Student water safety.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Spencer

NC SB 123 requires public schools to display US/NC flags and conduct daily Pledge recitations with flag-history teaching; funds to buy flags; participation optional.

First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development

Main purpose

SB 123 requires public schools to display the United States and North Carolina flags on school grounds and in classrooms (when available), to schedule daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and to provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and history of the flags and the Pledge. The bill also provides state funding to help purchase flags for schools.

Key provisions

Display requirements

Local boards of education, charter schools, regional schools, laboratory schools, and other statutorily listed public schools must require display of the U.S. and North Carolina flags:
On school grounds near the main entrance; and
In every classroom “when available.” If flags are donated or otherwise available, they must be displayed in each classroom.

Pledge of Allegiance

Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance must be scheduled on a daily basis.
Schools must provide age‑appropriate instruction on the meaning and historical origins of the flag and the Pledge.
The policies may not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge.

Policy adoption and applicability

The bill amends multiple education statutes (local board authority, charter school law, regional school provisions, UNC secondary schools, laboratory schools, etc.) to add the display/pledge requirements.

Funding provided

Appropriates $1,000,000 (nonrecurring) for FY 2025–26 to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to allocate to public school units for flag purchases.
Appropriates $100,000 (recurring) for FY 2026–27 to DPI for the same purpose.
Appropriates $1,000 (recurring) to the UNC Board of Governors for secondary schools under UNC to purchase flags.

Effective date / implementation

The act takes effect when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025–26 school year.

Who is affected

Local school administrative units and local boards of education across North Carolina.

Public charter schools, regional schools, laboratory schools, and secondary schools operated by the UNC system (as specifically amended in statute).

Students, teachers, school staff and parents in those schools (policies must respect individual choice not to participate in Pledge recitation).

Fiscal and administrative impact

One‑time statewide appropriation of $1,000,000 (FY 2025–26) plus $100,000 recurring (FY 2026–27 onward) to assist schools in acquiring flags.

Very small recurring appropriation ($1,000) for UNC secondary schools.

Implementation requires local boards and affected institutions to adopt or update policies and to schedule instruction — administrative workload is typical for policy changes and funded flag purchases reduce local capital burden.

Notes

The bill explicitly protects individual choice: no person may be compelled to stand, salute, or recite the Pledge.

“When available” language and the appropriation indicate an intent to assist schools lacking flags, but display in each classroom is conditioned on flags being obtained (by donation or purchase).

Bill