The Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) has released its 2024 State of Theatre Education Report, and this year's findings included continued and growing censorship pressures on theatre educators. The report summarizes findings from a study of more than 1,800 theatre educators in public and private schools across the U.S.
More than 75% of respondents reported pressure to reconsider their play and musical choices during the 2023-24 school year, an increase from just 6% in 2023. Ultimately, 22% were forced to make changes, up from 4% last year.
The report found that restrictive legislation and community objections are increasingly influencing what educators are allowed to stage, particularly when it comes to productions that include themes like LGBTQIA+ representation.
Several stories about cancelled school productions reached national news this year, like a Texas high school's production of The Laramie Project, a decision which was later reversed. In 2023, a Florida high school cancelled its production of Paula Vogel's Indecent, just months after the Florida's "Parental Rights in Education" Law (colloquially known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill) was passed.
Two thirds of educators reported they are self-censoring because of the political climate. “I have to think about who is going to be offended by my selection as opposed to who is going to be affected or touched by the show,” wrote one respondent.
“This increased censorship adds significant stress for theatre educators, who are dedicated to fostering inclusive and engaging learning environments for their students,” Dr. Jennifer Katona, EdTA's executive director, said in a statement “Every time a work is censored, students receive the message that certain issues—or even that they themselves—are not valued or worth representing.”
Other key findings included disparities in funding and professional development. The report found 39% of theatre programs receive no funding from their school districts, which leads many educators to rely on community donations, fundraisers, or personal funds to support their productions. The average cost of staging a school musical is $10,000, but over half of respondents receive minimal financial support from school districts, with 21% receiving $4,000 or less annually.
Of the surveyed educators, 59% reported they received no theatre-specific professional development from their school district, and 80% reported pursuing external professional development, which is often paid for out-of-pocket.
Despite the aforementioned challenges, theatre educators reported higher job satisfaction rates than the national average—86% said they feel at least somewhat satisfied in their roles, compared to a 51-63% average reported by the Pew Research Center and the Conference Board in 2023. Theatre educators attribute their satisfaction to the positive impact of theatre on students, fostering creativity, empathy, and resilience, but the report also revealed that 59% of educators feel burnt out.
In response to these findings, EdTA has launched several initiatives to support educators and protect artistic freedom, including developing a censorship response guide, promoting the Theatre in Our Schools campaign, and providing funds via the Educational Theatre Foundation's grant programs.
“Theatre education is a powerful tool for teaching empathy, critical thinking, and collaboration,” added Katona. “Today’s students continue to face social and emotional challenges, isolation and loneliness is on the rise and theatre offers an invaluable way to rebuild connections, foster resilience, and engage students in meaningful ways. EdTA remains committed to standing with our educators and advocating for the resources and freedoms they need to provide these vital learning opportunities.”
Visit SchoolTheatre.org for more information or to access the full report.
