FILED SENATE
Apr 7, 2021
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.B. 700
SESSION 2021 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE BILL DRS35255-NG-18
Short Title: Balanced Political Discussion in Classrooms. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Edwards, Krawiec, and Hise (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO REQUIRE BALANCED POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS IN THE
3 IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOL INSTRUCTION AND TO REQUIRE THE
4 ONLINE DISPLAY OF INFORMATION ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.
5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
6 SECTION 1.(a) Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by
7 adding a new section to read:
8 "§ 115C-81.46. Balanced political viewpoints.
9 The State Board of Education shall require that all curriculum, professional development, and
10 teaching standards used to implement instruction in (i) local school administrative units, (ii)
11 innovative schools, (iii) regional schools, and (iv) schools operated under Article 9C of this
12 Chapter reflect balanced political viewpoints. When the viewpoint of one of the two major
13 political parties in the United States is presented through materials, assignments, lectures, or
14 other instruments for instruction in any classroom or other area of the school, the viewpoint of
15 the alternative political party shall also be presented and given equal weight during the same
16 instructional unit."
17 SECTION 1.(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and implement
18 policies as necessary to comply with the requirements of this section. In the discretion of the
19 State Board, any rules adopted or policies implemented may, as appropriate, mirror Standard 2
20 of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards adopted by the State Board of Education
21 in June 2007, as applied to diverse political viewpoints. The State Board of Education shall report
22 on compliance with this section to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later
23 than November 15, 2021. Any rules adopted or policies implemented in compliance with this
24 section shall go in effect on or before January 1, 2022.
25 SECTION 2. Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding
26 a new section to read:
27 "§ 115C-98A. Inform the public about instructional materials.
28 (a) The governing body of a (i) local school administrative unit, (ii) innovative school,
29 (iii) regional school, (iv) school operated under Article 9C of this Chapter, and (v) school
30 operated under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes shall ensure that the following
31 information for each school it governs is prominently displayed on the school website by July 1
32 of each year, organized, at a minimum, by subject area and grade level:
33 (1) The instructional materials and activities that were used at the school during
34 the prior school year, including all of the following:
35 a. Anything assigned, distributed, or otherwise presented in any course
36 for which a student receives credit.
*DRS35255-NG-18*
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021
1 b. Any materials from among which students are required to select one
2 or more if the selection is restricted by the school.
3 (2) Any procedures for the documentation, review, or approval of the learning
4 materials used for student instruction at the school, including by the principal,
5 curriculum administrators, or other teachers.
6 (b) The information displayed shall include the information necessary to identify the
7 learning materials and activities used for instruction, including the title and the author,
8 organization, or website associated with each material and activity. Nothing in this section shall
9 be construed to require the digital reproduction of the materials themselves or the separate
10 reporting of individual components of materials produced as a single volume.
11 (c) A governing body that is responsible for the operation of schools with fewer than 500
12 students cumulatively is not required to comply with the requirements of this section.
13 (d) The following definitions apply in this section:
14 (1) Activities. – Any instructional task, including, but not limited to,
15 presentations, assemblies, lectures, or other activities or events facilitated by
16 the school, excluding student presentations.
17 (2) Instructional materials. – Any material used for instruction, including, but not
18 limited to, all textbooks, other reading materials, videos, digital materials,
19 websites, and other online applications."
20 SECTION 3. G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
21 "(9e) Duty to Inform the Public About Instructional Materials. – The Board shall
22 ensure that information about instructional materials for any school operated
23 under Article 7A and Article 9C of this Chapter is prominently displayed on
24 the website of the school, as required by G.S. 115C-98A."
25 SECTION 4. G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
26 "(58a) To Inform the Public About Instructional Materials. – Local boards of
27 education shall ensure that information about instructional materials for each
28 school in the local school administrative unit is prominently displayed on the
29 website of the school, as required by G.S. 115C-98A."
30 SECTION 5. G.S. 115C-238.66 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
31 "(11a) Instructional materials. – The board of directors shall ensure that information
32 about instructional materials is prominently displayed on the website of the
33 regional school, in accordance with G.S. 115C-98A."
34 SECTION 6. G.S. 116-239.8 reads as rewritten:
35 "§ 116-239.8. Chancellor; powers and duties.
36 …
37 (b) The chancellor shall be the administrative head of a laboratory school approved by
38 the Subcommittee and shall provide general direction for the establishment and operation of a
39 laboratory school. The chancellor, with advice and input from the advisory board established in
40 subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall adopt policies, operating procedures, and the courses of
41 study to govern the operation of the laboratory school. The chancellor may designate the duties
42 required by this Article to other personnel as necessary. The chancellor shall also have the
43 following powers and duties:
44 …
45 (2a) Balanced political viewpoints. – The chancellor shall require that all
46 curriculum, professional development, and teaching standards used to
47 implement instruction reflect balanced political viewpoints. When the
48 viewpoint of one of the two major political parties in the United States is
49 presented through materials, assignments, lectures, or other instruments for
50 instruction in any classroom or other area of the school, the viewpoint of the
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General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021
1 alternative political party shall also be presented and given equal weight
2 during the same instructional unit.
3 (2b) Instructional materials. – The chancellor shall ensure that information about
4 instructional materials is prominently displayed on the website of the
5 laboratory school, in accordance with G.S. 115C-98A.
6 …."
7 SECTION 7. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law
8 and applies beginning with the display of instructional materials used during the 2021-2022
9 school year.
DRS35255-NG-18 Page 3
Statutes affected: Filed: 115C-12, 115C-47, 115C-238.66, 116-239.8
Edition 1: 115C-12, 115C-47, 115C-238.66, 116-239.8