Education

in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 880: Aggie Academy Learning Lab/Funds.

HB 880 appropriates $1 million in recurring state funds from the General Fund to support the NC A&T Aggie Academy, a laboratory school at North Carolina A&T State University. This funding, effective July 1, 2025, provides additional resources for the school's operations as a University of North Carolina laboratory school. The bill directly affects the Aggie Academy's students, staff, and programs by securing ongoing financial support. It does not create new policies but allocates existing state funds for a specific educational institution.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1M from General Fund to fund UNC lab school operations, advancing public education budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1M recurring funds to support UNC lab school operations, directly enhancing educational resources for students and programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

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passed · North Carolina · Senate Apr 14, 2025

SB 507: Auto Enrollment in Advanced ELA Courses.

SB 507 requires North Carolina public schools to automatically enroll students who score at the highest level on standardized math or English Language Arts (ELA) tests in advanced courses for the next grade level. This applies to students in grades 3-5 for math and grades 6+ for both subjects, with parents able to opt out via written consent after being informed of the placement basis. The bill expands an existing policy (previously only for math) to include ELA courses and mandates annual demographic reporting to the legislature on enrollment patterns. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuto-enrolls high-performing students in advanced ELA courses, expanding access to rigorous curriculum for grades 3-5 (math) and 6+ (ELA), aligning with educational access and curriculum enhancement indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 655: Ending Offensive Indian Mascots.

HB 655 prohibits North Carolina public schools and charter schools from using American Indian mascots. It requires the State Advisory Council to identify schools with such mascots and report this to the State Board of Education, which must then decide within 30 days whether to require a change. Schools must replace the mascots within two years of notification, with superintendents able to grant an additional year for implementation. Failure to comply results in withheld state funds for the superintendent’s salary (for public schools) or per-pupil funding (for charter schools). The law applies starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits discriminatory mascots in schools, promoting inclusive education environment and aligning with anti-discrimination education policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 910: Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) Recommendations/Teacher Diversity.

HB 910 creates a $2 million recurring grant program to increase teacher diversity in North Carolina public schools, primarily benefiting school districts, colleges, and community organizations. The bill funds partnerships that support recruitment, training, and retention of educators of color through specific initiatives like dual enrollment programs, paid clinical experiences, mentorship, and financial aid for aspiring teachers. Grants require evidence-based proposals addressing recruitment or retention gaps and must include long-term sustainability plans. Local school systems and institutions of higher education will administer the program, with annual reporting required to track progress toward diversifying the educator workforce.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $2M recurring grant for teacher diversity programs, directly funding educational initiatives through state appropriations as indicated in subjects and summary.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates $2M recurring grant program to fund teacher diversity initiatives (recruitment, training, retention) in public schools, directly advancing educator representation and equity in education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds teacher diversity initiatives through $2M grants, directly supporting recruitment/retention in education employment (subjects: EMPLOYMENT, TEACHERS).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 890: School Internet Emergency Access Act.

HB 890 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction to create an Emergency Internet Service Plan (EISP) ensuring public schools can access temporary internet during state emergencies, like natural disasters. The bill establishes a dedicated Emergency Internet Service Fund with $3.9 million in initial funding for equipment and service contracts, which schools cannot be charged to activate. Key provisions include requiring the plan to cover activation conditions, equipment needs, data protection, and third-party partnerships, while ensuring the fund is nonreverting (unused money carries over). This directly affects all public school units by guaranteeing emergency internet access without requiring school-level funding. The plan must be updated annually and reported to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $3.9M for emergency internet infrastructure in schools, ensuring continuous educational access during disasters, directly funding school technology needs under education policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds $3.9M for emergency internet access during disasters, directly expanding school connectivity and ensuring technology infrastructure continuity in crises.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Broadband Access Data Privacy

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 932: Ten Percent Raise/Teachers/First Responders.

