Competency-Based Education Grant Program.

SB 580 establishes a grant program to help North Carolina public schools transition from time-based learning to competency-based education (CBE), where students advance upon mastering skills rather than completing seat time. The bill allocates $330,000 per school to 10 selected schools (chosen via application) for CBE implementation, including $95,000 annually for educator training and resources. Key provisions include developing proficiency-based assessments, partnering with a third-party vendor for professional development, and creating statewide standards for measuring student mastery. This program directly affects participating schools and their students by shifting instructional approaches to focus on demonstrated proficiency across K-12 subjects.