reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 5 - Local Boards of Education. › § 115C-46.2 - Probation officer visits at school; limitations.

§ 115C-46.2. Probation officer visits at school; limitations.
(a) Except as provided in this section, probation officers are not authorized to visit students during school hours on school property.
(b) Probation officers of the Division of Community Supervision and Reentry, when working as a part of the Section's School Partnership Program, may visit students during school hours on school property with prior authorization by school administrators. For purposes of this section, "authorization" includes requests for assistance from guidance counselors or school resource officers.
(c) Each local board of education shall develop policies and guidelines for coordinating with probation officers of the Division of Community Supervision and Reentry in the planning and scheduling of school visits as provided in this section, utilizing existing administrative capacity to manage scheduling. Visits shall be conducted in a private area designated for such use and located away from contact with the general student population. The probation officer shall not initiate direct contact with a student while the student is in class or between classes. Initial contact with the student shall be made by a school administrator or other designated school employee, who shall direct the student to a private area to meet with the probation officer. (2011-145, s. 19.1(k); 2012-149, s. 6; 2017-186, s. 2(xxxx); 2021-180, s. 19C.9(v).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 5 - Local Boards of Education. › § 115C-48 - Penalties for certain conduct.

§ 115C-48. Penalties for certain conduct.
(a) Members of local boards of education are criminally liable for certain conduct as provided in G.S. 14-234.
(b) Members of local boards of education are civilly liable for certain conduct as provided in G.S. 115C-441. (1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1995, c. 509, s. 60; 2001-409, s. 4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 5 - Local Boards of Education. › § 115C-50 - Training of board members.

§ 115C-50. Training of board members.
(a) All members of local boards of education, whether elected or appointed, shall receive a minimum of 12 clock hours of training every two years. The 12 clock hours of training may be earned at any time during the two-year period and may include the ethics education required by G.S. 160A-87.
(b) The training shall include but not be limited to public school law, public school finance, and duties and responsibilities of local boards of education.
(c) The training may be provided by the North Carolina School Boards Association, the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or other qualified sources at the choice of the local board of education. (1991, c. 689, s. 200(d); 2006-264, s. 29(h); 2009-403, s. 3; 2015-241, s. 8.44.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 5 - Local Boards of Education. › § 115C-51 - Public comment period during regular meetings.

§ 115C-51. Public comment period during regular meetings.
The local board of education shall provide at least one period for public comment per month at a regular meeting of the board. The board may adopt reasonable rules governing the conduct of the public comment period, including, but not limited to, rules (i) fixing the maximum time allotted to each speaker, (ii) providing for the designation of spokesmen for groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions, (iii) providing for the selection of delegates from groups of persons supporting or opposing the same positions when the number of persons wishing to attend the hearing exceeds the capacity of the hall, and (iv) providing for the maintenance of order and decorum in the conduct of the hearing. The board is not required to provide a public comment period under this section if no regular meeting is held during the month. (2005-170, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 6 - Advisory Councils. › § 115C-55 - Advisory councils.

§ 115C-55. Advisory councils.
A board of education may appoint an advisory council for any school or schools within the local school administrative unit. The purpose and function of an advisory council shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to the board on matters affecting the school or schools for which it is appointed. Except as otherwise provided under Part 4 of Article 10 of this Chapter for business advisory councils, the organization, terms, composition and regulations for the operation of such advisory council shall be determined by the board. (1955, c. 1372, art. 7, s. 2; 1957, c. 686, s. 2; 1965, c. 584, s. 8; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 1; 2017-57, s. 7.23H(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 6D - B-3 Interagency Council. › § 115C-64.26 - Powers and duties of B-3 Interagency Council.

