solution to North Carolina’s educational challenges? We hope to make some recommendations in the future. 2024-2025 RESULTS Live in Wake County? View school by school performance with school climate, teacher characteristics, and leadership. View the academic achievement of North Carolina students HERE . Choose the county, then the district. You may view academics as far back as 2015. We leave it up to you to decide whether you are satisfied with the academic achievement of NC students. Did you look at the performance of subgroups? Are North Carolina schools meeting the needs of all it's students.You decide. Accountability Data Sets and Reports Resources WCPSS reports by school that includes school mission, teacher characteristics, school climate, etc. NC STATE TESTING RESULTS (GREEN BOOK) The 2023–24 North Carolina State Testing Results document summarizes student participation and performance at the state level, with data from public school units (PSUs). The test data come from original administration files submitted by PSUs through fall 2024. This information may be found on NCDPI website HERE. HISTORICAL TRENDS AND REPORTS Students At or Above Proficiency in Both Reading and Math Grades 3-8 Students At or Above Proficiency in Both Reading and Math Grades 3-8, Black, White, Hispanic Students NC Education Trends Over Time Growth in Administative Staff and Students since 2000 Allotted Average Daily Membership How are NC School Districts Spending Their Federal Dollars? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training for Teachers in Wake County WCPSS recently introduced their equity plan. View the document. Will this expensive initiative improve academic achievement or is it meant to transforrm student thoughts and beliefs about themselves and their families? An opinion piece written by Joshua Peters in The Carolina Journal highlights some of the issues with the WCPSS Pathways to Excellence and Equity plan. Contact / Join Our Team National Assessment Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 Snapshots of NC 8th Grade Progress

Share your concerns regarding age-inappropriate and harmful materials found in school curricum or libraries. Protecting Children Protecting children means shielding them from age-inappropriate and harmful content that threatens their well-being and healthy development. Join us in this effort by adding your name to our call for action. We do not sell your information. Concerns About Age-Inappropriate and Harmful Books and Materials in Public Schools * First name * Last name * Street Address Address * City or Town * State * Zip Code County * Email Phone * Please state your concerns. Submit

Printable lists of inappropriate books, book rating systems, Student Access, etc Book Galleries and Lists Inappropriate Books Found in NC Schools The books seen on our site have been read and reviewed by our team and other groups working together nationally. These books are available in school media centers and libraries in North Carolina. The PEP Team partnered with Rated Books to show a growing group of books that have questionable content and graphics. These books are also often available in classroom libraries or as digital media. We believe: Parents have a right to know what is available to their children in the schools and through media. Many books are age inappropriate, promote harmful ideologies, include explicit sexual and violent content, and should not be available to children for group or independent reading in public school without parental knowledge and consent. Most books are developmentally inappropriate for elementary, middle schools or high school students. Rubrics and rating scales should be used choosing books for children. Rated Books provides a method for evaluating books using a rubric or rating scale similar to the movie industry. Parents and guardians will find it helpful when determining if a book is suitable for their child. School staff must evaluate books with a more detailed and rigorous rating tool when purchasing books and addressing book challenges. See below. Red flag systems and secluded books behind a librarian's desk will not be enough to keep inappropriate literature out of a child's hands. It will require media specialists or staff to become book police, wasting precious time and resources in management. Parent must take action. The mental health of our young is at stake. We can no longer trust that the adults in charge hold or promote values similar to yours. Check my Child's School BOOK GALLERIES Gender Ideology/LGBTQ+ Comprehensive Rating Scale PRINTABLE Search Lists 6/2025 Search List of Books Rated 3-5 PEP BY AUTHOR Book Search List Sexually Inappropriate Harmful to Minors Books 8/22/2024 6/2025 Search List Gender Ideologies/LGBTQ+ List 7/12/2025 PEP Pre K-5th Gender/LGBTQ+ Picture Books North Carolina Book Locations Check my Child's School If you do not see your child's school district, it may be in the works. We could use your assistance to complete the work. Join our team. Join our Team Evaluating Children's Books for Media Centers and Libraries School districts throughout our country struggle to find a tool that educators can use in decision making which books to purchase and when evaluating challenged books for their content and placement. While none is perfect, the policy and model used in Keller Independent School District, Texas is one of the best we have seen to date. Rating scales used in North Carolina should adhere to NC § 14-190.1. Obscene literature and exhibitions. It can be viewed here. View KISD documents here COMPREHENSIVE RATING SCALE Other Rating Scales Click on the ICON to view. Entertainment Software Rating Board OPT in or OPT out..Student Access to Ebooks and Audio Books Through Public Libraries Many school districts offer access to ebooks located within nearby public libraries. Some use app links to Sora, Libby, or Overdrive. Most participating schools in NC use a program called Student Access. We believe this was a practice that began during Covid shut down with the intention of providing reading material to all students. Many districts have continued the practice, along with a program called NCKids Digital, funded by the NC General Assembly. NC Cardinal is a program of the State Library of North Carolina, supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Federal Library Services and Technology Act. These apps and programs are available to students on the school issued devices. We are concerned that filters are not in place and may leave students vulnerable. We are also concerned that some of the books included would introduce gender identity and ideology to students before 4th grade. Parents need to thoroughly explore the practices and policies of their district regarding these apps. If you believe your child is at risk, don't hesitate to OPT OUT of these programs. There are other apps that we will discuss at a later date. Sample from Henderson County Sample from Iredell-Statesville Schools Check the books in North Carolina Schools through the Book Locations/Schools Page Don't see your school district? Join our team and be part of a volunteer network. Contact Us/ Join Our Team

