House Education Committee Passes Legislation Addressing Critical Race Theory in North Carolina School Systems

North Carolina House Education Chairmen Torbett (R-Gaston) and Blackwell (R-Burke), today unveiled legislation preventing discriminatory concepts, like Critical Race Theory, from being taught as fact or endorsed in North Carolina school districts. 
 
A House Committee Substitute for House Bill 324, “Ensuring Dignity & Nondiscrimination/Schools,” would prevent students or teachers from being taught that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex, or other related concepts that reduce individuals to their gender or skin color.

A recent North State Journal report revealed that the Critical Race Theory and related concepts had been featured in professional development for Wake County Public Schools, although Wake County later pulled the course from being offered.
 
The legislation would not prevent Critical Race Theory or any other concept or materials from being discussed in schools, so long as the public school unit makes clear that it does not sponsor, approve, or endorse such concepts or work.
 
“No student or school employee should be made to feel inferior solely because of the color of their skin or their gender,” said Chairman Torbett (R-Gaston). “Our public schools should be a place of respect—not hateful ideologies.”
  
 “The House Education committee has already pursued legislation to increase transparency for parents,” said Chairman Blackwell (R- Burke). “This legislation ensures that tax dollars are spent to educate our students and not on distracting political projects.”
 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt offerred the following remarks in support of the legislation:
 
“This is a common-sense bill that provides reasonable expectations for the kind of civil discourse we want our children to experience in public schools. This “golden rule” approach ensures that all voices are valued in our school system. We want to encourage students to think freely and respect differences of opinions, while ensuring our classrooms are not promoting ideas contrary to the equality and rights of all. Classrooms should be an environment where all points of view are honored. There is no room for divisive rhetoric that condones preferential treatment of any one group over another.”
 
House Bill 324 passed the House Education Committee on Tuesday and will be before the chamber on Wednesday.