§ 115C-64.26. Powers and duties of B-3 Interagency Council.
The B-3 Interagency Council shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Facilitating the development and implementation of an interagency plan for a coordinated system of early care, education, and child development services with a focus on program outcomes in satisfying the developmental and educational needs of all children from birth to eight years of age that includes at least the following:
a. Any recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on necessary organizational changes needed within the Departments of Health and Human Services and Public Instruction to be more responsive to and supportive of the birth to grade three continuum of early learning and development in an effort to optimize learning gains realized in the prekindergarten years.
b. An early childhood information system that facilitates and encourages the sharing of data between and among early childhood service providers and State agencies.
c. An early childhood accountability plan that includes identification of appropriate population indicators and program and system performance measures of early success of children such as the NC Pathways to Grade-Level Reading.
(2) Implementing a statewide longitudinal evaluation of the educational progress of children from prekindergarten programs through grade 12.
(3) Collaborating with the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Health and Human Services, the North Carolina Partnership for Children, and other relevant early childhood stakeholders, including members of the North Carolina Early Childhood Advisory Council, to achieve the goal of a coordinated system of early care, education, and child development services for children from birth to eight years of age. (2017-57, s. 7.23I(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 6D - B-3 Interagency Council. › § 115C-64.27 - Reporting requirement.

§ 115C-64.27. Reporting requirement.
The Deputy Secretary of Human Services and the Associate Superintendent of Early Education shall report on a quarterly basis to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the progress and implementation of any of the duties and responsibilities of the Council as set forth in this Article. (2017-57, s. 7.23I(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 6D - B-3 Interagency Council. › § 115C-64.28 - Establish position of Associate Superintendent of Early Education to serve as chief academic officer of early education.

§ 115C-64.28. Establish position of Associate Superintendent of Early Education to serve as chief academic officer of early education.
(a) There is established within the Department of Public Instruction the position of Associate Superintendent of Early Education who shall serve as the chief academic officer of early education. The Associate Superintendent shall have professional, administrative, technical, and clerical personnel as may be necessary to assist in carrying out his or her duties. The Associate Superintendent shall co-lead the work of the B-3 Interagency Council and oversee the Department of Public Instruction's prekindergarten through third grade initiatives.
(b) The Associate Superintendent shall be appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction at a salary established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction within the funds appropriated for that purpose. The Associate Superintendent may be removed from the position by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Associate Superintendent shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes, except for Articles 6 and 7 of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes.
All other staff shall be appointed, supervised, and directed by the Associate Superintendent and shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 126 of the General Statutes. Except for the Associate Superintendent, salaries and compensation of all staff personnel shall be fixed in the manner provided by law for fixing and regulating salaries and compensation by other State agencies. (2017-57, s. 7.23I(a); 2017-197, s. 2.3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-65 - State divided into districts.

§ 115C-65. State divided into districts.
The State of North Carolina shall be divided into eight educational districts, which shall match the composition of the zones set forth in G.S. 143B-28.1. (1955, c. 1372, art. 1, s.3; 1981, c. 423, s.1; 2014-18, s. 3.4.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-66 - Administrative units classified.

§ 115C-66. Administrative units classified.
Each county of the State shall be classified as a county school administrative unit, the schools of which, except in city administrative units, shall be under the general supervision and control of a county board of education with a county superintendent as the administrative officer.
A city school administrative unit shall be classified as an area within a county or adjacent parts of two or more contiguous counties which has been or may be approved by the State Board of Education as such a unit for purposes of school administration. The general administration and supervision of a city administrative unit shall be under the control of a board of education with a city superintendent as the administrative officer.
All local school administrative units, whether city or county, shall be dealt with by the State school authorities in all matters of school administration in the same way.
For purposes of eligibility for federal grant funds, the Department of Health and Human Services is hereby classified as a public authority, which is the school administrative agency for the schools that it operates, and shall be considered as such by the State school authorities in the administration and distribution of federal grant funds. (1955, c. 1372, art. 1, s. 4; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 2005-276, s. 7.54(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-66.5 - Merger of county school administrative units by the State Board of Education.

