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NC Legislation that will support children and families when passed. Supporting North Carolina Children and Families The Pavement Education Project supports the following bills making their way through the General Assembly. We ask you to let your legislators know you support them as well. House Bill 636 Promoting Wholesome Content for Students would require every school district to adopt a policy for the selection and procurement of library books, electronic media and other resources for school libraries. Library media must be suitable for the age, grade level, intellectual development, and ability level of students, aligning with their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacities. Materials would be considered inappropriate if containing descriptions or visual depictions of sexual activity or is pervasively vulgar as defined in G.S. 14-190.13. Those materials would be removed. HB 636 strengthens the Parents Bill of Rights by providing relief for families. Read here . Find your legislator here. https://www.ncleg.gov/findyourlegislators Urgent to Contact Sen. Rabon Bill.Rabon@ncleg.gov Sen. Daniel Warren.Daniel@ncleg.gov.. Sen. Barnes Lisa.Barnes@ncleg.gov Sen. Blue Dan.Blue@ncleg.gov. Sen. Berger Phil.Berger@ncleg.gov. SAMPLE LETTERS addressing HB 636 Sen Britt Danny.Britt@ncleg.gov Sen Galey Amy.Galey@ncleg.gov Sen Garrett. Michael.Garrett@ncleg.gov Sen Sawrey Benton.Sawrey@ncleg.gov Dear Representative or Senator, Please support HB 636: Promoting Wholesome Content for Students Act. North Carolina schools should be focused on age-appropriate, educational content—not sexually explicit material. HB 636 will provide clear standards to protect students from harmful content that doesn’t belong in our schools. It also will give parents have the right to review books in school libraries and request the removal of materials that contain graphic, visual or written depictions of sex acts or nudity. North Carolina children deserve to learn in an environment that protects their innocence and reflects the values of their families. Parents should not have to be concerned with confusing, age inappropriate content in schools classrooms or libraries. Please support HB 636 to protect kids and empower parents. Sincerely, (Your name, email, and address are essential for your letter to be considered) OR Dear Representative/Senator, As a parent, I’m asking you to support HB 636: Promoting Wholesome Content for Students Act. Our children deserve to learn in schools that focus on age-appropriate, educational content—not materials that include sexually explicit or graphic content. HB 636 would create clear guidelines to help schools avoid content that doesn’t belong in the classroom or library. This bill also protects the rights of parents by allowing us to review school library books and request the removal of materials that include written or visual depictions of sex acts or nudity. Families should not have to worry about their children being exposed to inappropriate or confusing content at school. HB 636 helps ensure that education supports our kids’ development and reflects the values we teach at home. Please support HB 636 to protect students and give parents a stronger voice in their education. Sincerely, (Your name, email, and address are essential for your letter to be considered) Other Important Bills House Bill 83 Revise Laws Governing Minors will amend the offense of disseminating obscenity to minors and add the offenses of disseminating obscenity, harmful material, and exhibiting harmful performances to minors to the list, possibly requiring offenders to register, while establishing new offenses of habitual and aggravated habitual indecent exposure with mandatory registration. Read here. Senate Bill 516 Women’s Safety and Protection Act focuses on safeguarding women and girls in sensitive environments by defining male, female, man, woman, and sex based on biological criteria. Read here . and all others located here. Contact us at pepnc@protonmail.com Visit us at https://www.pavementeducationproject.org CONTACT US/JOIN DONATE