Sign petitions related to educational and family issues in North Carolina. Petitioning for Changes in Legislation to Protect Children and Families Important Changes That Need to Take Place NOW The Pavement Education Project supports NC Values in asking for changes in legislation to protect North Carolina children. Click on the photo to learn more and sign the petition.

Support the Pavement Education Project's work with your donation. The Pavement Education Project is a volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit 501 (c)(4) organization. We need your help with printed materials, keeping our website up, and supporting projects like back-to-school events and clean-reading book giveaways within North Carolina communities. DONATE You may mail a check to: Pavement Education Project 2624 Timber Dr Suite 116 Garner, NC 27529

View obscene and harmful books located in NC schools North Carolina Book Locations Choose your school district to see book locations. If you don't see your district, contact us. We could use your help. You must be 18 years of age to view the links on district pages. DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT RATING SCALE CONTENT RATING SCALE Alamance-Burlington School System Alexander County Schools Asheboro City and Randolph County Schools Asheville City Schools Brunswick County Schools Buncombe County Schools Burke County Public Schools Cabarrus County Schools Caldwell County Schools Carteret County Schools Catawba County Schools Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Chatham County Schools Cleveland County Schools Cumberland County Schools Davidson County Schools and Lexington City Schools Durham Public Schools Edenton- Chowan County Schools Franklin County Schools Gaston County Schools Graham County Schools Guilford County Schools Harnett County Schools Henderson County Schools Iredell-Statesville Schools Jackson County Schools Johnston County Schools Lee County Schools Macon County Schools McDowell County Schools Moore County Schools Mooresville Graded School District Nash County Public Schools New Hanover County Schools Onslow County Schools Orange County Schools Pender County Schools Perquimans County Schools Person County Schools Pitt County Schools Rutherford County Schools Surry County Schools and Mount Airy City Schools Swain County. Schools Transylvania County Schools Vance County Schools Wake County Public Schools Wilson County Schools Winston Salem/ Forsyth County Schools ACTION STEPS Contact

Subscribe to our monthly mailing list. Promote educational excellence through age appropriate, engaging content for all students. Donate Join Us Share Donate Donate Curious about the books on your School's Library Shelves? Check our the Book Locations Page. Sign the Petition supporting HB 636. Schools should foster the growth of young minds, not expose them to content that undermines their innocence.

