GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 511
Short Title: Informational Literacy in Schools. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Murdock and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S511 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE INSTRUCTION IN INFORMA TIONAL LITERACY IN PUBLIC 2
SCHOOLS. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1.(a) Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 5
adding a new Part to read: 6
"Part 7. Instructional Requirements. 7
"§ 115C-76.80. Instructional requirements. 8
Each public school unit shall provide instruction pursuant to the requirements of this Part. 9
"§ 115C-76.85. Informational literacy. 10
(a) As used in this section, the term "informational literacy" means a set of skills that 11
enable an individual to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use the 12
needed information effectively. Informational literacy includes, but is not limited to, digital, 13
visual, media, textual, and technological literacy. 14
(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt standards for age-appropriate instruction on 15
informational literacy for kindergarten through grade 12. The standards shall include at least the 16
following: 17
(1) The research process and how information is created and reproduced. 18
(2) Critical thinking skills and how to use information resources. 19
(3) Methods of research, including the difference between primary and secondary 20
sources. 21
(4) The differences between facts, points of view, and opinions. 22
(5) How to access peer-reviewed print and digital library resources. 23
(6) The economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information. 24
(7) The ethical production of information. 25
(c) Public school units shall consult with library/media personnel when developing 26
curriculum for the informational literacy standards." 27
SECTION 1.(b) Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 28
amended by adding a new section to read: 29
"§ 115C-81.67. Informational literacy. 30
Each local board of education shall develop and implement informational literacy instruction 31
consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C-76.80." 32
SECTION 1.(c) Article 4 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by 33
adding a new section to read: 34
"§ 116-69.05. Informational literacy. 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 511-First Edition
The school shall provide instruction in informational literacy consistent with 1
G.S. 115C-76.80." 2
SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 116-235(a1) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 3
"(1a) The Board of Trustees shall ensure that instruction in informational literacy 4
consistent with G.S. 115C-76.80 is included in the standard course of study 5
for the School." 6
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with 7
the 2025-2026 school year. 8