The Pavement Education Project is a nonpartisan initiative to educate North Carolinians by informing, engaging, and mobilizing communities for positive change in education. NC school district listings of inappropriate or obscene books found in the library and through apps are on the website. Watch how explicit books adversely impacted Megan. Research and Studies Page Voters Against Obscene Books in Public Schools Voters overwhelmingly oppose sexually explicit books in public school libraries, and believe Review the Proposed Education and Family Legislation introduced in 2025 Support HB 636: Promoting Wholesome Content for Students. SIGN THE PETITION. SIGN UP HERE EXPOSED EXPOSED EXPOSED EXPOSED Children in NC are being exposed to alternate gender concepts through a variety of mediums in public school. The Parents Bill of Rights protects children in grades K-4 but not beyond. Even though Trump's Executive Order identifies only two genders, children continue to be indoctrinated with ideas that do not align with most families. If you believe your child has been a victim, please contact us. CONTACT US READ MORE READ MORE READ MORE READ MORE Diversity, equity, and inclusion Diversity, equity, and inclusion Diversity, equity, and inclusion Diversity, equity, and inclusion Some citizens doubt the existence of DEI in NC schools. Currently, it is present in several formats. Professional development for staff has focused on DEI in a mostly unsuccessful effort to close achievement gaps. The NC Report Cards 2023-2024 show a state with many districts in decline. Using other state data sources, student achievement has been in steady decline. What does it look like in the classroom? Ask any teacher about student behavior. Too many students are disruptive, disrespectful, and aggressive to peers and teachers. NC data supports that claim. Most teachers we talk with are frustrated with the lack of support from administration and sometimes parents. As indicated in the WCPSS Pathway to Excellence + Equity documents, system administrators claim there is 'overrepresentation of students by race, ethnicity, or gender in discipline and suspension referrals.' With this belief, administrators may feel they were not able to support teachers like they should or risk losing funding or even their jobs. The increase in the number of reported teacher assaults is unacceptable. We have no idea how many go unreported. With so many disruptions in the classroom, academic studies suffer. If you are a parent, you may have Executive Orders...Many Affecting Education How will state and local leaders respond? LINK View the academic achievement of North Carolina students here. Choose the county, then the district. You may view academics as far back as 2015. 2023-2024 NC School Proficiency Take a closer look at WCPSS School Progress Reports The NC Parents' Bill of Rights NC Parents' Bill of Rights SL 2023-106.enumerates the rights of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their minor children. Enacted July 16, 2023. Effective August 15, 2023. What School Board Policy Changes Have Been Made in Your Child's District? Some NC school districts post the Parents Bill of Rights on the district webpage. Some districts do not post it anywhere. Even worse, some are writing board policy in direct conflict with the Parents Bill of Rights. Do your diligence and ask how your schools are adhering to policies regarding parent notification and the restriction of sexual identity concepts or materials before 4th grade. Contact us if you see violations. GO REPORT INCIDENTS Stop the Viewing of Sexually Inappropriate Material on Public School Devices 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. Contact/Join Our Team

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 Rated Books Gender Ideology Obscene Gallery Obscene Gallery 2 PEP BY AUTHOR Book Search List Sexually Inappropriate Harmful to Minors Books 8/22/2024 Book Search Lists PRINTABLE Search Lists 7/26/24 PEP Book Search List of Inappropriate & Harmful to Minors Books PEP Book Search List Gender Ideology Picture Book List for Elementary Schools 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

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 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 Wake County Public Schools Wilson County Schools Winston Salem/ Forsyth County Schools ACTION STEPS Contact

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

Negative impacts of childrns mental health, Effects of erotica on children, NC Data on Self Harm and Suicide UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL GENDER TRANSITIONING What Does the Research Say? The recent inclusion of gender identity into the anti-discrimination policies of the Wake County Public School System, among other districts, will mean that social transition of trans-identifying children and adolescents will be practiced by public schools. There are two sets of concerns arising from this action: (1.) What are the outcomes... read more 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

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 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... READ MORE 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 ... READ MORE Is Reading Erotica as Harmful as Watching Porn? Thanks to the flood of science and research that has come out on the topic of porn in our digital age, our society is seeing that there are legitimately harmful effects of porn consumption .But what about porn that isn’t mainstream, live, hardcore video content? There are many different forms of pornography, such as softcore... READ MORE Early Sexualization and Pornography Exposure: the Detrimental Impacts On Children Pornography exposure – for young men at least – is at saturation point. Research has shown some worrying trends related to earlier onset exposure... READ MORE 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... READ MORE The Impact of Explicit Content on Teens: What Parents Need to Know Reshmita Das | November 21, 2024 In a recent survey by Common Sense Media revealed that 73% of teens have come across online pornography. What’s even more shocking is that over half—54%—were exposed to it before they turned 13, with the average age of first exposure being just 12 years old. In the same survey, 44% of teens admitted to watching... READ MORE 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. WATCH: The Most Compelling Argument Against Tech In Schools | Sophie Winkleman Sweden is the first country to kick ed tech out of the classroom.