HB 932 establishes a permanent 10% base salary increase for teachers and first responders in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2025. The bill appropriates $700 million annually for first responders (including law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, dispatchers, and certain nurses) and $900 million annually for teachers (classroom staff, principals, and instructional support) from the General Fund. Funds must be used solely for the pay increase, added to base salary, and included in future salary calculations - no administrative costs are permitted. Employing authorities and school entities must certify costs and verify implementation by deadlines, with unspent funds reverting to the General Fund annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1.6B annually from General Fund for teacher/first responder salary increases, directly funding public services per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $900M annually for teacher salary increases, directly funding educator compensation per education-focused subjects and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 943: Turning High-Achieving Students into Teachers.

HB 943 appropriates $100,000 annually from 2025-2027 to expand North Carolina's Teacher Cadet Program (NCTCP), which targets high-achieving high school students - particularly those from underrepresented groups like people of color (42% of cadets vs. 21% of current teachers) and males (25% of cadets) - to enter teaching careers. The funds will support statewide teacher training workshops (in-person and online), prioritize expansion in counties with high teacher turnover (especially rural and low-performing schools), and develop training for underrepresented cadets using current teachers and students. This directly affects high school students in NCTCP participating in the program and their future schools, aiming to strengthen the teacher pipeline in underserved communities. The bill focuses on concrete funding for program growth, not policy changes to teaching standards or school operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100k annually for teacher training program expansion, directly increasing state budget allocation for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $100k annually to expand teacher recruitment program targeting underrepresented groups, directly funding teacher development and addressing shortages in high-turnover areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 941: Expand and Enhance the Teaching Fellows Program.

HB 941 expands North Carolina's Teaching Fellows Program to address teacher shortages by providing forgivable loans to students pursuing teaching careers in high-need areas like special education, STEM, elementary education (K-6), and specific secondary subjects. The bill establishes a Trust Fund to cover loan amounts (up to $12,000 annually for up to four years), administrative costs, mentorship, and extracurricular programs like summer initiatives and alumni engagement. It requires selected colleges to meet strict standards, including high graduate effectiveness rates, alignment with "Science of Reading" training for elementary programs, and diverse school practicum opportunities. The program directly affects prospective teachers enrolled at up to 14 approved institutions of higher education who commit to teaching in qualifying licensure areas across North Carolina public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides forgivable loans for teachers in high-need areas, expanding program to address shortages and support educator recruitment through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 14, 2025

HB 947: Every Child Reads.

HB 947 ("Every Child Reads") requires North Carolina public schools to screen all students in kindergarten through third grade, sixth grade, and ninth grade for dyslexia using state-approved tools. It mandates teacher training on dyslexia identification and evidence-based reading interventions, and requires literacy instruction in middle schools to align with the Science of Reading. The bill also creates Individual Reading Plans (IRPs) for kindergarten through third graders struggling with reading, based on assessment data, and transfers the NC Pre-K program to the Department of Public Instruction. These provisions directly affect students with dyslexia, K-3 teachers, and school districts implementing literacy programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates dyslexia screenings, teacher training, and Science of Reading-aligned literacy instruction to improve student reading outcomes in K-3.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · House Apr 15, 2025

HB 671: Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Pilot.

HB 671 establishes a four-year pilot program (2025-2026 through 2028-2029) that provides grants to North Carolina public high schools (grades 9-12) to form or support competitive speech and debate teams. Schools can receive up to $10,000 per team annually, covering coach stipends (capped at $2,500 for lead coaches and $1,500 for assistants) and competition expenses like travel and league fees. Participating schools must join the Tarheel Forensic League and National Speech and Debate Association, and the program allows students from schools without teams to join the nearest team (with students covering their own transportation). Funded by $500,000 yearly from the General Fund, the Department of Public Instruction will administer the program and report annually on grant usage and student academic outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via grants ($10k/team/year) for public school speech/debate programs, directly addressing appropriations and funding within budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides direct funding ($10k/team/year) for K-12 speech/debate programs, enhancing student academic opportunities and supporting educators through coach stipends within educational curriculum framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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