Senate Bill 520 - The Founding Principles Act

• Requires North Carolina high schools to teach either a semester or full-year course focused on the philosophical foundations of American government and the "Founders' Principles" derived from the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Federalist Papers, and writings of the Founders.

• Makes passing a course on these founding documents a graduation requirement for high school students beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

• Permits public school teachers and administrators to read or post excerpts from historical American documents including the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Mayflower Compact, and writings of the Founding Fathers, prohibiting content-based censorship of American history including religious references.

• Allows local school administrative units to display historical documents and objects that influenced the U.S. legal or governmental system, such as the Magna Carta and Ten Commandments, provided displays do not establish or promote religion and include a prominent First Amendment notice.

• Requires the State Board of Education to include questions about founding principles on statewide high school curriculum tests beginning in 2012-2013, and mandates biennial reports to the legislature on implementation and student results.