Important Budget Resources:

• Education Items in the Governor's budget here. 
• Public School Capital Outlays Chart here.
• Highlights of the NC Public School Budget 2019 here.
• NC State Board of Education Budget Response here.
• NC Department of Public Instruction #NC2030 vision here.

Education Bill Crossover

To date this session, 29 education bills have passed from one chamber to the other, with 1 bill becoming session law thus far.  Crossover is the long session date by which legislation without a financial component must pass from the originating chamber into the other chamber, in order for that legislation to be considered during the short session. 

The bills that made crossover this week are listed below:

1. HB 21: Revise McDowell County Bd of Educ. Districts *Local Bill
2. HB 90: DPI/EC Div. Feedback/DIT Study/PED report
3. HB 276: Modify Low-Performing School Definition 
4. HB 340: Amend Appt For Compact On Education/Military
5. HB 411: Modify School Qual./Student Success Indicator
6. HB 517: Stokes Co. Bd. Ed./Requested Election Changes *Local Bill
7. SB 227: Broaden Charter School Sibling Priority
8. SB 301: Regional School Transportation 
9. SB 343: Changes to Education Reports

The 2019 Crossover Deadline is Thursday, May 9.

NC Teacher of the Year Announced

We are proud to announce that the 2019 NC Teacher of the Year is Mariah Morris.  Morris teaches second-grade at West Pine Elementary School in Pinehurst in the Moore County School System.  Mrs. Morris succeeds the 2018 Teacher of the Year, Freebird McKinney, a history and philosophy teacher at Walter Williams High in the Alamance-Burlington School System.  Congratulations to Mrs. Morris and a special thank you to Freebird McKinney and to Lisa Godwin, 2017 TOY.  Freebird will remain as a Teacher Advisor to the SBE for the next year; however, Lisa will roll out of the SBE Teacher Advisory role this summer after serving her two years in this capacity.

Morris was announced as the 2019 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year at an awards ceremony in Cary. Since 2013, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction has been proud to partner with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to honor North Carolina teachers. The state has recognized outstanding teachers through its Teacher of the Year program since 1970. 

Mrs. Morris will spend the next school year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Voya Financial and DPI and will also serve as a Teacher Advisor to the NC State Board of Education.  The honoree will receive the use of a new vehicle leased from Flow Automotive, LLC during her period of service, the opportunity to attend a seminar at the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT), a mobile device from Lenovo valued at approximately $1,600, an engraved vase, a one-time cash award of $7,500, a trip to the National Teacher of the Year Conference and International Space Camp, a prize pack and opportunity to be honored during a football game from NC State Athletics, support from No Kid Hungry NC, and the opportunity to travel abroad through an endowment sponsored by Go Global NC.

2019 Finalists for the award are:

• Northeast:  Damon Walcott, Washington High (Beaufort County Schools);
• Southeast: Christy Howe, Bradley Creek Elementary (New Hanover County Schools);
• North Central: C.R. “Katie” Eddings, Lee County High (Lee County Schools);
• Sandhills: Mariah Morris, West Pine Elementary (Moore County Schools);
• Piedmont-Triad: Shiela Patterson, South Stokes High (Stokes County Schools);
• Southwest: Kate Culbreth, Wolf Meadow Elementary (Cabarrus County Schools);
• Northwest: Laura Brooks, Wilkes Central High (Wilkes County Schools);
• Western: Caesar Campana IV, Hayesville High (Clay County Schools); and
• Charter Schools: Douglas Price, Voyager Academy, (Durham)

Fort Bragg Teacher Named Mid-Atlantic District Teacher of the Year

Kari Dahl has been named the Mid-Atlantic District Teacher of the Year by the Department of Defense Education Activity Americas Mid-Atlantic District. Dahl is a elementary teacher at Fort Bragg. Dahl teaches at Poole Elementary School and has been teaching for more than 15 years. Dahl said she considers it an honor to represent the Mid-Atlantic District, which includes schools at Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, West Point, Dahlgren, Virginia; Quantico, Virginia; and in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Dahl was first recruited to North Carolina in 2004 and began teaching middle school and language arts in Cumberland and Wake County schools.

Legislative Info and Acronyms 

This section includes details pertaining to acronyms and bill information referenced throughout the K-12 Education Legislative Update newsletters.

Biennium- A two-year term of legislative activity

Public Bill- Legislation enacted into law that applies to the public at large

Local Bill- Legislation put into law that has limited application (How many counties)- Local bills do not have to be signed by the governor

Sponsor- The legislator who presents a bill or resolution for consideration

Resolution- A document that expresses the sentiment or intent of the legislature or a chamber. Resolutions, when finalized, go to the Secretary of State

Glossary of Legislative Terms- LINK

DPI = NC Department of Public Instruction

LEA = Local Education Agency

NCGA = North Carolina General Assembly

LB/LOB = Legislative Building/Legislative Office Building 

SBE = North Carolina State Board of Education

AB = Agency Bill

HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill

JR = Joint Resolution

SL = Session Law

GS = General Statute 

PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute 

FY = Fiscal Year