Senate Bill 49
State Board of Ed attorney informs panel it lacks authority to enforce Parents’ Bill of Rights
North Carolina’s new Parents’ Bill of Rights law gives the State Board of Education appellate responsibilities, but no power to enforce rulings it makes during parental concern hearings, State Board Attorney Allison Schafer confirmed Wednesday. Schafer addressed questions about the parental hearings required by the new law during the state board’s monthly work session. “The […]
Advocates, administrators: ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ is a burden for Chatham County Schools
Days before a legal deadline, Chatham County public school leaders are struggling to implement provisions contained in Senate Bill 49, a controversial bill that became state law in mid-August and that requires educators to alert parents if their child changes their name or pronoun at school. It also restricts instruction about gender identity and sexuality […]
School leaders want delay in implementing Parents’ Bill of Rights requirements
The timing of the passage of the so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights” has made life difficult for school leaders, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said on Thursday. Leaders dealing with the start of a new school year and probable COVID surge want to see implementation of the law delayed until Jan. 1. Under Senate Bill 49 […]
Study shows proliferation of ‘educational intimidation’ legislation since 2021
Parental rights legislation like that passed by North Carolina’s Republican-led General Assembly is intended to intimidate educators and censor curricula in public schools, says a New York-based free speech advocacy group made up of writers. “Poets, Playwrights, Editors and Novelists” (PEN) recently released a report entitled, “Educational Intimidation: How ‘Parental Rights’ Legislation Undermines the Freedom […]
“Parents’ Bill of Rights” is headed to governor’s desk for a likely veto
The state House on Wednesday gave final approval to Senate Bill 49, the so-called “Parents’ Bill of Rights” that requires educators to notify parents if a student uses a different name or pronoun. SB 49 also requires school officials to notify parents about their child’s mental and physical health, obtain written consent from parents before […]