Exposing School Board Members Putting Politics Before Students’ Needs

In 2023 and 2024, Nesbitt & Parrinello worked with the Pipeline Education Fund to produce a first-of-its-kind report that exposes Florida school board members with records of promoting book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and curriculum censorship. This report assessed school board members’ records of putting politics above students’ needs, in the form of book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and opposition to certain discussions of race. We evaluated news and social media coverage of school boards and their members; public statements by their board members; affiliations with extremist organizations; and official board policy, minutes, and agendas to compile an unprecedented dataset to keep Americans informed of their school board members’ positions. N&P also previously worked with Pipeline Education Fund to produce a report identifying the 30 school districts in 12 states most responsible for pushing book bans, anti LGBTQ+ policy and rhetoric, and educational censorship.