Research and studies show the dangers and negative impacts of pornography on children and teens. Research and studies on the Effects of Pornography and Violence on Children and Teens Exposure to Sexual Content and Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis Abstract Background Exposure to sexual content, such as online pornography or live sexual content, has been posited in the literature as a risk factor for problematic sexual behaviors (PSBs) in children and adolescents, and has been identified as an important avenue for research and intervention, particularly given the ubiquitous access to technology among children. Objective To examine the association between live/violent and non-violent sexual content exposure and PSB among children and adolescents. Objectives also include informing future research on sexual content exposure as a risk factor for PSB, and providing clinical recommendations related to prevention and intervention. Many years ago, a young father in his twenties was getting in trouble with the law because of repeated inappropriate exposure of his genitals in public. He also had explosive outbursts with destruction of property. During the first sessions with him, I was struck by his juvenile, almost child-like expression, with incongruent affect regarding his behavior, probably stemming from a lack of insight. His poor ability to deal with frustration, to regulate anger and impulses indicated some form of developmental arrest. Months (and another child) later, after gradually investigating his past and trying to understand what had led to his dysregulated sexuality, he eventually disclosed that when he was a child, his dad made him watch pornography. It was disturbing to try to imagine the effect of potentially overwhelming, arousing but also degrading images on a forming, innocent brain. Unlike erotic scenes in a movie or nude sculptures in a museum, pornography generally involves power dynamic, humiliation and a distortion of the reality around body and sexuality. In my opinion, it is a form of sexual trauma, just like witnessing a car accident or parental domestic abuse can be traumatic for the observer. RESEARCH AND STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY AND VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN AND TEENS From Page to Person: Investigating the effects of reading physically violent interactions in literature on high school students’ aggressive thoughts. https://tinyurl.com/37txk36e June 2023 Journal of High School Science 7(2) DOI:10.64336/001c.77878 Just How Graphic Are Graphic Novels?” An Examination of Aggression Portrayals in Manga and Associations With Aggressive Behavior in Adolescents https://tinyurl.com/bdzm87p5 April 2015 Violence and Victims 30(2) DOI:10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-13-00012 Today's softcore porn is what was hardcore 50 years ago. We have become numb to seeing sexualized and objectified bodies everywhere we look. Most of us probably have people in our lives who struggle with an addiction of some kind, whether it be to smoking, using drugs, gambling, or other vices. An addiction develops when changes in the brain and body cause a person to “feel compelled to continue using a substance or partaking in an activity, even when doing so may cause harm.” Is Reading Erotica as Harmful as Watching Porn? Reading is definitely not the same as watching, written porn could have some negative effects on readers. It all depends on the individual and the content. Early Sexualization and Pornography Exposure: the Detrimental Impacts On Children The school principal was perplexed. I had just delivered a keynote on the impact of sexualisation and pornography exposure on children and young people at a conference of school leaders in NSW. During the break she approached me, opened her phone and revealed an image created by a group of 5 year old boys, at the Catholic primary school she headed in Sydney. It showed two women, scantily dressed, in provocative poses. Voters Against Obscene Books in Public Schools Sponsored by The Capitol Resource Institute Voters overwhelmingly oppose sexually explicit books in public school libraries, and believe schools have an obligation to inform parents what their children are being taught. A new national telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and the Capitol Resource Institute finds that 89% of Likely U.S. voters think it is important that public schools fully inform parents about what is being taught to their children in classrooms, The Impact of Explicit Content on Teens: What Parents Need to Know Reshmita Das | November 21, 2024 Imagine sitting at the dinner table when your teen drops a bombshell—“Mom, Dad, have you seen that viral video on TikTok?” At first, you’re intrigued, but the moment they explain what it’s about, your stomach drops. What they saw wasn’t just a funny meme; it was explicit content they stumbled upon while scrolling. This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s a reality many parents face in today’s digital world. The War on Children. The Comprehensive Sexuality Education Agenda ( Spanish Subtitle) Liberating Libraries from Porn, South Dakota This video is very explicit. Cut the volume down if near children. Transgenderism, Gender Diversity, and the Impact on Children and Education Visit the Gender Identify Issues Page for Research and Reviews RESEARCH, STUDIES, AND REVIEWS OF USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM WATCH: The Most Compelling Argument Against Tech In Schools | Sophie Winkleman Sweden is the first country to kick ed tech out of the classroom.

