GOP lawmakers want to make NC public school teachers post all lesson plans online

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers could require public schools to post lesson plans online, along with the name of the teacher who used the material in class.

The “Academic Transparency Bill” filed on Thursday in the state House would require public schools to post all lesson plans online “no later than 10 days after the lesson was given.” The legislation also would require schools to post information on materials they use to train teachers and information on outside speakers who talk to students.

House Bill 1032 comes amid a hyper-charged environment where conservatives have accused some teachers of trying to indoctrinate students with their political beliefs.

“A trusting partnership between parents, caregivers, and teachers is vital to student success,” Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said in a statement Friday. “Educators welcome genuine efforts to foster more collaboration, but student curriculum is already public.

“While teachers are already stretched thin, this bill will take precious time away from student instruction.”

Telephone calls and email messages from The News & Observer were not immediately returned Friday by the bill’s four Republican primary sponsors: Reps. Jake Johnson of Polk County, David Willis of Union County, Hugh Blackwell of Burke County and Allen Chesser of Nash County.

Charges of public school indoctrination

In 2021, the state House Republicans passed an earlier version of the bill that would have required public schools to post all lesson plans used within the past year. The bill died after the House didn’t support changes that were made by the Senate.

Allegations about teacher indoctrination have increased since then.

In 2021, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson released the “Indoctrination in North Carolina Public Education Report,” the N&O previously reported. Robinson has reiterated his allegations about teacher indoctrination in his campaign this year to become governor.

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