Is Your Child Exposed to Explicit and Inappropriate Materials at School? Parents should check their child's school library for their participation in Banned Books Week activities. Some members of school staff are promoting books that should be restricted from minors and many would meet the definition of obscene material as described by NC state statute . Check the book reports posted on our partner site Rated Books . Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe All Boys Aren't Blue by George Johnson This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Tricks by Ellen Hopkins The Pavement Education Project supports the selection of appropriate materials for students. Check the locations page to see reports on books that are in many school districts in North Carolina. BOOK LOCATIONS/SCHOOLS North Carolina Association Encourages Banned Book Week This is a copy of a letter that the North Carolina School Library Media Association. Read about the various ways media specialists can celebrate Banned Books Week with public school students. NCSLMA Members, Banned Books Week is this week, September 22-28! Please explore THIS INFOGRAPHIC for some ideas on how you can celebrate with your students. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to an uptick in book challenges faced by libraries, bookstores, and schools. No one could have ever imagined that number would continue to grow to the frightening level we have seen during the past few years. We celebrate this week every year to help our students and patrons understand the importance of tolerance, respect, representation, and diversity in the printed words that surround us. Celebrating our right to read looks different for different levels. We hope some of these resources help you find an appropriate way to celebrate with your students! Here are a few things to consider as you plan: Rather than focusing on book bans, celebrating lower elementary students’ right to read might look more like a celebration of variety in your library collection. What if one day is all about the books in your library that feature the word “blue” in the title? Maybe another day is all about schools as a setting? And maybe yet another day is all about books that feature a bear as the main character? Displays, signage, and props can make it a great week to show off the collection! Upper elementary students might benefit from displays that showcase the gender, cultural, and racial diversity in your collection. Let them see themselves featured in a colorful display of awesome books! Middle school is ready to broach the subject of book banning. A display of age-appropriate, frequently challenged books can spark wonderfully complex discourse. They’ve got good questions. Answer them. For obvious reasons, the highest number of challenges are aimed at young adult books. They are most likely to feature the themes, characters, and events that some parents, administrators, and school boards find uncomfortable. That is understandable, and it also makes high school the perfect place to let students take the lead with Banned Books Week. Let them research the challenges and the whys. Let them choose the best way to showcase the books. Let them talk about the policies we have in place to ensure quality, appropriate literature for them. Let them ask you why you do -- and do not -- have certain titles in your collection. Then let them talk to the adults in their lives about all of it. There is a lot of uncertainty in our profession these days. There are a lot of distractions and extra responsibilities that sometimes make us forget why we wanted to become librarians. Banned Books Week can be a week to get back to one of the coolest parts of our jobs – helping students discover the freedom that can be found within the pages of a book. Happy Banned Books Week 2024! Sincerely, Lucy Wilcox NCSLMA Advocacy & Governance Director lucywilcox@ncslma.org Check these NC School Websites, Links, and videos Durham County School Guilford County School American Library Association Bannedbooksweek.org Wake County School Books can take children on new and exciting adventures, inspire them, and challenge them to be the best they can be. Books should be safe and developmentally appropriate, specially selected to support the curriculum and interest levels of the students. If you believe a book is unsuitable for children at your child's school, you should contact the school administrators. You will be able to challenge the book and it's placement in your child's school. We encourage you to also reach out to your legislators with your concerns. In our experience, some schools and districts are more responsive to parents than others. Legislators have it within their power to pass legislation protecting children that includes enforcement which is sorely needed in NC statute. Contact us/ Join our Team

