Parents and educators want children to be seen and valued when they enter their classroom each day. A student-affirming education creates a welcoming environment for all children regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, income, ability, family structure or other characteristic. Such an education sees each student as an individual with both great potential and a unique perspective that positively contributes to the classroom's learning and community. A student-affirming education teaches honest history and respects students' ability to think, problem-solve, and form their own opinions. In this kind of responsive classroom, students see their own as well as others' backgrounds, experiences, and identities reflected in both history lessons and other curricular materials. Award-winning educators from across the country agree with the research: affirming students' identities, teaching them a full account of history, and helping them learn about other cultures and backgrounds improves students' academic outcomes and career readiness. Understanding the value of a student-affirming education and how educational content impacts children is critical to protecting our nation's children and the education they deserve. When lawmakers create policies that ensure students have access to affirming learning environments, they create the conditions for meaningful learning experiences and growth. This report shares the positive effects that students experience when they have access to honest education. The authors hope their examination of the harm to students caused by educational gag orders helps others to see the urgency for policies that support students as they grow into good students.