North Carolina Senate Passes Bill to Eliminate 'DEI' in Public Education
Sen. Berger: "Our schools should not be in the business of teaching inaccurate history"
Senate Bill 227 also bars such concepts and policies from professional development and the creation of DEI offices
Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Senate passed Senate Bill 227, “Eliminating ‘DEI’ in Public Education,” to prohibit promoting discriminatory policies and practices in public schools.
Senate Bill 227 reinforces the need for schools to focus on the core curriculum, foster a learning environment that respects and acknowledges those with differing opinions, and allow the freedom of speech and association to flourish in a K-12 setting.
The bill seeks to remove divisive concepts and discriminatory practices from public education, including prohibiting instruction on those topics, compelling students or staff to profess a belief in divisive topics, and ensuring that professional development doesn’t include those topics.
The bill would not prevent schools from teaching history, so long as the instruction is impartial.
“Our schools should not be in the business of teaching inaccurate history or creating a learning environment that doesn’t allow for free thought or expression,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said. “So-called ‘DEI’ initiatives were pitched as a tool to help our children better understand our history, when in reality they’re merely a façade used by Democrats to alter curriculum to fit their agenda.”
Senate Bill 227 defines 12 specific divisive concepts, including the concepts that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; an individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive; an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex; and an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex.
“Our children are the ones disadvantaged when DEI policies take precedent over academic excellence,” Senator Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) said. “Instead of spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary DEI trainings, school districts should put those funds toward student needs.”
Further, SB 227 prohibits schools from having a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, division, designated employee, or any other similar unit.
“As a parent, I want all children to get the fair and equal treatment they deserve when it comes time for their education,” Senator Brad Overcash (R-Gaston) said. “No one should be overlooked or denied simply because of characteristics outside of their control. This bill will help schools get back to the basics and support all of our students.”
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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