A new bill introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly aims to make significant changes to the health education curriculum in public schools. The bill addresses age-appropriate instruction, library material selection, and guidelines for health and safety instructional content.
The proposed legislation would prohibit teaching topics related to gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality in kindergarten through sixth grade. This restriction would apply regardless of whether the information is provided by school personnel or third parties. The only exception would be verbal responses to student-initiated questions. For students in grades seven through twelve, such instruction would require prior written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
The bill also outlines changes to the comprehensive health education curriculum, which is taught from kindergarten through ninth grade. It mandates the State Board of Education to supervise the development of the program, including curriculum development, professional training, and material review. The curriculum would include topics such as mental and emotional health, substance abuse prevention, nutrition, environmental health, first aid and CPR training, and sexually transmitted disease prevention.
Additionally, the bill would require parental review of instructional materials related to reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases. Local school administrative units would be obligated to provide opportunities for parents and guardians to examine any state-approved materials at least 60 days before use.
The bill also introduces requirements for maintaining instructional material repositories and implementing measures to restrict access to library materials deemed harmful to minors.
The legislation has sparked discussion among educators, parents, and community members regarding the balance between protecting minors and ensuring comprehensive education. Further debate and consideration are expected as the bill moves through the legislative process.