Resources for parents making decisions for their children. Resources for Parents Live in Wake County? Sign The Kite Runner Petition. Edit NEW! House Bill 959 Various Education Changes House Bill 959, adopted and signed by Gov. Stein, restricts student cellphone use during class time, with exceptions for educational purposes, emergencies, or specific needs (e.g., IEPs or health monitoring). Schools must teach internet safety and social media literacy, covering addiction, cyberbullying, and online security. By January 1, 2026, districts must set policies on device use and penalties, such as confiscation. The law limits use during instruction but does not ban phones entirely, allowing local flexibility for non-instructional times. Check with your child's school district to see new board policies regarding cell phones that will be implemented during 2025-2026. RESOURCES What Can I Do? Take Action OPT OUT of LGBTQ+ Instruction Evaluating Books for Schools OPT Out or OPT in of Reproductive Health Lessons OPT Out of Apps and eBooks Recommended Reading... Books We Love Local Groups in North Carolina NC Opt Out Forms Gender Ideology Book List Online School Board Policy Manuals by District Plugged In by Focus on the Family exists to help families make appropriate entertainment choices in movies, TV, music, games, books, and youtube channels. Check the Books in My Child's School Reading, Books, and More Research the Schools in Your District Using Follett Executive Orders What is Social and Emotional Learning? CONTACT /JOIN OUR TEAM RESEARCH AND STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY AND VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN AND TEENS Visit the RESEARCH and STUDIES Page to learn more. Examples of LGBTQ+ Books, Materials , and Lesson Plans In Mahmoud v. Taylor (June 27, 2025), the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Montgomery County, Maryland, parents can opt their children out of public school lessons with LGBTQ-themed storybooks, citing First Amendment religious freedom. The decision, led by Justice Alito, protects parents’ rights to guide their children’s religious upbringing, sparking debate over inclusive education. Welcoming Schools Curriculum: The Welcoming Schools Curriculum h as been used in schools across NC. however some districts have since moved away from its use. Chapel Hll- Carrboro City Schools still has it posted on their website. Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools Objective: Students will explore diverse family structures, including those with LGBTQ+ parents, to foster understanding and respect. Grade Level: K-5 (for K-4, align with North Carolina Standard Course of Study, e.g., Grade 4 Standard 4.H.1.1, discussing contributions of marginalized groups). Welcoming Schools Curriruclum During the 2024-2025 year, in Wake County Public Schools, at least one second grade class participated in an activity with What Are Your Words? by Katherine Locke. We include the lesson plan shared with us for you to review. We are anxious to learn if this lesson was used in other schools throughout the district. What Are Your Words?

Steps to protect your children, Challenge book forms, addressing your concerns with the school board, groups with similar interests Live in Wake County? Sign The Kite Runner Petition! Edit WHAT CAN I DO? TAKE ACTION. Protect your Child From Harmful Content Challenge a Book Address the School Board OPT Out of Reproductive Health Lessons Join our Team Groups Concerned About Education in NC OPT Out of APPS Linked to ebooks REPORT INCIDENTS of Students Accessing PORN on School Devices What is Social and Emotional Learning? CONTACT/ JOIN OUR TEAM

Thankful...Veto Overrides Are Pro Family and Ensure Freedom of Religion North Carolina House Bill 805, the "Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors Act ," requires age verification for online pornography, prohibits state funding for gender transition procedures for minors and prisoners, regulates school sleeping arrangements by biological sex, and allows parents to access and restrict school library materials while permitting students to opt out of classroom activities conflicting with their religious beliefs If a lesson or materials conflict with your religious beliefs, complete the form and submit it to your child's teacher and principal. Keep a copy if emailing. Follow up to confirm receipt. Opt Out -Request for Religious Exemption editable form List of inappropriate books

Has Your Child Been Exposed to Inappropriate Content at School? What is Your Story? Are you concerned about your child being exposed to age-inappropriate or obscene materials in their school library, such as books with explicit sexual content, violence, or other mature themes? Research shows that such materials can negatively impact brain development, potentially leading to depression, challenges in forming healthy relationships, and addictive behaviors in young people. Many parents are alarmed by the increasing presence of these books. We Can Make a Difference: Legislators are considering laws to address obscenity and age-inappropriate materials in schools, but they need to hear real stories of how these materials have caused trauma or distress for students and families. Your experiences can help shape effective policies to protect children. Share Your Story Confidentially : Would you be willing to share your story anonymously to support this effort? We are gathering facts to assist lawmakers and will not share your personal information. Your input can help ensure school materials are safe and age-appropriate. What You Can Do : Review Materials: Identify specific books or materials in your child’s school that concern you, noting their content and impact. Talk to Your Child: Discuss their exposure to these materials and any distress or confusion they’ve experienced. Contact School Staff: Ask teachers or librarians about the selection process for these materials and voice your concerns. Meet with Leadership: Request a meeting with the principal to discuss revising library policies or removing inappropriate content. Join Other Parents: Connect with parent groups to advocate for transparent book selection processes and age-appropriate standards. The Pavement Education Project would welcome your help. Share Your Experience: Contact us confidentially to share how these materials have affected your child or family. Your story can inform legislators drafting protective laws. Engage Further: If issues persist, reach out to your school board, review district policies, or explore alternative schooling options. Why It Matters: Recent X posts and web discussions highlight parental concerns about books like Gender Queer and All Boys Aren’t Blue in school libraries, citing explicit content as unsuitable for young readers. While some defend these books for their perspectives, many parents report their children experiencing distress or confusion from such materials. By sharing your story and taking action, you can help ensure schools prioritize your child’s well-being with age-appropriate resources. Contact Us : If you’re willing to share your story anonymously, please reach out through our secure, confidential form at [insert contact method, e.g., website or email]. We respect your privacy and will use your input only to inform legislative efforts.

