Top Issues
- Parental Exclusion Four districts in North Carolina maintain policies that say parents may not be told if and when their child asks to use another name or pronouns at school
- Classroom Politicization Pitt County Schools classroom lesson describes Democrats as “blue collar” and “secular” and Republicans as “white collar” and “religious”
- Critical Race Theory New Hanover County Schools supports the Black Lives Matter movement; trains staff and educators implementing racial equity into classrooms
State Board of Education
Who’s on your state board of education?
The North Carolina State Board of Education consists of 11 members who are appointed by the governor, two ex-officio members, the state treasurer, and the lieutenant governor.
When’s the next election/appointment?
The 11 appointed members serve 8 year terms.
When’s the next curriculum update?
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction revises curriculum every five to seven years. The social studies curriculum was last updated in 2021. You can read more about the revision process here.
The North Carolina
Department of Education
“The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is charged with implementing the state’s public school laws for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public schools at the direction of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.”
How did your district perform in 2022? Check your district report card here.
The North Carolina
Legislature
Use this tool to find your state representative and state senator.
Similar to Congress, the North Carolina General Assembly is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate. Your Senate Education Committee Members can be found here, and your House Education Committee Members can be found here.
These committees conduct hearings, review, and amend bills proposed by a member of their legislative chamber. They also review bills after they have been passed by the other chamber of legislature. Remember, both chambers must pass a bill before it goes to the governor’s desk for a signature or a veto.
School Boards
Charlotte-Mecklenberg Schools held school board elections in 2023.
Ballotpedia tracks school board races in the largest 200 cities in the United States. You can read more about North Carolina’s 2022 school board races on this Ballotpedia page.
You can find out more about your school district’s school board, and when their next election will occur, on the school district’s website or on your county website.