Share this @internewscast.com

A Florida school district has pulled over 1,600 books from its library shelves for review — including Webster’s Dictionary for Students — to ensure they comply with the state’s new sex education law that prohibits books describing sexual content. 

The Escambia County Public School District, in the Florida Panhandle, pulled five dictionaries, eight encyclopedias and “The Guinness Book of World Records.” It’s also reviewing the biographies of Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey, Anne Frank’s diary and “The Autobiography of Malcom X,” according to the Florida Freedom to Read Project, a group that seeks to protect students’ right to information.

While the books haven’t been banned altogether, they will be reviewed to assure they follow guidelines laid out in Florida’s House Bill 1069, which restricts public school instruction on reproductive health and related sex topics in sixth through 12th grade. 

The bill was signed in May and took effect in July, and was part of a series of bills in the state Legislature that sought to regulate how sex and gender identity are taught in public school settings.

It’s not clear when a final decision will be made on which books can return to school shelves and which should be banned.

NBC News has reached out to the Escambia County School District for comment.

District spokesperson Cody Strother told the Pensacola News Journal that the 1,000+ books referred to by the Florida Freedom to Read Project “have not been banned or removed from the school district; rather, they have simply been pulled for further review to ensure compliance with the new legislation.”

That same school district had been sued by the writers’ group PEN America, publisher Penguin Random House and authors whose books were banned in the district.

On Wednesday, a Pensacola judge ruled the lawsuit can move forward, finding the case had merit under the First Amendment’s free speech protections, but denied a claim under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Man arrested, accused of trying to smuggle drugs into Ware County Jail

Attempted Drug Smuggling Foiled at Ware County Jail: Suspect in Custody

In a bold and unusual attempt to smuggle drugs into a correctional…
A Grand Teton mountain runner set a record. But his route turned into a crime

Trailblazer Sets Record in Grand Teton Run, Faces Unexpected Legal Challenges

Michelino Sunseri’s journey to the summit of Grand Teton was nothing short…
Suburban High School District 214 gauging public interest in renovations that could cost up to $850M, result in property tax hike

Local High School District 214 Considers Major Renovation Plans Potentially Impacting Property Taxes

A school district in the northwest suburbs is currently seeking public input…
Bryan Kohberger says he was diagnosed with 4 mental disorders before guilty plea: report

Kohberger’s Legal Team Criticizes GoFundMe Support for Victims’ Families

In a recent development in the case of Bryan Kohberger, the convicted…
Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky is remembered as a leader in the game's online surge

Chess Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky Celebrated as a Pioneer in the Online Chess Renaissance

Daniel Naroditsky, a prominent figure in competitive chess who rose to fame…
Man who sent 'So I raped you' message to New Jersey woman sentenced for 2013 Gettysburg College campus assault

New Jersey Woman’s Assailant Sentenced for 2013 Campus Assault Following Disturbing Message

A man who admitted to sexually assaulting a woman in college in…
Man who planned to shoot up Atlanta's airport is arrested in a terminal following a tip, police say

Swift Police Action Thwarts Potential Atlanta Airport Shooting After Crucial Tip-Off

ATLANTA — A man was apprehended at Atlanta’s bustling airport on Monday…
Convicted felon federally charged after threatening Atlanta airport while armed with AR-15 rifle

Armed Felon Faces Federal Charges After Threatening Atlanta Airport with AR-15: A Chilling Security Breach

A Georgia resident is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening to “shoot…
At Least 135 Mutilated Palestinian Bodies Traced to Israeli Prison Accused of Torture

135 Palestinian Bodies Found: Investigation Launched into Alleged Israeli Prison Abuses

In a disturbing development, Gaza health authorities report that 135 bodies of…
Blue city mayor rocked as gunfire hits home, says ‘none of us are immune’ from crime

Shocking Gunfire at Mayor’s Home Sparks Urgent Call for Action: Why No City is Safe from Crime Anymore

In a startling incident over the weekend, the residence of Stockton Mayor…
Protests erupt as ICE agents raid NYC Chinatown street vendors allegedly selling counterfeit goods

ICE Agents Conduct Raids on NYC Chinatown Vendors Amid Counterfeit Goods Allegations, Sparking Protests

In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, a federal operation in…
One of the world's rarest whales that makes the Atlantic its home grows in population

Atlantic’s Rare Right Whale Population Sees Promising Growth: A Conservation Success

PORTLAND, Maine — In an optimistic turn for marine conservation, one of…