§ 115C-66.5. Merger of county school administrative units by the State Board of Education.
(a) Consolidation and Merger. – The State Board of Education shall have the authority to consolidate and merge contiguous county school administrative units or a group of county school administrative units in which each county unit is contiguous with at least one other county unit in the group. The State Board shall adopt a written plan setting forth the conditions of the merger. A merger of county units and reorganization of those units under this section shall not have the effect of abolishing any special taxes that may have been voted in any such units.
(b) Effective Date. – The merger shall become effective on July 1 immediately following the earlier of the thirty-first legislative day or the day of adjournment of the next regular session of the General Assembly that begins at least 25 days after the date the State Board approved the merger. If a bill that specifically disapproves the merger is introduced in either house of the General Assembly before the thirty-first legislative day of that session, the merger becomes effective on the July 1 immediately following the earlier of either the day an unfavorable final action is taken on the bill or the day that session of the General Assembly adjourns without ratifying a bill that specifically disapproves the merger. A merger that is specifically disapproved by a bill enacted into law before it becomes effective does not become effective.
(c) Legislative Disapproval of Merger. – A bill specifically disapproves a merger if it contains a provision that refers to the written plan of merger and states that the merger is disapproved. Notwithstanding any rule of either house of the General Assembly, any member of the General Assembly may introduce a bill during the first 30 legislative days of any regular session to disapprove a merger that has been approved by the State Board and that has not become effective. (2015-241, s. 8A.5.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-68 - Merger of units in adjoining counties.

§ 115C-68. Merger of units in adjoining counties.
(a) Boards of education of contiguous counties or boards of education in a group of counties in which each county is contiguous with at least one other county in the group, and any city school administrative unit located in counties to be merged, may merge school administrative units upon approval by the State Board of Education of a written plan for merger submitted by the boards of education involved and bearing the approval of the tax-levying body for the school units. The plan shall be consistent with the General Statutes, shall contain provisions covering those items listed in G.S. 115C-67 (providing for the merger of units in the same county), and shall contain any other provision deemed necessary or appropriate by the State Board of Education or the local boards of education for the merger of school units in two or more counties.
(b) The plan of merger, including any arrangements for financing or taxing for the schools in the new local school administrative unit, may be, but is not required to be, submitted for the approval of the voters of the geographic area affected in a referendum or election called for the purpose of approving these matters. Such elections or referendums, if held, shall be held under the provisions governing elections or referendums as set forth in G.S. 115C-507. Each board of county commissioners shall have authority to have such elections or referendums conducted by the board of elections of its county under the provisions set forth in G.S. 115C-507.
(c) If twenty percent (20%) of the qualified voters of a county to be merged petition the board of county commissioners of their county for an election as to whether their county shall be included in the proposed merger, the board of county commissioners shall call an election on this question for its county under the provisions of G.S. 115C-507. The petition must be submitted to the board of county commissioners within 10 days following the public hearing required by G.S. 115C-67 on the proposed plan of merger. The board of county commissioners shall have authority to have such an election conducted by the board of election of its county under the provisions set forth in G.S. 115C-507.
(d) Boards of education considering a merger of two or more counties may spend money necessary for studying and preparing for such a merger. (1969, c. 828; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-68.2 - Merger of units by the local boards of education.

§ 115C-68.2. Merger of units by the local boards of education.
If a city board of education notifies the State Board of Education that it is dissolving itself, the State Board of Education shall adopt a plan of consolidation and merger of that city school administrative unit with the county school administrative unit in the county in which the city unit is located; provided, however, if a city school administrative unit located in more than one county notifies the State Board of Education that it is dissolving itself, the State Board shall adopt a plan that divides the city unit along the county line and consolidates and merges the part of the city unit in each county with the county unit in that county and the plans shall take effect on the same day. The plans shall be prepared and approved in accordance with G.S. 115C-67 as provided by general law, and G.S. 115C-68 as provided by general law, as applicable, except that the county and city boards of education and the boards of commissioners shall not participate by preparing, entering into, submitting, or agreeing to a plan, and the plan shall not be contingent upon approval by the voters. (1991, c. 689, s. 37(c).
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-68.3 - Validation of plans of consolidation and merger.