Books located in Swain County Schools that contain sexually explicit material, themes of gender confusion, or content related to self-harm, suicide, violence, or racism. Swain County Schools The provided list identifies books located in Swain County Schools that contain sexually explicit material, themes of gender confusion, or content related to self-harm, suicide, violence, or racism. As no database exists to confirm the presence of these books in classrooms, we urge community members to inquire with teachers and administrators about whether these books are present or being used for instructional purposes. 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. Swain County East Elementary School no inappropriate books found Swain County West Elementary School no inappropriate books found Swain Academy (Alternative) School Note: Uses Swain County High School Library Swain County Middle School Dear Martin (Nic Stone) 2 copies Rated 2 Fade /Book 2 (Lisa McMann) Rated 3 The 57 Bus (Dashka Slater) Rated 2 The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas) Rated 3 Heartstopper, Vol 1 (Alice Osman) Rated 2 Lady Midnight: The Dark Artifices: Book One (Cassandra Clare) Rated 3 Looking for Alaska (John Green) Rated 3 Monday’s Not Coming (Tiffany Jackson) Rated 3 Ready Player One (Ernest Cline) Rated 3 Shiver (Maggie Stiefvater) Rated 3 Shout (Laurie Anderson) Rated 3 Speak (Laurie Anderson) Rated 3 Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You (Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi) Rated 1 (lost) Vampire Academy (Richelle Mead) Rated 3 Swain County High School The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Sherman Alexie) 43 copies Rated 2 Beloved (Toni Morrison) Rated 3 The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison) Rated 4 Bumped (Megan McCafferty) Rated 3 Burned (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 Call Me by Your Name (Andre Aciman) Rated 4 The Carnival at Bray (Jessie Ann Foley) Rated 4 A Child Called “It” (David Pelzer) Rated 3 Chosen: a house of night novel (PC and Kristin Cast) Rated 3 Clockwork Princess (Cassandra Clare) Rated 3 Crank (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 Eleanor and Park (Rainbow Rowell) Rated 3 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Foer) Rated 3 Fade (Lisa McMann) Rated 3 Fallout (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 FanGirl (Rainbow Rowell) Rated 2 Flowers in the Attic (VC Andrews) Rated 2 The Freedom Writers’ Diary (The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell) Rated 4 Gabi a Girl in Pieces (Isabel Quintero) Rated 3 ( ebook) Glass (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 Go Ask Alice (Anonymous) Rated 3 The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood) Rated 4 Identical (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 4 I’ll Give You the Sun (Jandy Nelson) Rated 3 Impulse (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)71 copies Rated 4 The Kite Runner: a graphic novel (Khaled Hosseini) Rated 3 Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Malinda Lo) Rated 4 Looking for Alaska (John Green) Rated 3 The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold) Rated 3 Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Jesse Andrews) Rated 3 My Friend Dahmer (Derf Backderg) Rated 2 Nineteen Minutes (Jodi Picoult) Rated 4 Perfect (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 4 Perks of Being a Wallflower (Stephen Chbosky) Rated 4 Queen of Shadows (Sarah Maas) Rated 3 Ready Player One (Ernest Cline) Rated 3 Rumble (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 Shine (Lauren Myracle) Rated 4 Shiver (Maggie Stiefvater) Rated 3 Slaughterhouse-Five (Kurt Vonnegut) Rated 4 Smoke (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 3 Sold (Patricia McCormick) Rated 5 Speak (Laurie Anderson) 32 copies Rated 3 Tricks (Ellen Hopkins) Rated 5 Twisted (Laurie Anderson) Rated 3 Wintergirls (Laurie Anderson) Rated 3 Contact /Join Us

Contact us. Questions or concerns? Do you have a story to share? Would you like to join our team? Contact Us Join Our Team Would you like to be part of a team that advocates for excellence in education? Please complete our team application and let us know areas you are interested in helping. Reading and adding titles to our Books We Love list Be part of our Love America Project Join the Curriculum Under Review Board appraising curriculums being used or proposed in our state Research school libraries and media centers for age inappropriate literature Take part in our Clean Read Book Give-aways, distributing good books in your community Take part in a positive initiative within your community Are you a parent or educator with questions or c oncerns? Contact us. We will try to help. Contact Us First name Last name Email Phone Comments or Concerns Submit Thank you for contacting us. We will be in touch.

