Bill Summaries: S74 (2023-2024 Session)

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  • Summary date: Feb 6 2023 - View summary

    Identical to H 58, filed 2/6/23.

    Enacts Article 29F in GS Chapter 115C (GS 115C-407.70), codifying ten statutory rights of a parent related to the upbringing, education, healthcare, and mental health of their minor child:

    • To access and review all education records, as authorized by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, relating to his or her child.
    • To make healthcare decisions for his or her child, unless otherwise provided  by law, including Article 1A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes, governing treatment of minors.
    • To have access to transparent data about school and district academic performance data.
    • To have access to information, data, and statistics as to the successes, shortcomings, or failures of each school his or her child is allowed to attend.
    • To know the nutrition facts of his or her child's meals.
    • For his or her child to have a fully resourced classroom with the tools and technology to deliver curriculum requirements as required by the North Carolina Constitution.
    • To receive timely notification of information related to his or her child's health, well-being, and education.
    • To know of threats to his or her child's safety, whether to the child individually or to the school or local school administrative unit as a whole.
    • To have his or her child diagnosed and served by the education system for any learning disabilities that may affect the child's educational outcomes.
    • To be able to sit in his or her child's class, so long as it is within reasonable limits set by the local school administrative unit.

    Enacts Article 29G to GS Chapter 115C (GS 115C-407.75), codifying fourteen statutory rights of a student related to their own education:

    • A learning environment in which discrimination in all forms is not tolerated by the public school unit or school administration, school police or security personnel, or students.
    • A feeling of safety and comfort at school, including sufficient protections and resources for the public school and school unit, including physical and mental protections for students and staff.
    • Teachers and other school personnel who follow special plans that affect the student's educational settings, such as individualized educational plans, 504 plans, and other accommodations.
    • Extracurricular and after-school programs, the means and access to these programs, and to request new clubs.
    • Information, resources, and support to prepare them for life after high school, including access to college readiness counselors and vocational counselors.
    • A fully resourced classroom with the tools and technology to deliver curriculum requirements as required by the North Carolina Constitution.
    • Affordable and nutritious food, including an option for breakfast and lunch.
    • Due process, transparency within the discipline process, and freedom from searches of personal property without reasonable cause.
    • Access to gang violence prevention, peer-based mediation, and substance abuse programs on campus.
    • To organize, and have the opportunity to organize, themselves and be represented by their peers in important school decision-making processes.
    • Self-representation in school district or charter school meetings and notification of school district or charter school meeting times and places and to organize collectively.
    • Adequate access and encouragement to use mental health and substance abuse services in educational settings and to be given resources to other outside mental health and substance abuse services.
    • Access and the means to participate in school during emergencies, such as an epidemic or pandemic, natural disaster, national security threat, or other unforeseen event, including access to technology for online learning, mental health services, nutritional services, and college or career readiness support.
    • To access a copy of the public school unit's student bill of rights and to seek changes to those rights when such changes will improve the learning environment.

    Both bills of rights apply beginning with the 2023-24 school year.