Multiplication Tables, Cursive Writing, and Teaching Civics | Beaufort Better Government Committee

Cursive writing and memorizing multiplication tables to be taught in NC Public Schools and High School Civics

§ 115C‑81.75. Cursive Writing. The standard course of study shall include the requirement that the public schools provide instruction in cursive writing so that students create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade. (2017‑126, s. 5.)

§ 115C‑81.80. Multiplication Tables. The standard course of study shall include the requirement that students enrolled in public schools memorize multiplication tables to demonstrate competency in efficiently multiplying numbers. (2017‑126, s. 5.)

§ 115C-45 (d) Civics Instruction

(d) (Applicable to students entering the ninth grade in the 2021‑2022 school year) Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy. – (1) The State Board of Education shall require instruction in civic and citizenship education in the standard course of study for high school social studies through the teaching of a full‑credit course that shall be called Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy. A passing grade in the course shall be required for graduation from high school.

(1a) The course required by subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be solely focused on civics and citizenship education, and shall include at least the following subjects:

a. The Creator‑endowed inalienable rights of the people.

b. Structure of government, separation of powers with checks and balances.

c. Frequent and free elections in a representative government.

d. Rule of law.

e. Equal justice under the law.

f. Private property rights.

g. Federalism.

h. Due process.

i. Individual rights as set forth in the Bill of Rights.

j. Individual responsibility.

k. Constitutional limitations on government power to tax and spend, and prompt payment of public debt.

l. Strong defense and supremacy of civil authority over military.

m. Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.

(1b) The State Board of Education is strongly encouraged to include the following components in the course required by subdivision (1) of this subsection:

a. That students write to a local, State, or federal elected official about an issue that is important to them.

b. Instruction on the importance of voting and otherwise participating in the democratic process, including instruction on voter registration.

c. Information about current events and governmental structure.

d. Information about the democratic process and how laws are made.

(2) The State Board of Education shall require that any high school level curriculum‑based tests for the course required in subdivision (1) of this subsection developed and administered statewide include questions related to the philosophical foundations of our form of government and the principles underlying the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and its amendments, and the most important of the Federalist Papers.

(3) The Department of Public Instruction and the local boards of education, as appropriate, shall provide or cause to be provided curriculum content for the course required in subdivision (1) of this subsection and professional development to ensure that the intent and provisions of this subsection are carried out. The curriculum content established shall include a review of the contributions made by Americans of all races.

(4) The Department of Public Instruction shall submit a biennial report by October 15 of each odd‑numbered year to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee covering the implementation of this subsection. (2017‑126, s. 5; 2019‑82, s. 3(a).)

NCDPI Report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee - October 2023

https://webservices.ncleg.gov/ViewDocSiteFile/81266

Statement from this report-

“There is no longer a state test for Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy. Any assessments for this course are aligned with the standards and created locally.”