NC H570

Requires the State Board of Education to adopt an academic freedom policy for implementation by local school boards, effective beginning the 2017-2018 school year.

Policy must encourage students and educators to respect diverse ideological, political, religious, and nonreligious viewpoints in the classroom.

Permits students and educators to engage in open dialogue, critical thinking, and free exchange of ideas related to course content while maintaining safe and orderly classrooms.

Prohibits discrimination or mockery of students based on their ideological, political, religious, or nonreligious viewpoints and prevents educators from considering such viewpoints when evaluating student performance.

Allows educators to answer student questions with openness and honesty.