State Standards Scratch the Surface of Learning about Political Parties and Ideology” is a working paper published by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE). Researchers Paula McAvoy, Rebecca Fine, and Ann Herrera Ward examined social studies standards for each state and found that only eight, Arizona, Hawaii, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia, address the ideological foundations of the major political parties.

In fact, North Carolina received praise for its work.  McAvoy and her colleagues wrote,

In our view, North Carolina represents one of the strongest and most clearly worded standards related to political ideology as it connects to contemporary American politics. … This standard [NC Essential Standard CE.C&G.2.8] not only mentions the two major political parties by name, but North Carolina is the only state to use the phrase “political spectrum” in civics. Teachers in North Carolina are prompted not only to teach about the role of the two parties, but the political and economic views (and thus the ideologies) that shape them.

That said, they found that no state “met all four criteria that the authors identified as critical to educate students for informed engagement in electoral politics.”

State social studies standards are not Common Core standards.  Rather, they are written and revised by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction in consultation with teachers, curriculum experts, and other stakeholders.