PEN America, the National Education Association, and student advocacy organization SEAT are among those who have filed amicus briefs in support of the school district in the upcoming Supreme Court case; Harry Lerner has died; applications open for Banned Books Week programming grants; and more.

Amicus briefs filed in LGBTQIA+ book-related SCOTUS case

PEN America, the National Education Association (NEA), and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) are among the organizations that have filed amicus briefs in support of the school district in the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, which will be heard at the Supreme Court on April 22. Six Maryland parents want to remove their children from lessons that include books with LGBTQIA+ characters and stories. The school district determined that individual opt-outs, regardless of their reason, were not workable as a practical matter and in this case also stigmatized other students and their families.

PEN America argues that the case is as much about free speech as freedom of religion. Its brief says that the court should view the parents’ lawsuit in the context of the broader movement to advance extreme conservative viewpoints to dictate what is appropriate and allowable in schools. 

“An opt-out would chill freedom of speech for students, teachers, and authors and would constitute viewpoint discrimination, raising core First Amendment concerns,” PEN America’s Chief Legal Officer Eileen Hershenov said. “Both legally and practically, this would deny students access to diverse literature that spurs empathy, understanding, and prepares them for lives in a pluralistic society. This case does not exist in a vacuum, and a ruling requiring this opt-out is likely to turbocharge the already dire state of book bans and educational censorship around the country.”

NEA’s amicus brief argues that allowing parents to opt out of the curriculum would hamstring efforts to provide students with a full, engaging, and inclusive education.

“An inclusive education is fundamental to public education no matter where students live, who they are, or the language they speak,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Public education is founded on the core educational principle [that] engaging students on a broad range of ideas will bring together disparate elements in our society, prepare them for citizenship, and allow them to become productive members of an increasingly interconnected world. …

“The Mahmoud case is looking to ignore the expertise of trained professionals in the classrooms and have federal courts insert themselves into day-to-day educational decisions about what students can learn and what educators can teach. This would have a chilling effect on public education. As a result, educators will self-censor, face book bans, and, more importantly, prevent some students from being seen and acknowledged.”

Young people stepped up to support the district as well. SEAT, a student-started movement of young people engaged in advocacy and policy-making, filed a brief that argues that the First Amendment does not give parents the right to demand public education be tailored to their religious beliefs at the expense of inclusive curricula that supports all students: "Public schools are meant to prepare us to be good citizens in a diverse democracy—we maintain a right to discover stories and experiences we are unfamiliar with. Opting out doesn’t serve students’ learning growth or ability to thrive in a global society."

“The petitioners in Mahmoud v. Taylor claim that books and stories representing the diverse American population violate their religious beliefs,” the amicus brief said. “Religion should not be used as a means of silencing others on the basis of identity or disagreement. As the Supreme Court has affirmed in Tinker v. Des Moines, students maintain constitutional rights at school. We don’t lose our freedom of thought or right to receive information because someone else is uncomfortable.”

In addition to the brief, SEAT will be co-hosting a rally at the Supreme Court on the day the Justices hear oral arguments.

Lerner Publishing Group’s founder dies at age 93

Lerner Publishing Group founder Harry Lerner died on April 8 at the age of 93. Lerner leaves behind an impactful legacy in the children’s book publishing industry.

After publishing a travel guide for GIs while serving in the U.S. Army in Germany, in 1959, Lerner started Lerner Publications, which would later become Lerner Publishing Group. Lerner began publishing children’s books, launching with a series called Medical Books for Children aimed at helping children through their childhood illnesses. While the medical community did not show an interest in the eight-book series, schools and libraries did and so began decades of award-winning children's publishing. Lerner and his first wife, Sharon Lerner, founded Carolrhoda Books in 1969, the company’s first imprint. Lerner Publishing Group now publishes approximately 600 new titles and series a year.

In 1998, Lerner’s son Adam became President and CEO and took over the day-to-day operations of the company, but Harry Lerner remained chairman of the board until his death. His family asks that anyone wishing to honor Lerner make donations to Books for Africa or the American Library Association.

Applications open for Banned Books Week programming grants

The Freedom to Read Foundation annually distributes $1,000 Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund programming grants to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during Banned Books Weeks (October 5-11, 2025). Libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations can apply.

