Education (K-12 Education)

died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SB 913: Screen Free Schools.

This bill, titled Screen Free Schools, requires public schools in North Carolina to create policies that limit the use of wireless devices like cell phones, tablets, and laptops during instructional time. Under the new rules, students in kindergarten through eighth grade must keep these devices off at all times on school property, while high school students may only use them during specific state testing periods unless a teacher grants permission for educational or emergency reasons. The legislation includes exceptions for students who need devices for individualized education plans, medical conditions, or teacher-approved learning activities. To help schools implement these changes, the state will provide $100,000 in funding for the 2026-2027 school year, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill aims to improve student focus and reduce distractions, enhancing the quality of instruction and learning environment.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts student access to wireless devices and limits internet usage during instructional time in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Teachers Telecommunications

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died · North Carolina · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 787: AI Ethics and Literacy Across Education.

This bill requires North Carolina public schools to teach artificial intelligence concepts to students from kindergarten through grade 12. It mandates that the State Board of Education create standards covering how AI works, its real-world uses, and ethical issues like privacy, bias, and academic honesty. To support this new requirement, the state will provide $100,000 in funding for the 2026-2027 school year to help schools implement the curriculum. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and allows AI instruction to be part of existing computer science classes in middle and high school.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $100,000 in state funding to support AI education implementation in public schools.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates AI literacy curriculum and allocates $100,000 in funding to strengthen education.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates AI education and provides funding to advance technology literacy and ethical understanding in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · North Carolina · House May 4, 2026

HB 1159: Investing in Teen Mental Health.

This North Carolina bill appropriates approximately $1.3 million from the state's General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are designated to expand access to Teen Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid training programs across the state. These training courses are designed to teach high school students how to recognize signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their peers and connect them with support. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1.3M from the General Fund to expand teen mental health training, directly increasing funding for a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $1.3M to expand mental health training for high school students, enhancing student well-being and support programs within the education system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $1.3M to expand Teen Mental Health First Aid training, directly increasing funding and access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 726: Youth Mentoring and Academic Enhancement Commission.

HB 726 establishes the North Carolina Commission on Youth Mentoring and Academic Enhancement to create a state grant program supporting local nonprofits providing mentoring and tutoring for high school students. The commission will distribute funding from the State Education Lottery to organizations focused on reducing substance use and gang involvement while building adult connections for at-risk youth in all 100 counties. Key provisions include requiring nonprofits to offer academic tutoring in core subjects and enrichment activities, with grants prioritizing programs where at least 60% of staff are under 30 and from the local community. The commission must report annually on grant recipients, funds distributed, and academic outcomes for participants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program using education lottery funds for academic tutoring/mentoring of at-risk high school students, directly enhancing educational support through state funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 578: North Carolina CARDINAL Corps Act.

SB 578 establishes the North Carolina CARDINAL Corps Program to place recent high school graduates (within two years of graduation or GED) and veterans (within two years of military deployment) into paid fellowships in critical sectors like disaster relief, education, public safety, farming, and military family support. Organizations such as schools, local governments, and nonprofits can host fellows, receiving reimbursement of up to $30,200 per fellow annually for salary, training, and program costs, with a 1:1 matching fund requirement from the host. Fellows serve nine-month terms with a $5,000 completion award, and the program requires annual reports on fund usage and participant outcomes. The bill appropriates $1.485 million for implementation starting July 1, 2025, aiming to grow to 1,000 annual participants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds education sector placements via reimbursement for schools hosting fellows in educational roles, directly supporting school programs through paid fellowships.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates paid fellowships for youth/veterans in critical sectors, funding employment opportunities through reimbursement for host organizations.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly targets veterans (within 2 years of deployment) for paid fellowships with annual funding reimbursement, directly supporting veteran employment through critical sector placements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Military Families

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 972: Public Projects in Wayne County/Funds.

