PHILADELPHIA, PA — A new report by School Board Spotlight, a project of the Pipeline Education Fund, alleges that a growing number of Pennsylvania school boards are advancing politically motivated policies at the expense of students and parents seeking neutrality in public education.
The analysis, which reviewed meeting minutes, agendas, and policy changes from 193 school boards across the state since 2023, found that roughly one in five boards have adopted measures restricting books, limiting classroom materials, or implementing policies that critics describe as discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ students. The report identifies Adams, Beaver, Bucks, Lancaster, and York counties among those where multiple districts have enacted or considered such actions.
The Education Law Center-PA (ELC-PA), which helped publicize the findings, said the trend points to an increasing politicization of school governance. “Students deserve inclusive schools where they can learn without being subjected to partisan politics or discriminatory practices,” said Kristina Moon, senior attorney at ELC-PA. She added that both federal and state courts have ruled that schools can be held liable for discrimination based on gender identity.
According to ELC-PA, the group has been tracking the issue since 2022 under its Inclusive Schools and Honest Education initiative. During the 2023–24 school year, parents and community members from 37 school districts contacted ELC-PA or its coalition partner, Pennsylvanians for Welcoming and Inclusive Schools (PA-WINS), seeking guidance on proposed school board actions. The organization says many of these policies stem from a small number of vocal board members whose views do not reflect their communities as a whole.
While ELC-PA and its allies frame the issue as a matter of student rights and educational fairness, some school board members have defended similar policies as efforts to give parents more control over school content and align instruction with community standards. The growing divide has turned local school board meetings into flashpoints over how public education should handle subjects such as gender identity, sexuality, and social issues.
School Board Spotlight has made its Pennsylvania data available to the public through an online database, allowing parents and residents to review policies in their local districts. The database can be accessed at schoolboardspotlight.org/pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanians seeking information or assistance regarding local school board policies can contact the Education Law Center-PA Helpline at 267-436-6095 for Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, or 412-258-2120 for Western Pennsylvania.
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