Scholastic ends policy allowing schools to opt out of LGBTQ+ & BIPOC books

The publisher Scholastic recently sent a letter to children’s book authors and illustrators announcing that it will end its policy of allowing schools to opt out of offering “diverse” books on racial and LGBTQ+ issues at its school book fairs.

In a letter sent on Tuesday evening and shared by various authors via Twitter, Scholastic Trade Publishing President Ellie Berger apologized, writing, “Even if the decision was made with good intention, we understand now that it was a mistake to segregate diverse books in an elective [book]case [that schools can choose not to recieve]”

Related:

9 exceptional LGBTQ+ children’s books your kids should read immediately

Books play a vital role in showing different experiences, allowing readers to see themselves reflected in the world around them.

Scholastic had been placing books on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC issues into a case called “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” and allowing elementary schools to opt out of receiving the case in order to comply with policies banning queer content and “critical race theory” in schools.

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Berger said the policy would be entirely discontinued in January 2024, and that the company’s book fairs division would create a “pivot plan” for any remaining fairs occurring in schools this fall.

“We will find an alternate way to get a greater range of books into the hands of children we remain committed to the books in this collection and support their sale throughout our distribution channels,” she wrote, adding that the company will “redouble” its efforts to combat laws restricting childrens’ access to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC books.

“We sincerely apologize to every author, illustrator, licensor, educator, librarian, parent, and reader who was hurt by our action,” Bergr continued. “We recognize and acknowledge the pain we caused, and that we have broken the trust of some of our publishing company, customers, friends, trusted partners, and staff. And we also recognize that we will now need to regain that trust.”

Begrer concluded the letter by reemphasizing the company’s “foundational commitment” to LGBTQ+ authors and stated, “We oppose discrimination of any kind,” including on the basis of “color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, or national origin.”

“This will not be our last communication on the matter,” she wrote. “But we wanted to get this initial word out. We look forward to create a better and more just future together.”

In a letter sent to authors and illustrators earlier this month, Berger initially justified the opt-out policy, writing that laws banning LGBTQ+ and racial content had “created an almost impossible dilemma.”

“We do not want to back away from these titles, but at the same time, we have to acknowledge that because of these devices of laws, teachers, librarians, and volunteers might be at risk of serious penalties if we ship these books to them without their knowledge and agreement,” Berger had written. “The presence of these books would make individuals vulnerable to being fired, sued, or criminally prosecuted. Not to mention the verbal and physical attacks we’ve seen around this issue.”

Critics of the policy questioned why a $1.15 billion company would “compromise with, frankly, fascist laws” and “a few bigots in a very vocal minority.”

Book bans have primarily been pushed by Republican politicians and so-called “parental rights” extremist groups like Moms for Liberty, Leave Our Kids Alone, and Chaya Raichik who goes by Libs of TikTok on social media. All three groups have been linked to death threats against libraries and educators for including LGBTQ+-inclusive books in their educational programs.