NC H73

State Board of Education shall include civic responsibility instruction in elementary and middle school courses on North Carolina history and geography, and high school course on the Founding Principles of the United States and North Carolina.

Civic responsibility instruction must focus on four areas: respect for school personnel, responsibility for school safety (including antiviolence messages and conflict resolution), service to others through community service projects, and good citizenship (obeying laws and understanding rights and responsibilities).

Schools may teach service-learning by incorporating it into standard curriculum or involving students in hands-on community service projects, with all schools encouraged to provide such opportunities.

School safety instruction should include consistent, age-appropriate antiviolence messaging and media-awareness education to help students recognize stereotypes and violence portrayals.

The act takes effect upon becoming law and applies beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.