HB 972 allocates $15.76 million in one-time state funds to Wayne County for specific public projects, directly affecting local schools, infrastructure, and community programs. Key provisions include $5 million for Rosewood Middle School capital improvements, $2 million for Dillard Middle School athletic track upgrades, $750,000 for Union Station revitalization, and smaller grants for water/sewer upgrades, the sheriff's training facility, and local organizations like Wayne County United Way. The bill also provides separate funding for court-related positions in Wayne County and neighboring areas, including a new public defender district. All funding is designated for specific, named projects with no broad policy changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $15.76M in state funds for public projects, increasing budgetary spending on education, infrastructure, and community programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $5M for middle school capital improvements and $2M for athletic track upgrades, directly funding school infrastructure under Education subjects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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signed · North Carolina · Senate Jul 9, 2025

SB 118: Military and Veteran Support Act.

SB 118, the Military and Veteran Support Act, reduces concealed handgun permit fees for veterans and streamlines school enrollment for military families. It allows veterans with honorable discharge (using DD-214 or VA ID) to pay $45 for applications and $40 for renewals - matching fees for retired law enforcement officers - effective July 2025. For military families, it permits remote school enrollment for students of active-duty members or those separating within 12 months, delaying proof of residency until enrollment begins, with extensions for high school seniors until graduation. These provisions directly affect North Carolina veterans seeking concealed carry permits and military-connected students enrolling in public schools. The bill is pending legislative action and not yet law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables remote school enrollment for military students and delays residency proof, directly improving educational access for military-connected children.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransReduces veteran concealed carry permit fees to $45/$40 (matching law enforcement), streamlines school enrollment for military families - directly advancing veteran benefits and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Military Families Veteran Education

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 885: Revise Suspension and Parental Notice Policies.

HB 885 revises North Carolina public school discipline policies to limit suspensions, prohibit corporal punishment, and improve parental notification. It defines suspension lengths (short-term up to 20 days, long-term over 43 days), bans corporal punishment entirely, and requires schools to make documented, multi-channel attempts to contact parents within one hour of disciplinary actions. The bill mandates schools to collect and publicly report demographic data (race, gender, disability status, etc.) on all suspensions, expulsions, and disciplinary actions. These changes directly affect all public school students in North Carolina, with specific restrictions on suspending kindergarten through third graders and requiring in-school suspension to not exceed 40 cumulative days per year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans corporal punishment, limits suspensions, mandates parental notification and demographic reporting - improves student discipline policies to protect student welfare and equity in education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 550: Coaches Care Act.

SB 550, the Coaches Care Act, requires all middle and high school coaches and athletic directors in North Carolina to complete approved youth mental health first aid training by July 1, 2026. The training teaches coaches to recognize mental health challenges, assist youth experiencing them, and connect them to professional resources. Schools must maintain records of coach certification, and local governments must deny public facility access to youth sports organizations whose coaches lack this certification. The State Board of Education will approve specific training programs, initially including the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's courses, and publish them annually. This law directly affects all public school coaches and youth sports organizations using county or city facilities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health training for school coaches to support student well-being, enhancing educational environment and student access to mental health resources within K-12 framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health first aid training for coaches to recognize and connect students to resources, directly advancing youth mental health services as a core healthcare component.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 324: Greensboro Transit Agency/Funds.

HB 324 appropriates $800,000 from the Highway Fund to the Greensboro Transit Agency for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds are specifically allocated to $500,000 for the North/South Crossmax Orange Bus Route and $300,000 to launch a pilot program transporting high school juniors and seniors to Guilford Technical Community College campuses. This bill directly affects Greensboro Transit Agency operations and Guilford County high school students participating in the college transportation pilot. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $800k from Highway Fund for transit and education pilot programs, directly advancing budget appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $300k for high school student transportation pilot to community college, directly enhancing higher education access for secondary students.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $800k from Highway Fund to Greensboro Transit Agency for bus routes and student transportation pilot, directly funding public transportation infrastructure and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Transportation Public Transit Roads & Highways

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