Grants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• WHY NOW?: Please share why this grant is important for your organization in this time.
• IMAGINATION: What makes your plan unique? Please share how you would integrate the concept of “Read For Your Rights.”
• SCHEDULE/ACTION PLAN: Include key dates, responsibilities, and collaboration with other groups to carry out a creative project.
• PR PLAN: What are the ways you will promote your event, and who is your intended audience? Do you have a media and social media plan? How will your promotion be creative, unique and eye-catching?
• BUDGET: Please detail your proposed budget. Institutions and other groups they are working with should contribute to the funding of proposed events rather than solely relying on the grant. 
• EVALUATION: Detail how you will evaluate the success of your program.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 30.

Translator Tim Mohr dies at age 55

Translator Tim Mohr died on March 31 at age 55 from pancreatic cancer. Mohr translated several children's books, including Goth Moth and the forthcoming Lizzy Longlegs by Kai Lüftner, The Three-Year Tumble by Dayeon Auh, A Chest Full of Words by Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger, as well as the YA novel Why We Took the Car by Wolfgang Herrndorf, among others.

New Voices Award submissions open 

The New Voices Award is given biennially for a picture book manuscript by an unpublished writer of color or a Native/Indigenous writer. Winners receive a standard publication contract, including Lee & Low Books’ basic royalties and an advance of $5,000, as well as a publishing mentorship to develop their first book for publication.

Manuscripts may be fiction, nonfiction, or poetry for children ages 5 to 12 and should “address the needs of children of color or Native/Indigenous children by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another." Themes relating to different family structures, gender identity, LGBTQIA+ communities, or disabilities are also of interest.

The deadline for submissions is June 30.

Webinar offered on digital primary sources and civil rights

New America is offering a virtual panel and workshop, “Teaching the History of Civil Rights Through Digital Primary Sources: Introducing the 1939 Library Sit-In” on April 22 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. ET.

In this panel and workshop, experts will discuss what it takes to ensure that students from elementary school through high school have opportunities to analyze and learn from primary sources, deepening their understanding of American history. The panel “Why Use Primary Source Materials When Teaching History?” will highlight examples of programs in libraries and schools that are making those documents accessible via digital media.

The second half features a workshop, “A Tour of Lesson Plans and Digital Resources about the 1939 Library Sit-in,” with teachers, focusing on the story of the 1939 Library Sit-In in Alexandria, VA. The workshop will demonstrate how newly digitized primary source documents from the Alexandria Library’s Local History & Special Collections can be incorporated into lesson plans to help students learn about the Jim Crow era, see examples of Virginia residents’ efforts to demand equal access to public schools and libraries, and get to know the American heroes who envisioned and fought for civil rights.

The webinar is free, but registration is required.

NCAC opens registration for 2025-2026 Student Advocate for Speech Leadership Program

Applications are now open for the National Coalition Against Censorship's 2025-2026 cohort of the Student Advocates for Speech (SAS) Leadership Program. The initiative is dedicated to empowering high school students ages 14 to 18 from around the country to become frontline advocates against censorship in their communities.

Through personalized advocacy training, students will learn from leading First Amendment and free expression experts, develop strategic media and advocacy skills, and engage with real-world issues affecting their schools and communities.

SAS Leaders publish op-eds, appear on podcasts, have been featured by local and national news outlets, share anti-book ban videos, and regularly work with authors and journalists. As part of the monthly workshops, SAS Leaders will learn from advocates and activists across the free expression landscape.

The SAS program is free for all participants. The program is virtual, with potential opportunities for in-person events. Applications are due by June 2.

Lambda Literary seeks new board members

Lambda Literary is recruiting new Board members, seeking “individuals who are passionate about queer literature and who bring expertise in publishing, philanthropy, arts and culture funding, law, finance, or entrepreneurship.” The organization encourages BIPOC, trans, nonbinary, and disabled community members to apply.

Board members' responsibilities include:

• Serving a two-year renewable term (up to three terms).
• Contributing a minimum of $3,000 annually through personal giving or fundraising.
• Actively participating in bi-monthly meetings and serving on at least one committee.
• Being responsive to board and staff communications.
• Helping grow Lambda’s visibility, impact, and sustainability.
• Advocating for LGBTQ+ literature and amplifying Lambda’s mission.

The application deadline is April 30.