Exposing Pennsylvania School Boards Putting Politics Before Students’ Needs

In 2025, Nesbitt & Parrinello worked with the Hopewell Fund to produce an exposé on Pennsylvania school boards with records of promoting book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and censorship. This report assessed school boards’ records of putting politics above students’ needs, evaluating nearly 200 boards’ official policies, minutes, and agendas to compile an unprecedented dataset to keep Americans informed of their school boards’ activities, no matter how small the district. Our report identified dozens of boards that advanced harmful policies, helping local partners and the community hold their school boards accountable for decisions that impact students.