Understanding Lexile Levels, using Follett Online Card Catalog, Books We Love Reading Resources Understanding Lexile Levels The Lexile Framework is an approach to measuring a child’s reading ability and the evaluation of the complexity and difficulty of a text. Teachers use Lexile measures when charting growth of their students, planning instruction, and sharing information with parents. We all want students to read fluently with good comprehension. We also expect the complexity of text and understanding to increase as a child progresses throughout their educational career and into adulthood. Educators should guide students to “good fit books with just the right amount of challenge”. Traditionally these books would be a healthy balance between the student’s Lexile score and books that would be 50-100L above their measured score. To help citizens understand the Lexile system, the lowest Lexile number is 0L and the highest is 2000L. Any letters written before the numbers give information about the text and complexity. BR = Beginning Reader AD= Adult Directed Books ( books for adults to read to children) HL=High Interest but Low Complexity IG=Illustrated Guides GN=Graphic Novels Understanding the Numbers and Codes Lexile.com provides many resources including identifying the Lexile score of most books, tools to support instruction, word lists, and a Find a Book tab. This is a very helpful site, but please remember this site does not look at developmentally appropriate content, content that might be harmful, or standards or morals that you and your community may find objectionable. The Pavement Education Project recognizes that children need books and reading materials that they find interesting. They also should have regular books and materials within their Lexile reading range that will challenge their development. https://hub.le xile.com/find-a-book/search https://lexile.com/parents-students/ https://hub.lexile.com/find-a-book/search https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/testing-and-school-accountability/lexiler-and-quantiler-measures/lexiler-framework-reading https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Lexile-Framework.aspx The Focus on the Family website called Plugged In has reviews and recommendations for books, movies, games, etc. Facebook groups like Book Reviews for Christian Families can also help you search for books for your kiddos. The webpage Lexile Find a Book can be a helpful tool when looking for titles, but remember, it does not screen for objectionable content. When purchasing books, Amazon and other book vending sites often include Lexile Scores in the product description on the left. Don’t forget to take a look at what your children are self selecting in the library and are using in the classroom. Look at the content and lexile levels. Knowledge is power! Our website hopes to include recommended reading lists in the not so distant future. Let us know if you would like to be part of a team of readers and reviewers. Where Can I Find Good Fit Books for My Child? Contact Us Using Follett, the Online Card Catalog to Locate Books Most North Carolina school districts uses the Destiny Follett management system to catalog books in school media centers. Students and teachers use it to search and access books and possibly other resources. Some districts may include eBooks, audiobooks, etc. as part of their subscription. Some of the features of the Destiny Follett system include easy search by author, title, or subject. The interest level and a basic reading level of the book is listed as well as the call number (or address of the book's location in the library). Recently, we are seeing descriptions of the books included. The system makes it fairly simple for the librarians to add new books. The site is accessible for students from school or home. Once they login to the district portal with their student ID, they can begin searching. The My Stuff tab at the top (only visible when logged in) allows students and parents to see what is currently checked out to them. We do not know if the setting can be adjusted to show all past books checked out to a particular student but we think that information could be beneficial for parents. The system allows for the creation of collections of books by topic (for students or teachers) by the media specialist or librarian. Unless the collection was created by the media specialist in that specific library, not all the books pictured might be available. However, book titles and descriptions shown could make it possible for them to be searched in other systems, like Sora, Libby, etc., and checked out perhaps through the public library system.The Destiny Follett system allows for parents, citizens, and the community to see what is available on the shelves of the library. We encourage parents to request the districts's policy in regards to adding books to the library. Does the policy allow anyone to donate books to the library? What books would be acceptable for donation? Will the librarian replace favorite classics like The Hungry Caterpillar or The Scarlet Letter if they are so worn that they need to be discarded? Some districts have unspoken policies that exclude books printed before the year 2000. Some of the classics and books you remember will may no longer be available to future students. Knowledge is power. Familiarize yourself with the library system. Did You Know? According to the Follett website, nearly $2 trillion in ESSER Funds are still available in 2024 to support schools and