§ 115C-68.3. Validation of plans of consolidation and merger.
All plans for consolidation and merger of school administrative units entered into between June 9, 1969, and May 26, 1992, under G.S. 115C-67, 115C-68.1, 115C-68.2, former G.S. 115-74.1, or under any local act authorizing such mergers, are ratified and considered to have been adopted by act of the General Assembly. This Article prevails over G.S. 153A-76(4). (1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 767, s. 2; c. 1030, s. 51.2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-69 - Types of districts defined.

§ 115C-69. Types of districts defined.
The term "district" here used is defined to mean any convenient territorial division or subdivision of a county, created for the purpose of maintaining within its boundaries one or more public schools. It may include one or more incorporated towns or cities, or parts thereof, or one or more townships, or parts thereof, all of which territory is included in a common boundary. There shall be three different kinds of districts:
(1) The "nontax district" is a territorial division of a local school administrative unit under the control of the local board of education, having no special local tax fund voted by the people for supplementing State and county funds.
(2) The "local tax district" is a territorial division of a local school administrative unit under the control of the local board of education, having in addition to State and county funds, a special local tax fund voted by the people for supplementing State and county funds.
(3) The "administrative district" is a territorial division of a county school administrative unit under the control of a county board of education which is established for administrative purposes and which consists of any combination of one or more local tax districts, nontax areas or bond districts of the county school administrative unit. (1955, c. 1372, art. 1, s. 7; 1965, c. 584, s. 1; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 12.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-71 - Districts formed from portions of contiguous counties.

§ 115C-71. Districts formed from portions of contiguous counties.
School districts may be formed out of contiguous counties by agreement of the county boards of education of the respective counties subject to the approval of the State Board of Education. Rules for the organization, support and operation of districts so formed are subject to the agreement of the boards of education concerned, and as a guide to the working out of such agreements the formulas contained in G.S. 115C-510 should be followed as far as applicable. (1955, c. 1372, art. 8, s. 2; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-72 - Consolidation of districts and discontinuance of schools.

§ 115C-72. Consolidation of districts and discontinuance of schools.
(a) Local boards of education shall have the power and authority to close or consolidate schools located in the same district, and with the approval of the State Board of Education, to consolidate school districts or other school areas over which the board has full control, whenever and wherever in its judgment the closing or consolidation will better serve the educational interest of the local school administrative unit or any part of it.
In determining whether two or more public schools shall be consolidated, or in determining whether or not a school shall be closed and the pupils transferred therefrom, local boards of education of the several counties shall observe and be bound by the following rules:
(1) In any question involving the closing or consolidation of any public school, the local board of education of the school administrative unit in which such school is located shall cause a thorough study of such school to be made, having in mind primarily the welfare of the students to be affected by a proposed closing or consolidation and including in such study, among other factors, geographic conditions, anticipated increase or decrease in school enrollment, the inconvenience or hardship that might result to the pupils to be affected by such closing or consolidation, the cost of providing additional school facilities in the event of such closing or consolidation, and such other factors as the board shall consider germane. Before the entry of any order of closing or consolidation, the local board of education shall provide for a public hearing in regard to such proposed closing or consolidation, at which hearing the public shall be afforded an opportunity to express their views. Upon the basis of the study so made and after such hearing, said board may, in the exercise of its discretion, approve the closing or consolidation proposed.
(2) The provisions of this section shall not deprive any local board of education of the authority to assign or enroll any and all pupils in schools in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115C-366(b) and 115C-367 to 115C-370.
(b) This section does not govern merger of a city school administrative unit with another school administrative unit. Such merger is governed by G.S. 115C-67. (1955, c. 1372, art. 8, s. 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1983, c. 308; c. 752; 2009-570, s. 27.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-73 - Enlarging tax districts and city units by permanently attaching contiguous property.