Age inappropriate books found in Graham County Schools, NC. Graham County Schools We congratulate the Graham County School staff on a job well done monitoring books and materials made available to their students. Their list of inappropriate books is short. These books may have sexually inappropriate or confusing gender concepts or content, some including self harm, suicide, violence, and/or racism. No data base is available to determine whether or not classrooms may contain these books. Therefore, we encourage citizens to ask teachers and administrators if these books are present or being used for instruction of any kind. Some Ebooks can appear in the online card catalog. Some districts allow students to sign up to read ebooks using Sora or Libby, as well as other online ebook providers using their school ID. PEP does not know or have access to find out if any safeguards are in place to protect children from reading or seeing graphic material that is inappropriate for their age or grade level. Ask your school administrators if your child's school is providing access to ebooks. Again, congratulations to Graham County Schools and parents. We do our best to keep the lists up to date. If you see a change that needs to be made, please contact us. The Content Based Rating System was inspired by the widely accepted MPA rating system . This rating system is meant to be a quick guide for busy parents who want to know what objectionable material is found between a book's covers. While it is a great tool, it does not meet the standards needed for schools to use for evaluating materials for student use. Robbinsville Elementary School no inappropriate books found Robbinsville Middle and High Schools Ask the Passengers (AS King) Rated 3 A Child Called “It” (David Pelzer ) Rated 3 Looking for Alaska (John Green) Rated 3 Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold) Rated 3 Native Son (Richard Wright) video Rated 3 Speak (Laurie Anderson) Rated 3 The Truth About Alice (Jennifer Mathieu) Rated 3 Water for Elephants (Sarah Gruen) Rated 4 Contact/ Join Us

Reading and book resources, Lexile ratings, Destiny Discover Follett online card catalog, Manga and Anime, Graphic novels, Reading, Books, and More The Resources listed here are for parents, grandparents, and citizens. We want you to have the information needed to understand the numbers that educators are talking about, how to search for a book yourself, look at some good resources, and what to avoid. Please email us if you have questions. Understanding Lexile Reading Levels Using the Online Card Catalog Using Follett, the Online Card Clatalog Books We Love! What are Graphic Novels? What is Manga? What is Anime? Anime and Mental Health Video Games and Gaming Books Sora and Public Libraries Books with Awards and Medals Contact Us

