Which states have enacted laws restricting K-5 instruction on gender identity and what do those laws specifically prohibit?

1. What these laws commonly target: classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation

Across the cited trackers, the defining feature of these laws is a prohibition on classroom instruction — or “discussion” — of sexual orientation and/or gender identity for specified grade ranges (often kindergarten through grade 5 or 6) while sometimes allowing limited exceptions tied to state standards or specific health courses ^{[3] [1]}. GLSEN’s map frames these as K‑12 laws that “prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity,” and Movement Advancement Project emphasizes that the ban “still applies to classroom instruction,” even where other activities (like GSAs or student questions) may be permitted ^{[1] [2]}.

2. Which states are frequently named and how their rules differ

GLSEN’s summary lists eight states that passed “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” style laws from 2022–2024, naming Alabama, Arkansas, Florida (two actions in 2022 and 2023), Indiana, Iowa (enforcement paused), Kentucky, Louisiana, and North Carolina ^[1]. Reporting and encyclopedic summaries add nuance: Florida’s law bars instruction on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” unless mandated under state academic standards or as part of certain reproductive-health instruction; Alabama’s ban is described as covering kindergarten through grade 5 with an “age or developmentally appropriate” caveat; Iowa’s law has been described as banning such topics through grade 6 and has been subject to a federal injunction ^{[3] [2]}.

3. Exceptions, judicial action, and implementation caveats

Not all statutory text is identical and courts have intervened in some cases. GLSEN notes a March 2024 settlement that neutralized vague provisions in Florida’s 2022 law — permitting teachers to answer student questions and allowing student writing about LGBTQ topics for class projects — while the statutory ban on inclusive instruction remained ^[1]. Movement Advancement Project documents that Iowa’s law was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in December 2023, and that some state laws have delayed effective dates such as West Virginia’s July 11, 2025 start ^[2].

4. Related provisions beyond curriculum: pronouns, outing, and parental‑notification laws

Some states’ packages include more than curriculum restrictions. Encyclopedia and education reporting cite laws that also restrict teacher use of students’ chosen pronouns, forbid requiring staff to use those pronouns, or mandate parental notification if staff believe a child is transgender ^{[4] [5]}. The Williams Institute flagged executive‑level directives and policy proposals that would also limit recognition of gender identity, require parental notification, and withhold federal funding from schools that allow certain practices — highlighting how curricular bans often sit alongside broader measures affecting transgender students ^{[6] [7]}.

5. What trackers and advocates emphasize about impacts and motivations

Advocacy trackers frame these measures as part of a broader wave of legislation targeting transgender people in education, sports, health, and public life. TransLegislation’s tracker and The 19th News explain the bills’ aims — limiting pronoun autonomy, denying participation aligned with gender identity in sports, and banning gender-identity instruction — while pro‑privacy or parental‑rights advocates argue such laws protect parents’ prerogatives and age‑appropriate instruction ^{[8] [9]}. The Williams Institute and other civil‑rights groups warn of downstream harms, including forced outing and restrictions on recognition of students’ gender identity ^[6].

6. Limitations of available reporting and what remains unclear

Public trackers and summaries capture a patchwork of statutes, settlements, injunctions, and administrative rules, but they do not uniformly reproduce exact statutory language for every state; therefore, precise prohibitions (grade cutoffs, exceptions for state standards, penalties or enforcement mechanisms) vary and require consulting each statute or court order directly for legal detail ^{[1] [2]}. Available sources do not mention the full list of states with every wording variation, nor do they include the complete text of all laws in this set — for that, users must review state codes or court documents ^{[1] [2]}.

If you want, I can extract and compare the specific statutory phrases (grade ranges, exact banned topics, exceptions, and penalties) for each named state using the primary statutes or court rulings cited in these trackers.