§ 115C-73. Enlarging tax districts and city units by permanently attaching contiguous property.
The county boards of education with the approval of the State Board of Education may transfer from nontax territory and attach permanently to local tax districts or to city school administrative units, real property contiguous to said local tax districts or city school administrative units, upon the written petition of the owners thereof and the taxpayers of the families living on such real property, and there shall be levied upon the property of each individual in the area so attached, including landowners and tenants, the same tax as is levied upon other property in said district or unit: Provided, that such transfer shall be subject to the approval of the board of education of such city unit: Provided, the petition must be signed by a majority of the persons who are the owners thereof and a majority of the taxpayers of the families living on such real property on the date the petition is filed with the county board of education: Provided, further, that a person or corporation owning only an easement in real property shall not be considered an owner of said property within contemplation of this section: Provided, further that no right of action or defense founded upon the invalidity of such transfer shall be asserted, nor shall the validity of such transfer be open to question in any court upon any ground whatever, except in an action or proceeding commenced within 60 days after the approval of such transfer is given by the State Board of Education.
Any qualified voter residing in the area attached shall be permitted to vote in any election for members of the board of education having jurisdiction over the attached area. (1955, c. 1372, art. 8, s. 4; 1959, c. 573, s. 4; 1971, c. 672; 1973, c. 1155; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 13.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-74 - School system defined.

§ 115C-74. School system defined.
The school system of each local school administrative unit shall consist of 12 years of study or grades, and shall be graded on the basis of a school year of not less than nine months. Schools within the system may be organized in the discretion of the local board of education. (1955, c. 1372, art. 1, s. 5; 1959, c. 573, s. 1; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 2001-97, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7 - Organization of Schools. › § 115C-75 - Recommended school classification.

§ 115C-75. Recommended school classification.
(a) The different types of public schools are classified and defined as follows:
(1) An "elementary school" is a school that includes all or part of the first through eighth grade and that may have a kindergarten or other early childhood program.
(2) A "high school" is a school that includes all or part of grades nine through 12 and that offers at least the minimum high school course of study prescribed by the State Board of Education.
(3) Repealed by Session Laws 2001-97, s. 2.
(4) A "junior high school" is a school that includes all or part of grades seven through nine.
(4a) A "middle school" is a school that includes all or part of grades six through nine.
(5) A "senior high school" is a school that includes the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades.
(6) A "union school" is a school that includes elementary, middle, and high school grades.
(b) The school classifications in subsection (a) of this section are recommendations only and do not prohibit local boards of education from classifying schools in other ways. (1955, c. 1372, art. 1, s. 6; 1959, c. 915, s. 1; 1963, c. 448, s. 24; 1969, c. 1213, s. 2; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 2001-97, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.1 - Definitions.

§ 115C-76.1. Definitions.
As used in this Article, the following definitions apply:
(1) Reserved for future codification purposes.
(2) Child. – A person less than 18 years of age who has not been emancipated pursuant to Article 35 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes.
(3) Reserved for future codification purposes.
(4) Reserved for future codification purposes.
(5) Parent. – A person who has legal custody of a child, including a natural parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian.
(6) Principal. – A school administrator employed as a principal of a school, as provided in Article 19 of this Chapter, or the staff member with the highest decision-making authority at a school, if there is no principal.
(7) School personnel. – Any of the following:
a. An employee of a public school unit, whether full-time or part-time, including substitute teachers, driver training teachers, bus drivers, clerical staff, and custodians.
b. An independent contractor or employee of an independent contractor of a public school unit, if the independent contractor carries out duties customarily performed by school personnel and has significant access to students, whether paid with federal, State, local, or other funds.
(8) Superintendent. – Any of the following:
a. A superintendent of a local school administrative unit, as provided in Article 18 of this Chapter, or designee.
b. The staff member with the highest decision-making authority for a public school unit, if there is no superintendent or designee. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.20 - Priority of parental involvement in public school.