North Carolina Statutes regarding material harmful to minors. LAWS, STATUTES, AND OPINIONS Mahmoud v. Taylor Case Summary Background: In Mahmoud v. Taylor, parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, challenged the school district’s policy on LGBTQ+-themed storybooks in elementary classrooms. The Dispute: The Montgomery County Board of Education integrated LGBTQ+-inclusive storybooks into the curriculum. Initially, parents could opt out, but the district later eliminated this option, citing administrative challenges and a commitment to inclusion. Parents from diverse religious backgrounds claimed the no-opt-out policy violated their First Amendment religious freedom and parental rights. Lower Court Rulings: The district court rejected the parents’ request for a preliminary injunction, a decision upheld by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Supreme Court Decision: On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of the parents, finding that the no-opt-out policy infringed on their First Amendment right to free exercise of religion. Impact: The court’s ruling strengthens parental rights and religious liberty, affirming parents’ ability to shape their children’s education according to their beliefs. It stated, “A welcoming classroom cannot be achieved through hostility toward students’ and parents’ religious beliefs.” SUPREME COURT RULING Allowing Parents to OPT OUT of Lessons Contrary to Religious Beliefs Read the Ruling HERE More Important Supreme Court Rulings Below The Pavement Education Project supports the passage of HB 636: Promoting Wholesome Content. Read and sign the Petition . HB 636: Promoting Wholesome Content RECENT NORTH CAROLINA STATUTES Recently HB 805: Prevent Sexual Exploitation of Women and Minors passed with a veto override. The bill defines sex as biological male or female, bans taxpayer-funded gender-transition procedures for inmates and restricts them for minors, extends malpractice lawsuit windows, mandates age verification for online pornography, regulates school sleeping arrangements, ensures parental opt-out rights for conflicting classroom materials, and makes school library catalogs searchable with parental controls. Gov Stein signed SB 442: Parents Protection Act i nto law. The Parents Protection Act, protects parents from losing custody or facing prosecution for refusing gender-affirming treatments for their children. It addresses cases where courts or social services deem non-affirmation as maltreatment, safeguarding parental rights and religious freedoms. NC Statutes That Impact Children, Education, and Parental Rights. Parents and Guardians send their children to school with expectations that they will receive a good education, and have access to appropriate materials and texts. They also expect an environment in which their child's physical and mental health is protected. Content defined as obscene is now included in libraries and classrooms by North Carolina Statute § 14-190.13 Definitions for certain offenses concerning minors. Content may show graphic images or have descriptions of sexual acts. Please take note of North Carolina Statute § 14-190.15. Disseminating harmful material to minors; exhibiting harmful performances to minors. It allows a defense for schools, libraries, and museums to have a pass. No one ever thought such inappropriate literature would appear within the walls of a school. We must work with legislators to make the changes needed to protect children from age inappropriate and harmful content. The Parents' Bill of Rights. § 115C-76.55. ( SB 49) addresses the requirement for age-appropriate instruction for grades kindergarten through fourth grade. It states that " instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality shall not be included in the curriculum provided in grades kindergarten through fourth grade, regardless of whether the information is provided by school personnel or third parties." It also prohibits the use of inappropriate inappropriate core and supplementary materials. Look at your child's school district and school on this website to see if there are inappropriate materials available to your child. Some books and materials available in schools may be in violation of NC General Statute 115C-81.30. Reproductive Health and Safety Education. This content and subject matter may lead children to question their own sexual identity. The Pavement Education Project team working with concerned citizens have identified a selection of books believed to be in violation of North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 14. Criminal Law § 14-190.1. Obscene literature and exhibitions. Other North Carolina General Statutes regarding Materials Harmful to Minors. Read Subchapter VII Offenses Against Public Morality and Decency Article 26 for the entire statute, definitions, and related offenses toward minors. Contact your legislators with your concerns related to this statute and the intent of the law. The PEP website shows books, book lists, and related information under the BOOKS tab. North Carolina school districts, books, and links to excerpts are shown under the LOCATIONS tab. If you are interested in assisting with book searches in your NC school district, we can help you get started. Book banning is not the focus, but the appropriateness of such books in a public school setting is questionable. SB 808: An Act to Prohibit Gender Transition Procedures for MinorsGender Transition for Minors limits medical transitioning procedures or to prescribe, provide, or dispense puberty-blocking drugs or cross-sex hormones to a minor. The statute makes provision for children that have disorders, under treatments for a variety of medical maladies, or suffer physiological abnormalities. The statute outlines penalties for violation of the statute. HOUSE BILL 574: Fairness in Women's Sports Act also became law. It will "prohibit male students from playing on middle school, high school, or collegiate athletics teams designated for