students. The website states Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds provide a significant boost to your learning initiatives. Follett is here to provide guidance on using ESSER Funds effectively using our unique analytical tools that can diagnose the strength and gaps in your collection. S ocial transformative books have been required as a funding qualification for recipients. If your state or district accepts ESSER funds, what is expected of them? https://www.follettlearning.com/esser Would You Like to Search a School or School District in our state? Go to gofollett.com or contact us. https://www.follettlearning.com/education-technology/library-management-system/destiny-discover Contact Us Books We Love! CHECK OUT THE BOOKS WE LOVE PAGE FOR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS Graphic Novels Graphic novels are in the schools, public libraries, and colleges. The New York Times includes graphic novels as a category on its booklists. Struggling students and erudite academicians laud the benefits of the new genre. The Scholastic magazine, a chief proponent and distributor of graphic novels, defines the literary form as “any book in a comic book format that resembles a novel in length and narrative development.” Graphic novels incorporate benefits and shortcomings of both novels and comic books. HISTORY Graphic novels are akin to or the next iteration of the children’s comic book. The comic book, at its conception and infancy, had a wide variety of themes including superheroes. Yet, some people were concerned that comic books potentially would corrupt the young readers and retard their reading progress. These concerns led to the Comic Code Authority (CCA) tasked with ensuring the proper values were depicted in the comic books (Lloyd Sealy Library) . The themes of the comic books and their values were strongly compatible with the superhero theme and, thereby, undergirded the success of the superhero morality plays of the good hero overcoming and conquering the evil villain. Comic books soon became a lucrative literary venture. In 1986, Will Eisner introduced a new genre -- birthed from the comic book --the graphic novel. The expanded “comic book” was a collection of stories about a neighborhood in the Bronx. The format appealed to a new expanded reading audience. However, it was Art Spiegelman who brought the new literary format into popularity (Lloyd Sealy Library) . It resembled a novel in length and story line; however, the graphic novel’s story was driven by pictures and supplemented with only sparse text. Graphic novels not only differed from traditional comic books in their length but also subject matter. The topics ranged from classical literature to backstreet pulp fiction. Often, a graphic novel, then and now, departed from the innocence of the superhero’s overcoming the menacing, evil villain to more edgy subjects. RESEARCH Current research of graphic novels overwhelmingly touts the benefits. Educators report that graphic novels promote reading for the reluctant and poor readers, for the non-native English speakers, the unmotivated readers, and the beginning readers (Reader’Advisory Guide to Graphic Novels). They claim pictures help reading comprehension, and therefore, are valuable tool for developing cognition. Graphic novels are not just for the reluctant or poor reader but are also popular with older fluent readers. Graphic novels make complex literary classics comprehensible. The story line is more easily understood with visual images, rather than words. The Readers’Advisory Guide to Graphic Novels asserts that the genre promotes visual literacy for the 21 st century’s media demands. In addition to the academic advantages, emotionally, there is no shame associated with graphic novels as attested by the popularity with more skilled and older readers. FORMAT CONCERNS However, like the parents who were concerned about comic books of the 1950s, parents have their reservations about graphic novels. Though many may concede that graphic novels appeal to and motivate reluctant readers and help them comprehend subject matter, many parents are apprehensive, even cynical, of graphic novels’ net benefits for developing skilled readers and thinkers. Words are the tools of thinking. Relying on pictures for context promotes guessing for word meanings. Vocabulary is developed through reading and writing. A picture-driven story undermines both basic cognitive skills. Graphic novels cultivate passive, feckless learning habits. The mind is developed much like muscles. Effective learning requires resistance. Synapsis and memories are made stronger when effort is applied. Processing information from the words “requires constant voluntary attention” (Rossiter & Silberstein, 2001), whereas pictorial information processing is passive. Graphic novels reduce literature to an arid, anemic story line. The art of good literature is lost in the pictorial Cliff Notes approach. Divergent thinking is starved by the lack of literary devices. Learning is hard work and a lengthy process. One must ask at what point is the reluctant reader weaned from pictures to text. When will the underlying problem of poor reading strategies be addressed for the reluctant reader? CONTENT CONCERNS Sexually explicit pictures found in school library graphic novels incite emotional responses rather than reasoned ones. Being led by emotions (visceral responses) makes the reader easily manipulated. Often age-inappropriate, or sexually graphic novels have a low reading level (see Lexile Levels) and are accessible to younger children. Formats for comic books, graphic novels, and novels have cognitive relevance, but content should be the primary consideration for evaluating a book, not the conveyance. Content of graphic novels can be pornographic yet readily accessible for the youngest or poorest reader. Content is packaged to reach a certain audience. Judge the book by its format but then look inside and examine the content. Contact Us UNDER CONSTRUCTION What is Manga? What is Anime? Anime and Mental Health Awards and Medals What is the Difference Between YA and Adult Books? Who Wins an Award and Why? It can be puzzling. Writers, librarians, and parents don't always agree. YA ( industry abbreviation for Young Adult) novels are marketed for childr en 12-18 years of age. They are written about teenage characters with story lines meant to appeal to this age group; the category has ha d crossover into the adult market over the last several years. There lies much of the difficulty. Young Adult books are meant to be the next level of reading material after middle-grade fiction as teens transition to adult fiction. They are often coming of age stories. They are engaging and ma y have some level of romance between the characters, such as kissing but they should not contain actual sexual content. The readers and reviewers at the PEP are noticing more and more books labeled YA in middle and high schools with detailed sexual content, including bondage, violence and erotica. Parents must be alert to these sexualized books. We have quite a few listed on our website. Many have received awards of one kind or another. How did that book win that award? The American Library Association gives out many awards to authors and illustrators. One of the most notable is the Randolph Caldecott Award. The Caldecott winners must have outstanding illustrations and appeal to children ages 5-14. In the past, Caldecott winners and honor books were mostly picture or juvenile books that were chosen by parents and teachers to be read to younger students and children. They become favorites, not just because of the pictures but because the stories are entertaining, interesting, and age appropriate. According to the guidelines, in addition to the exceptional illustrations, the book should not be didactic in nature. If you have children, you are probably familiar with these books. Past Caldecott Winners and Caldecott Honor Award Winners Over the last decade there has been change. This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Mamaki won a 2015 Caldecott Honor Award. Take a look at it and see if you would agree. Other graphic novels targeting middle and high school are also receiving recognition. My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf is an example. Backderf is a two time Eisner award nominee. His book My Friend Dahmer was recognized as a great graphic novel for teens by the ALA and won an Alex award in 2013. Obviously some graphic novels are not meant for children and the content may not be worthy of recognition. The John Newbery Medal is another prestigious award given yearly by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Two favorites from the past were Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (1992) and Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (1991). More recent winners have been challenged due to controversial content and language more than obscenities, but not always. Several new awards have made an appearance on books in elementary and middle schools. Most students, parents, teachers, and librarians assume if a book won an award, it must be a good book. A closer look reveals books with agendas promoting values that are uncommon within most North Carolina communities. Here are just three examples of books frequently found in middle schools. George, Looking for Alaska, and Out of Darkness. George by Alex Gino i s a recipient of the following : Children's Stonewall Award, Lambda Literary Award, and Ch ildren's Choice Book Award. The first two awards are for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience and content. Looking for Alaska by John Green won the Printz award, an award that recognizes the "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". While it was a quick easy read, It violated NC Statutes on Obscenity. It als o contained a glorified suicide. Out of Darkness by Ashley Perez is another example of an award winning book not appropriate for minors because it contains detailed depictions of incestual rape. The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, The winning titles are selected from the previous year's publishing. These books all received the award over the last several years: Lawn Boy ; Gender Queer; Red, White, and Royal Blue ; and The Kite Runner. Take a look at excerpts under the book tab. We question whether these books are appropriate for young adults in a public school setting. They all violate NC Statutes regarding obscenity. The Pavement Education Project encourages you to be aware of the books your child selects from the media center, on class recommended reading lists, and books located in classroom libraries. We believe an award no longer ensures a book is fit for reading by a child, teen, or young adult. Furthermore, The American Library Association may no longer have the values and standards you and your family hold dear. Resources: American Library Association. https://www.ala.org Young Adult Library Services Association. https://www.ala.org/yalsa/

