North Carolina bill grants parents access to student records

A new bill in North Carolina aims to change how community colleges share student information with parents. This comes after a tragic incident involving a teenager named Leon Gu, who died by suicide in 2020. Leon was dually enrolled at Wake Tech Community College while still in high school. His parents were surprised to learn they were unaware of academic issues he faced that contributed to his death. The proposed legislation, known as “Leon’s Law,” would automatically provide parents of high school students access to their children's educational records. Currently, parents do not receive automatic updates about grades, attendance, or disciplinary actions. Leon's mother, Lusia Li, expressed her despair over not being informed about her son’s struggles. Supporters of the bill argue that better communication can help parents provide necessary support to minors facing academic challenges. Under this new rule, community colleges would share records with parents if the student is under 18 and considered a dependent. Parents would have the option to opt out of receiving this information. The bill was discussed in the state House Committee on Higher Education, where emotional testimonies revealed Leon's talents and dedication as a student. Lawmakers believe that this measure could prevent similar tragedies in the future. An amended version of the bill has been approved and will next be reviewed by the House Judiciary 3 Committee. If passed, the law would take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year and affect over 600,000 dual enrollment students in North Carolina each year.