New NC education laws SB 227, SB 558, SB 153: What Highlands families should know

Highlands families served by Macon County Schools are navigating new state education requirements after the North Carolina General Assembly overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes on several education bills. The measures became law on June 24, 2026.

The practical “what to watch” locally isn’t just what happens in classrooms—it’s also policy, training, and compliance paperwork for both K-12 and public higher education.

Quick context: why Highlands should care

For K-12, these rules apply to the public school unit that serves Highlands students. NCES lists Highlands School as part of Macon County Schools, which is the connection local families need to understand.

For colleges and universities, two of the laws set parallel limits across North Carolina public higher education institutions, including UNC constituent institutions.

SB 227 (K-12): the main prohibitions for districts

SB 227 (Session Law 2026-20) sets limits for public school units on how they can handle “divisive concepts” and certain DEI-related structures and activities.

In plain terms, the law prohibits a public school unit from doing things like:

• Engaging in or advocating for discriminatory practices
• Compelling students, staff, or others to affirm or profess belief in divisive concepts
• Providing instruction to students on divisive concepts
• Using or requiring certain professional development that includes or advocates for divisive concepts or discriminatory practices
• Maintaining an office/division/unit (or employing staff) intended to promote discriminatory practices or divisive concepts, including units referred to as or named diversity, equity, and inclusion

The statute also includes guardrails tied to the First Amendment and explicitly preserves certain types of instruction/discussion described in the law (so it’s not written as a blank ban on controversial topics).

SB 227 deadline that matters locally: annual written certification by Sept. 1

Each public school unit must certify annually in writing by September 1 to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction that it fully complies with SB 227. The Department then summarizes the certifications in a consolidated report by January 15.

For Macon County Schools, the near-term “watch” item for parents and educators is the district’s guidance and internal process updates that support that September 1 certification.

SB 558 (higher ed): parallel limits plus a degree-program course restriction

SB 558 (Session Law 2026-21) applies a parallel framework to public institutions of higher education—including UNC constituent institutions and community colleges.

Along with limits on engaging in/advocating for discriminatory practices and endorsement/compelled affirmations tied to divisive concepts, SB 558 also prohibits:

• Requiring completion of a course related to divisive concepts for purposes of awarding a degree or completing a program (with exceptions described in the statute)

It also requires an annual written certification by September 1 to the applicable governing board, with consolidated reporting by January 15.

SB 153 (immigration/sanctuary): local-government sanctuary limits and UNC restrictions

SB 153 (Session Law 2026-19) targets immigration enforcement and “sanctuary” policies in two areas:

• Local government: it prohibits adoption of “sanctuary” ordinances that would limit compliance with federal immigration enforcement beyond what state law allows. The session law also includes a waiver of local governmental immunity framework in certain noncompliance scenarios.
• UNC constituent institutions: it bars UNC constituent institutions from adopting policies that would limit federal immigration law enforcement to less than the full extent permitted by federal law. It also restricts certain actions involving whether information is gathered and communicated to federal immigration enforcement agencies to the extent described in the statute.

For Highlands residents, this is the kind of policy change that matters when local officials are considering sanctuary-related ordinances—or reviewing existing local policy.

What Highlands families and staff should do next

Because these measures are now enacted, the most useful next step is asking for local clarity—not assuming what changes have already been made.

• Macon County Schools: ask how district policies, training, and instructional-material review are being updated to align with SB 227, especially ahead of the September 1 certification.
• Parents/students interacting with public higher education: ask campuses what SB 558 means for divisive-concepts-related course requirements and institutional practices.
• Local officials: if any sanctuary-related policy work is on the table, request a legal/policy review consistent with SB 153’s prohibition framework and the immunity waiver language.

If you want help tracking the changes, focus on official district/campus policy updates and the compliance calendar anchored to September 1 (and consolidated reporting by January 15 for the K-12 and higher-ed certification summaries).

Sources

• Smoky Mountain News (July 1, 2026): Three new state laws affect K-12 and higher education
• NC General Assembly Session Law 2026-20 (SB 227): Enacted text
• NC DPI (June 25, 2026): Joint Statement on Senate Bill 227, Becoming Law
• NCES: Highlands School (NCES 370276001139) — listed under Macon County Schools

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