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 keeping our website up, supporting projects within North Carolina communities, and assisting with our clean read book give aways. DONATE

The Love America Project is aimed at sharing activities and lessons with children and teens that create a love for our country. Love America Project The Pavement Education Project wants to share our love of America with children and teens of our state. We plan to accomplish this with special lessons and activities that reveal the story of our country, the struggles, the truth of our history, and the bright future we believe still exists. If you would like to be part of the team by co teaching or creating content, contact us with your information and background. The Creation of the US Constitution Members of the Love America Project (LAP) recently completed writing a Constitution Day Readers Theater for 5th graders. Several classes had the opportunity to use a script to re-inact our Founding Fathers as they debated the morality and economics of slavery, trades and tariffs, power, and legislation. Through the story, students learned the how the creation of the Amendments to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were a process of compromise and sacrifice. Contact/Join What's Next? LAP is working on activities for Presidents' Day currently. Contact us to share your ideas that promote the love of our wonderful country. Donate to support the projects. Contact/Join

North Carolina Statutes regarding material harmful to minors. LAWS, STATUTES, AND OPINIONS 2025 Proposed NC Legislation Related to Education and Children Bill Number/Name URL Link Purpose Status Sponsor HB 636 Promoting Wholesome Content for Students https://tinyurl.com/467yjh6w 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 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 Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate 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 516 Women’s Safety and Protection Act https://tinyurl.com/yzvftbvh Define 2 genders, protect females in bathrooms and protect females in overnight school field trips Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate Sawyer; Overcash (Primary) Barnes; Brinson; Daniel; Hanig; Hise; Jarvis; Sanderson SB 227 Eliminating DEI in Public Education https://tinyurl.com/467yjh6w Remove DEI content in schools, including instructional content and administrative practices Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 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 FIND MY NC LEGISLATORS 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. Content may show graphic images or have descriptions of sexual acts. Please take note of North Carolina Statute § 14-190.15. 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. Furthermore , some book titles appear to be in violation of the newly ratified SB 49: The Parents' Bill of Rights. § 115C-76.55. of 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 NC Department of Education is currently updating healthy living standards for K-8th grade. The PEP team is monitoring their work to make sure it is true to North Carolina Statutes. 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. OTHER IMPORTANT NC STATUTES Recently ratified 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. 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. CONTACT/JOIN OUR TEAM

Follow the action steps to protect your child from harmful content. STEPS TO 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 and Policy Changes Through the Online Webhosting 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 Understand that book banning is not PEP's goal, however we have become increasingly aware of books and materials with sexually inappropriate texts and gender concepts are available to minors in school libraries and in some classrooms. Books that contain extreme violence, self- harm, suicide, and horror are also making there way into schools. You have a right as a parent to challenge inappropriate instructional and supplementary materials placed in your child's school whether it be in a media center, part of a classroom library, used for instructional purposes, or part of an assignment. 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

Steps to protect your children, Challenge book forms, addressing your concerns with the school board, groups with similar interests 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

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.