Big news for schools and book lovers: The U.S. Education Department announced it’s stepping back from investigating schools that pull books off their shelves. This decision comes after the department dismissed 11 ongoing civil rights complaints tied to book bans, many involving titles about race and sexuality.

The move has already sparked cheers from conservative groups, who see it as a win for local control over education. It also marks a shift from the Biden administration’s earlier efforts to tackle what experts called a troubling rise in book challenges. Back in 2023, the department even created a special “book ban coordinator” role to monitor and address these issues.

But under the new Trump administration, that role is gone. The Office for Civil Rights said it’s scrapping all guidance that suggested removing books could violate civil rights laws. In a statement, acting assistant secretary Craig Trainor called the change a step toward “restoring the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education.”

This decision is part of a broader push to hand more oversight of education back to states. While some see it as a victory for parental rights, others worry it could leave students without access to important stories and perspectives. Either way, it’s a big moment for schools, libraries, and the ongoing debate over what books belong on the shelves.