females, women, or girls". It also will "require a student's sex to be recognized solely based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth for purposes of athletic participation." Changes in laws affecting charter schools were enacted in HB 219: The Charter School Omnibus. It clarifies requirements of charter application and renewal. It addresses enrollment in low performing schools. Admittance of out of state students and children of military families are also outlined. Other Important NC Statutes SUPREME COURT RULINGS AND DECISIONS RELATED TO BOOKS AND LITERATURE The Miller Test is the primary legal test for determining whether expression constitutes obscenity . It is named after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v. California (1973) . The Miller Test i s a three-prong legal standard used to determine if material is considered obscene. It requires that the average person, applying contemporary community standards, find: 1) the material appeals to the prurient interest (a sexual interest) 2) the material depicts or describes patently offensive sexual conduct defined by law 3) the material, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Island Tree School District VS Pico In the Supreme Court case Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982), the Court held that the First Amendment limits the power of junior high and high school officials to remove books from school libraries because of their content. The Supreme Court ruled in the students’ favor on First Amendment grounds, holding that the right to read is implied by the First Amendment. The government—in this case, a public school—cannot restrict speech because it does not agree with the content of that speech. The decisions called libraries places for “voluntary inquiry” and concluded that the school board’s “absolute discretion” over the classroom did not extend to the library for that reason. The ruling also established that public schools can remove books from libraries if they are deemed "pervasively vulgar" or not suitable for the curriculum. However, schools cannot remove books simply because they disagree with the ideas presented in those books. The ruling acknowledges the First Amendment rights of students to access information, while also allowing for school boards to exercise reasonable control over the educational environment. Case v. Unified School District (1995) This case concerned the removal of Annie on My Mind, a book about a lesbian relationship, from the Olathe, Kansas, school district’s high school libraries. The book’s removal was challenged as a violation of the First Amendment. The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas ruled that the school district’s decision to remove the book violated the First Amendment rights of students. The court found that the removal was motivated by the school board’s disagreement with the book’s content rather than any legitimate educational concerns. The book was ordered to be returned to the school libraries. 2025 Proposed NC Legislation Related to Education and Children Bill Number/Name URL Link Purpose Status Sponsor HB 805 Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minos https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/hb%20805 Address online sexual exploitation, defining biological sex in state law, prohibiting state funding for gender transitions for inmates, and reinforcing parental rights in public education. gives parents ability to view library materials andopt out of assignments due to religious beliefs. Veto Override Jackson, Balkcom, Almond; Biggs; Blust; Dixon; Echevarria; Eddins; Hastings; Johnson; Kidwell; Loftis; Moss; Pickett; Riddell; Ross; Scott; Ward; White; Zenger HB 636 Promoting Wholesome Content for Students https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/House/PDF/H636v2.pdf Process to ensure harmful content not made available to minors, process for parents et al to report violations and punishment Sent to Senate after passing 3 Readings in the House. Sitting in Rules Comm. N. Jackson; Biggs; Willis; Balkcom (Primary) Almond; Arp; Branson; Kidwell HB 595 Parental Rights for Curriculum and Books https://tinyurl.com/yc2a94k9 Create standard course for health education, library book selection, prohibit harmful content for books and libraries and teaching materials, repositories for instructional materials Referred to Rules, Passed 1 House Reading Torbett; Blackwell (Primary) Clampitt HB 83 Revise Laws Governing Minors https://tinyurl.com/44vpac7n Create standard course for health education, library book selection, prohibit harmful content for books and libraries and teaching materials, repositories for instructional materials Referred to Rules in the Senate after passing 1 Senate Reading and 3 Readings in House Torbett; Blackwell (Primary) Clampitt SB 442 Parents Protection Act https://tinyurl.com/yk8ykb3e Parents who do not socially transition a child are not abusive; helps those who may want to adopt Passed and signed by the Governor Burgin; Galey; Sawrey (Primary) Daniel; Hise; Jones; Moffitt; B. Newton; Sanderson SB 55 Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices https://tinyurl.com/59a2wxf4 Resolving Senate and House differences: all wireless devices vs. only cell phones Passed Senate (3 readings) Passed House (1 reading) e (1 reading) Lee; Burgin; Barnes (Primary) Adcock; Alexander; Brinson; Chaudhuri; Daniel; Galey; Hanig; Jones; McInnis; Moffitt; Mohammed; Overcash; Robinson SB 227 Eliminating DEI in Public Education https://tinyurl.com/467yjh6w Remove DEI content in schools, including instructional content and administrative practices Vetoed on 7/3 2025, Placed on call for 8/26/2025 for override Berger; Lee; Overcash (Primary) Alexander; Barnes; Brinson; Britt; Burgin; Corbin; Craven; Daniel; Ford; Galey; Hanig; Hise; Hollo; Jackson; Jarvis; Johnson; Jones; Lazzara; McInnis; Moffitt; B. Newton; P. Newton; Rabon; Sanderson; Sawrey; Sawyer; Settle CONTACT/JOIN OUR TEAM FIND MY NC LEGISLATORS