A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require at least three credit hours of instruction in american government in order to graduate from a constituent institution of the university of north carolina with a baccalaureate degree or a community college with an associate degree.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. title
SECTION 1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "North Carolina Reclaiming College Education on America's Constitutional Heritage Act" or the "NC REACH Act."

part ii. require three credit hours of instruction in american government at constituent institutions of the university of north carolina
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 116‑11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(15)	The Board of Governors shall adopt a policy requiring each constituent institution of The University of North Carolina to require at least three credit hours of instruction in American government, in accordance with G.S. 116‑11.5, in order to graduate from the institution with a baccalaureate degree."
SECTION 2.(b)  Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 116‑11.5.  American government instruction required for graduation with a baccalaureate degree.
(a)	Each constituent institution of The University of North Carolina that offers a baccalaureate degree shall require as a condition of graduation with a baccalaureate degree that all students complete at least three credit hours of instruction in American government. A course required pursuant to this section shall include a cumulative final exam on the principles in the documents listed in this subsection that comprises at least twenty percent (20%) of a student's total grade and shall involve reading at least the following in their entirety:
(1)	The Constitution of the United States of America.
(2)	The Declaration of Independence.
(3)	The Emancipation Proclamation.
(4)	At least five essays from the Federalist Papers, as determined by the instructor.
(5)	Dr. Martin Luther King's letter from Birmingham Jail.
(b)	The requirements of this section shall not apply to a student who has successfully completed at least three credit hours of instruction, or their equivalent, in a postsecondary‑level course provided outside the constituent institution, including Advanced Placement courses with a passing score on an Advanced Placement exam, International Baccalaureate courses, and dual enrollment courses, as long as that instruction is approved by the constituent institution as satisfying the requirements of this section.
(c)	The Board of Governors and the board of trustees of each constituent institution shall ensure that the requirements of this section are incorporated into the degree requirements of all baccalaureate programs and do not add to the total number of credit hours required for a degree.
(d)	The Board of Governors shall ensure that each constituent institution complies with the requirements of this section. No later than November 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on compliance with this section by each constituent institution. The report shall include, at a minimum, a copy of the syllabus for each course that is offered to comply with this section.
(e)	The Board of Governors, in its discretion, may remove the chancellor of a constituent institution for failure to comply with this section."

part iii. require three credit hours of instruction in american government at north carolina community colleges
SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 115D‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(z)	The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy requiring each community college to require at least three credit hours of instruction in American government in accordance with G.S. 115D‑10, in order to graduate from the community college with an associate degree."
SECTION 3.(b)  Article 1 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115D‑10.  American government instruction required for graduation with an associate degree.
(a)	Each community college shall require as a condition of graduation with an associate degree that all students complete at least three credit hours of instruction in American government. A course required pursuant to this section shall include a cumulative final exam on the principles in the documents listed in this subsection that comprises at least twenty percent (20%) of a student's total grade and shall involve reading at least the following in their entirety:
(1)	The Constitution of the United States of America.
(2)	The Declaration of Independence.
(3)	The Emancipation Proclamation.
(4)	At least five essays from the Federalist Papers, as determined by the instructor.
(5)	Dr. Martin Luther King's letter from Birmingham Jail.
(b)	The requirements of this section shall not apply to a student who has successfully completed at least three credit hours of instruction, or their equivalent, in a postsecondary‑level course provided outside the community college, including Advanced Placement courses with a passing score on an Advanced Placement exam, International Baccalaureate courses, and dual enrollment courses, as long as that instruction is approved by the community college as satisfying the requirements of this section.
(c)	The State Board of Community Colleges and the board of trustees of each institution shall ensure that the requirements of this section are incorporated into the degree requirements of all associate degree programs and do not add to the total number of credit hours required for a degree.
(d)	The State Board of Community Colleges shall ensure that each community college complies with the requirements of this section. No later than November 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, the Board shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on compliance with this section by each community college. The report shall include, at a minimum, a copy of the syllabus for each course that is offered to comply with this section.
(e)	The State Board of Community Colleges, in its discretion, may remove the chancellor of a constituent institution for failure to comply with this section."

part iv. effective date
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning in the 2024‑2025 academic year to students accepted for initial enrollment in a baccalaureate program at a constituent institution or initial enrollment in an associate degree program at a community college.