Twin law gives parents new power

Putting twins, triplets and other siblings into separate classes may be standard practice, but the N.C. General Assembly has legislated that parents get to decide whether that's the best approach for their children. Here's the text of the law, which is being circulated by parent groups and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011
SENATE BILL 726
RATIFIED BILL
S726-v-4
AN ACT  TO ALLOW PARENTS OR  GUARDIANS TO MAKE THE DECISION
REGARDING CLASSROOM PLACEMENT FOR MULTIPLE BIRTH SIBLINGS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.   Article 25 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by
adding a new section to read:
§ 115C-366.3. Classroom placement of multiple birth siblings.
(a) As used in this section, the term "multiple birth siblings" means twins, triplets, quadruplets, or other siblings resulting from a multiple birth.
(b) The parent of multiple birth siblings who are assigned to the same grade level and school may request a consultative meeting with the school principal to consider that the initial school placement of the siblings be in the same classroom or in separate classrooms. The request must be made no later than five days before the first day of each school year or five days after the first day of attendance of students during the school year if the students are enrolled in the school after the school year commences. The school may recommend to the parent the appropriate classroom placement for multiple birth siblings and may provide professional educational advice to assist the parent with the decision regarding appropriate classroom placement.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), (e), or (f) of this section, a school shall provide the multiple birth siblings with the classroom placement requested by the parent.
(d) A school is not required to place multiple birth siblings in separate classrooms if the request would require the school district to add an additional class to the grade level of the multiple birth siblings.
(e) At the end of the first grading period following the multiple birth siblings' enrollment in the school, if the principal of the school, in consultation with the teacher of each classroom in which the multiple birth siblings are placed, determines that the requested classroom placement is disruptive to the school, the principal may determine the appropriate classroom placement for the siblings.
(f) This section does not affect the right of a school administrative unit, principal, or teacher to remove a student from a classroom pursuant to the student discipline policies of that school administrative unit.

SECTION 2.    This act becomes effective beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 17th day of June, 2011.