Senate bill seeks to eliminate DEI in NC public schools

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina Senate Republicans have introduced legislation to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion  initiatives in the state’s K-12 public schools.

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), along with Sens. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) and Brad Overcash (R-Gaston), filed Senate Bill 227, titled “Eliminating ‘DEI’ in Public Education.” The bill aims to ban DEI-related instruction, professional development, and school policies, emphasizing a focus on core curriculum and an impartial approach to history.

“We cannot teach our nation’s history without acknowledging our past,” Berger said. “But we can teach history without forcing our educators and students to embrace and adopt ideologies inconsistent with equality.”

The legislation defines 12 divisive concepts that would be barred from instruction, including ideas that one race or sex is inherently superior to another and that an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive solely due to their race or sex.

Lee said the bill seeks to ensure a learning environment where students can speak freely and ask questions without judgment.

“This bill removes divisive concepts and discriminatory practices from all aspects of public education and ensures our schools can focus on teaching our children, not indoctrinating them,” Sen. Lee said.

The legislation also prohibits schools from maintaining DEI offices, divisions, or designated personnel.