The North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Clayton Henkel)
Two North Carolina House committees on Tuesday advanced a pair of bills that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public K-12 schools, community colleges and universities statewide.
The Republican-led state Senate passed both measures earlier this year. Senate Bill 227 targets K-12 education, while Senate Bill 558 focuses on public colleges and universities. The bills would prohibit what sponsors describe as “divisive concepts” from being taught in the classroom.
During a debate in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning, where the bills were first heard before moving to the Rules Committee, Republicans argued the legislation prevents teaching that one race is superior to another. Opponents, however, contend the bills will chill academic freedom and honest discussions about historical oppression.
Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said Senate Bill 227 “sends a painful message that valuing diversity, equity and inclusion is somehow wrong, that standing up for every child and teaching every student that they matter is wrong.”
The ACLU of North Carolina warned the bills raise constitutional concerns and could lead to self-censorship among educators.
“These bills will censor curricula on race, gender and the lived experiences of marginalized groups in the classroom,” said Reighlah Collins, Policy Counsel for the ACLU of North Carolina, during a public comment portion of the committee hearing.
Part of a broader anti-DEI campaign
The push against DEI in schools is part of a broader attack on the concepts by Republican lawmakers in the state and across the country. Another bill, House Bill 171 (“Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI”) would ban state agencies from promoting, supporting, funding, implementing or maintaining workplace DEI, including in hirings, dedicated staff positions and offering or requiring DEI training.
The bill passed the House along party lines in April, and the Senate currently considering a newer version of the bill.
Both Senate Bill 227 and 558 now move to the House floor for a vote.
To overcome a potential veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, House Republicans would need at least one Democrat to vote with them. In the Senate, Republicans have enough votes along party lines to override a veto on their own.
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