§ 115C-76.20. Priority of parental involvement in public school.
(a) The General Assembly finds that parental involvement and empowerment is fundamental to the successful education of all students. To strengthen partnerships among parents and school personnel, public school units and all public school unit personnel shall fully support and cooperate in implementing a well-planned, inclusive, and comprehensive program to assist parents and families in effectively participating in their child's education.
(b) To ensure active engagement and timely provision of information that parents can use to improve success for their child, public school units shall comply with the requirements of this Part to do all of the following:
(1) Inform parents of their legal rights and responsibilities with regards to their child's education.
(2) Provide a parent's guide for student achievement annually to parents to provide information parents need to know about their child's educational progress and how they can help their child to succeed in school.
(3) Develop policies to effectively involve parents in schools and their child's education. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.25 - Parent legal rights for their child's education.

§ 115C-76.25. Parent legal rights for their child's education.
(a) Parents have legal rights with regards to their child's education, including the following:
(1) The right to consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs, consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-81.30.
(2) The right to seek a medical or religious exemption from immunization requirements, consistent with the requirements of G.S. 130A-156 and G.S. 130A-157.
(3) The right to review statewide standardized assessment results as part of the State report card.
(4) The right to request an evaluation of their child for an academically or intellectually gifted program, or for identification as a child with a disability, as provided in Article 9 of this Chapter.
(5) The right to inspect and purchase public school unit textbooks and other supplementary instructional materials, as provided in Part 3 of Article 8 of this Chapter.
(6) The right to access information relating to the unit's policies for promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements.
(7) The right to receive student report cards on a regular basis that clearly depict and grade the student's academic performance in each class or course, the student's conduct, and the student's attendance.
(8) The right to access information relating to the State public education system, State standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and textbook requirements.
(9) The right to participate in parent-teacher organizations.
(10) The right to opt in to certain data collection for their child, as provided in Part 5 of this Article and Article 29 of this Chapter.
(11) The right for students to participate in protected student information surveys only with parental consent, as provided in Part 5 of this Article.
(12) The right to review all available records of materials their child has borrowed from a school library.
(b) Public school units shall (i) allow parents to exercise these rights and (ii) make the rights contained in this section available to parents electronically or by displaying the information on the website of the public school unit. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.35 - Public school unit policies to increase parental involvement.

§ 115C-76.35. Public school unit policies to increase parental involvement.
(a) Governing bodies of public school units shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, administrators, and community partners, develop and adopt policies to promote parental involvement and empowerment in the public school unit. The policies shall provide for parental choices and establish parental responsibilities. Policies that provide for parental involvement shall include the following:
(1) Providing links to parents for community services.
(2) Establishing opportunities for parental involvement in the development, implementation, and evaluation of family involvement programs.
(3) Establishing opportunities for parents to participate on school advisory councils and in school volunteer programs and other activities.
(b) Governing bodies of public school units shall establish policies to do all of the following:
(1) Provide for parental participation in their child's education to improve parent and teacher cooperation in areas such as homework, school attendance, and discipline that aligns with the parent guide for student achievement required by G.S. 115C-76.30.
(2) Require principals to effectively communicate to parents the manner in which textbooks are used to implement the school's curricular objectives.
(3) Establish a procedure for parents to learn about their child's course of study and the source of any supplementary instructional materials. This procedure shall include the process for parents to inspect and review all textbooks and supplementary instructional materials that will be used in their child's classroom. The policy shall be available for in-person review by parents at the school site and publicly available on the school's website. For the purposes of this section, a textbook is as defined in G.S. 115C-85 and supplementary instructional materials include supplementary textbooks, periodicals, audiovisual materials, and other supplementary materials used for instructional purposes.
(4) Establish a means for parents to object to textbooks and supplementary instructional materials consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-98.
(5) Establish a process for parents to review materials for and to consent or withhold consent for participation in reproductive health and safety education programs consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-81.30.
(6) Establish a process for parents to learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and activities offered at their child's school, including both curricular and extracurricular activities. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.40 - Time lines for parental requests for information.

