Bill > S873

This bill, the End Book Bans Act, establishes a right for parents, teachers, and the public to appeal the banning of instructional materials in public schools. It allows parents of at least 4% of students at a school to request an appeal to the local school board if the superintendent or their designee prohibits the use of certain materials. The local school board can only overturn the superintendent's decision with a two-thirds majority vote. If the local board upholds the ban, the group of parents can further appeal the decision to the State Board of Education, which can only overturn the local board's decision with a two-thirds majority vote. The bill also prohibits appeals to remove materials based on the protected class status of individuals or groups discussed in the materials, unless the materials are discriminatory or biased against the protected class. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds for the Department of Public Instruction to develop and distribute guidance on the Act's provisions and enforcement.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/S873