Challenger Groups

Conservative policy organization led by Kris Kobach (former Kansas Secretary of State). AFC drafts model legislation for state legislators on CRT-curriculum prohibition, materials restrictions, and speaker exclusion from schools. Per Education Week's 2021 investigation, AFC drafted model legislation introduced in Pennsylvania and consulted with Arizona lawmakers; their model bill 'bans materials AND speakers.' Topical overlap with Banned Index is real — AZ HB 2008 and SB 1435 (both in our DB, both school-library materials laws) could plausibly derive from AFC's model — but no primary source directly names those bills as AFC-drafted. As of a 2026-04-23 research pass, no primary source attributes AFC to a specific book-ban law in our DB, which is why this group has 0 law_organizations rows. Reopen if a leaked memo, FOIA response, or investigation names a specific bill as AFC-drafted.

Conservative policy institute founded 2021 by former Trump administration officials. James Sherk directs AFPI's Center for American Freedom. Per Education Week's 2021 investigation, Sherk consulted with 'at least two states on their proposed bills, including one where the measure became law' — but EdWeek names neither the states nor the bill. Sherk's publicly documented activity is concentrated on civil-service / labor policy and CRT-curriculum enforcement (e.g., a 2022 letter to the Baxter, Iowa superintendent demanding removal of a 'Social Justice in Literature' course), not library book removal legislation. As of a 2026-04-23 research pass, no primary source attributes AFPI to a specific book-ban law in our DB, which is why this group has 0 law_organizations rows. Reopen if a longer EdWeek excerpt or an AFPI publication names a specific book-ban bill.

ALEC produces model legislation adopted by state legislatures nationwide. While not directly authoring book ban bills, their education policy framework and state legislative networks facilitate the passage of related legislation including school choice, voucher, and 'transparency' bills that enable book challenges.

A rating site that publishes numerical 'book report' ratings (0-5 scale) for thousands of titles, with categorized content warnings. Frequently cited by Moms for Liberty chapters and other parent groups when filing challenges. Affiliated with Brevard County, FL Moms for Liberty chapter.

Conservative Christian children's book publisher founded 2021 by Kirk Cameron and associates. Brave Books publishes an 'approved reading list' of titles (their own catalog — 'As You Grow', 'Pride Comes Before the Fall', etc.) and explicitly positions itself against titles it considers 'woke' or age-inappropriate. Not a ratings provider — for 0-to-5 content ratings cited by challengers see BookLooks (challenger group #1). Operationally, Brave Books' role in the book-ban ecosystem is as an ALTERNATIVE-CONTENT PROVIDER rather than a direct challenger of existing library titles: they sell replacement content and run 'See You at the Library' Cameron story-hour events. In 2023 more than 50 US libraries declined to host those readings, so Brave Books has also been on the receiving end of library restrictions. Intentionally has 0 flags, 0 bans, 0 law_organizations rows — do NOT create those. If a future schema adds a partner_org or content_source relationship, migrate this row there.

Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) is a conservative activist organization that files mass book challenges in school districts and public libraries. In Fort Worth ISD alone, CDF challenged over 100 books, leading the district to close libraries for two weeks and pull 120 books from shelves. CDF partners with Brave Books to promote conservative children's books as replacements for removed titles — a documented 'remove and replace' strategy. Endorsed by Charlie Kirk and Mike Lindell.

Conservative policy advocacy organization founded by Russell Vought, former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget under the Trump administration and co-author of Project 2025. CRA's documented legislative activity is in CRT curriculum law — its model legislation prohibits instruction on 'divisive concepts,' ideas from the 1619 Project, and social-emotional learning in K–12 classrooms (not library book removal directly). Per Education Week's 2021 investigation, Idaho HB 377 and a Tennessee HB 0580 amendment (both 2021 CRT curriculum bans) 'most closely match language used in Citizens for Renewing America's model legislation' — but those laws are outside Banned Index's book-ban scope and are not in our DB. CRA's own state tracker does not claim drafting credit for any specific bill. As of a 2026-04-23 research pass, no primary source directly attributes CRA to any book-ban law in our DB, which is why this group has 0 law_organizations rows.

Las Cruces & Dona Ana County, NM-based group. Published "Parent's Guide to 95+ Explicit Books in Las Cruces Public Schools" booklet presented to LCPS board Jan 22, 2025. Led by Sarah Smith. Previously challenged Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) at Mayfield High School in 2023 (board voted 6-1 to retain). Also active in NM state legislature advocating for book restriction bills.

Florida Citizens Alliance has been one of the most prolific book-challenging organizations in Florida, filing formal complaints in at least a dozen school districts. Co-founded by Keith Flaugh, the group focuses on K-12 education policy and has been instrumental in pushing for stricter library material review processes in Florida.

The Heritage Foundation authored Project 2025, which calls for eliminating the Department of Education, dismantling DEI programs across federal agencies, and removing terms like 'gender identity' from federal rules. Heritage gave Moms for Liberty its $25,000 Salvatori Prize in 2022. Heritage Action (their c4 lobbying arm) spent ~$21M in 2022.

A conservative parents' rights advocacy organization founded in Florida in 2021. Local chapters have filed many of the highest-profile school library book challenges since 2022. Organizes around opposition to books containing sexual content, LGBTQ+ themes, and discussions of race and systemic racism.

Parent advocacy group focused on opposing what they describe as 'political indoctrination' in K-12 schools. Maintains a list of books they recommend removing from school libraries.

Texas-based parent advocacy group that maintains detailed lists and reviews of school library materials they consider inappropriate. Influential in Texas HB 900 debates and Keller ISD challenges.

Utah-based conservative policy think tank founded in 1995. Sutherland advocates for 'curriculum transparency' and parental access policies in public schools. Their 2024 policy publication 'Boosting Parent Engagement in Public Schools by Strengthening Parent Access' is hosted by the Utah State Board of Education as an official parent resource at schools.utah.gov. Sutherland reviewed all 41 Utah school districts for parent-access implementation and commissioned a 2024 statewide survey (Y2 Analytics) on curriculum transparency.