§ 115C-76.40. Time lines for parental requests for information.
(a) A parent may request in writing from the principal of the school in which his or her child is enrolled any of the information the parent has the right to access, as provided in this Part. A principal, within 10 business days, shall either (i) provide the requested information to the parent or (ii) provide an extension notice to the parent that, due to the volume or complexity of the request, the information will be provided no later than 20 business days from the date of the parental request.
(b) If the principal (i) denies or fails to respond to the request for information within 10 business days or (ii) fails to provide information within 20 business days following an extension notice as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the parent may request in writing any of the information the parent has the right to access, as provided in this Part, from the superintendent, along with a statement specifying the time frame of the denial or failure to provide information by the principal.
(c) If the superintendent denies or does not respond to the request for information within 10 business days, the parent may appeal the denial or lack of response to the governing body of the public school unit no later than 20 business days from the date of the request to the superintendent as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The governing body shall place the parent's appeal on the agenda for the next meeting of the body occurring more than three business days after submission of the appeal.
(d) The governing body shall establish, by policy, procedures governing requests for information and appeals that reflect the requirements of this section. The governing body may designate the process to be used by parents when submitting requests for information and shall display information on the procedures for requests for information and appeals along with other parental rights, as required by G.S. 115C-76.25.
(e) A decision of a governing body under this section is final and is not subject to judicial review. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.45 - Notifications of student physical and mental health.

§ 115C-76.45. Notifications of student physical and mental health.
(a) The governing body of a public school unit shall adopt procedures to notify a parent of the following:
(1) At the beginning of each school year, notice of each health care service offered at his or her child's school and the means for the parent to provide consent for any specific service. A parent's consent to a health care service does not waive the parent's right to access his or her child's educational records or health records or to be notified of changes in his or her child's services or monitoring.
(2) At the beginning of each school year, procedures to exercise the parental remedies provided by G.S. 115C-76.60.
(3) Prior to administration to students in kindergarten through third grade, a copy of any student well-being questionnaire or health screening form and the means for the parent to consent to the use of the questionnaire or form for his or her child.
(4) Prior to or contemporaneous with changes, notice of changes in services or monitoring related to his or her child's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school's ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for that child.
(5) Prior to any changes in the name or pronoun used for a student in school records or by school personnel, notice to the parent of the change.
(b) In accordance with the right of parents provided in Chapter 114A of the General Statutes, the procedures shall include a requirement that school personnel do one or both of the following:
(1) Encourage a child to discuss issues related to the child's well-being with his or her parent.
(2) Facilitate discussion of the issue with the child's parents.
(c) The procedures shall not prohibit parents from accessing any of their child's education and health records created, maintained, or used by the public school unit, except as follows:
(1) As limited by G.S. 114A-10(6)a.
(2) When a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in the child becoming an abused juvenile or neglected juvenile, as those terms are defined in G.S. 7B-101.
(d) The governing body and public school unit shall not adopt procedures or forms that do any of the following:
(1) Prohibit school employees from notifying a parent about his or her child's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being or a change in related services or monitoring.
(2) Encourage or have the effect of encouraging a child to withhold from that child's parent information about his or her mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being or a change in related services or monitoring.
(e) School personnel shall not discourage or prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.50 - Student support services training.

§ 115C-76.50. Student support services training.
Student support services training developed or provided by a public school unit to school personnel shall adhere to student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks established by the Department of Public Instruction. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.55 - Age-appropriate instruction for grades kindergarten through fourth grade.

