HB 773 North Carolina House · 2025-2026 Session

School Performance Grade Changes.

House Bill 773 proposes changes to how North Carolina public schools (K-12) are graded on their performance. The bill modifies the calculation of school achievement scores by altering the specific student proficiency measures used across different grade levels and shifts from a composite weighting to giving equal weight to each achievement element. It also revises the calculation of school growth scores, specifying which achievement measures contribute to growth for each grade band and adding metrics for students in the lowest 25% for English Language Arts and mathematics. These adjustments directly impact how the State Board of Education assigns overall performance scores and grades to schools.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Last action May 5, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to replace the old school performance grading system with a new one. The changes restructure how schools are evaluated by grade level, adding new metrics focused on student growth and proficiency rather than just test scores. This affects how schools in North Carolina are graded and reported to the public.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly separates performance scoring requirements by school level (elementary, middle, and high school) rather than using a single continuous system. It also repeals three existing sections of the General Statutes and replaces them with new sections.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed sections 115C-83.15, 115C-83.16, and 115C-83.17 which contained the previous school performance scoring requirements.

Added new section 115C-83.17A establishing a new school performance scoring system with specific metrics for each grade level.

Changed elementary school metrics to focus on grades K-5 instead of K-8, with specific emphasis on reading and mathematics proficiency in grades 3-5.

Added new metrics for student growth (meeting or exceeding growth targets) for mathematics and reading in elementary and middle schools.

Modified middle school metrics to include reading proficiency in grades 6-8 and added specific growth-based metrics for grades 6-8.

Changed high school metrics to focus on specific end-of-course tests (NC Math I, English II, Biology) and added alternative pathways including industry certifications and military credentials.

Added new provisions for students in grades 4-5 who score in the 25th percentile on prior assessments and demonstrate growth on current assessments.

Floor votes · House May 1, 2025

How they voted

106–2

Passed · 13 other

Total votes 121

May 1, 2025

D Democratic46

39 Yea 2 Nay 5

84% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican73

65 Yea 8

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

May 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed 3rd Reading

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Committee

Serial Referral To State and Local Government Stricken

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Ref to the Com on Education - K-12, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Filed

lower

3 primary · 6 co-sponsors