§ 115C-76.55. Age-appropriate instruction for grades kindergarten through fourth grade.
Instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality shall not be included in the curriculum provided in grades kindergarten through fourth grade, regardless of whether the information is provided by school personnel or third parties. For the purposes of this section, curriculum includes the standard course of study and support materials, locally developed curriculum, supplemental instruction, and textbooks and other supplementary materials, but does not include responses to student-initiated questions. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.60 - Remedies for parental concerns.

§ 115C-76.60. Remedies for parental concerns.
(a) The governing body of a public school unit shall adopt procedures for a parent to notify the principal at his or her child's school regarding concerns about a public school unit's procedure or practice under this Part and a process for resolving those concerns within seven days of the date of notification by the parent. If the parental concern has not been resolved within 30 days following the date of notification by the parent, the public school unit shall provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the concern.
(b) If a concern is not resolved by the public school unit within 30 days, a parent may do either of the following:
(1) Notify the State Board of Education of the concern and request a parental concern hearing. The State Board shall establish rules for parental concern hearings. At a minimum, the rules shall require the following:
a. The State Board of Education shall appoint a qualified hearing officer. To qualify as a hearing officer, an individual must be a member in good standing of the North Carolina State Bar with demonstrated experience in education or administrative law within the last five years.
b. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with rules established by the State Board.
c. The hearing officer shall determine facts related to the dispute over the public school unit's procedure or practice, consider information provided by the public school unit, and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State Board of Education within 30 days after assignment to the parental concern hearing.
d. The State Board shall approve or reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled board meeting held more than seven days after receipt of the recommended decision.
e. The public school unit shall pay for the costs of the hearing officer.
(2) Bring an action against the public school unit as provided in Article 26 of Chapter 1 of the General Statutes for a declaratory judgment that the unit's procedure or practice violates this Part. The court may award injunctive relief to a parent and shall award reasonable attorneys' fees and costs to a parent awarded injunctive relief.
(c) The provisions of this section are in addition to any other remedies or procedures authorized or permitted by law. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.65 - Parental rights to opt-in to protected information surveys.

§ 115C-76.65. Parental rights to opt-in to protected information surveys.
(a) The following definitions shall apply in this section:
(1) Adult student. – An enrolled student who is 18 years of age or older or is an emancipated minor.
(2) Protected information survey. – A survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning any of the following:
a. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student's parent.
b. Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family.
c. Sex behavior or attitudes.
d. Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.
e. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships.
f. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers.
g. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student's parent.
h. Income, other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program.
(b) The public school unit shall make the following available to parents and adult students at least 10 days prior to administration of a protected information survey. The public school unit shall provide opportunities for review of the following both electronically and in person:
(1) The process for providing consent to participation in the protected information survey.
(2) The full text of the protected information survey.
(c) No student shall be permitted to participate in a protected information survey without the prior written or electronic consent of the parent or the adult student.
(d) The requirements of this section are in addition to the rights provided to parents and students under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, 20 U.S.C. § 1232h. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 7B - Public School Unit Requirements. › § 115C-76.70 - Reporting requirements.

§ 115C-76.70. Reporting requirements.
(a) Each public school unit shall report annually by September 15 the following information to the State Board of Education in a format designated by the State Board:
(1) The most current version of the policies and procedures adopted as required by this Article with any modifications of the policy or procedure from the prior year's submission clearly delineated.
(2) The following information from the prior school year:
a. The number of appeals to the governing body under G.S. 115C-76.40 and the percentage of appeals decided in favor of the parent and in favor of the administration in the prior school year.
b. The number of statements provided to parents as required by G.S. 115C-76.60(a).
c. The number of parental concern hearings involving the public school unit as provided in G.S. 115C-76.60(b)(1).
d. The number of actions brought against the public school unit as provided in G.S. 115C-76.60(b)(2) and the number of declaratory judgments entered against the public school unit.
(b) The State Board of Education shall report annually by November 15 to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on the following:
(1) A summary of each data point received from public school units pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Identification of any trends in noncompliance.
(3) An appendix of each public school unit's report. (2023-106, s. 2(a).)