 NC SBE Director of Government and Community Affairs
August 28th, 2020
Welcome to the newest edition of the NC State Board of Education's "Weekly Legislative Update." While it has been some time since our last update, we wanted to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation and gratitude for ALL the hard work and dedication of our educators, our faculty and staff, our school, district, and state leaders, and our elected officials. COVID-19 has changed everything. It has affected the way we see, live, and embrace life. It has caused us to celebrate and it has led us to mourn. It has risen our fears, but it has also inspired the greatest of hope. And this is what the last week has evoked in all of us who serve in public education- HOPE. Thank you for your commitment to bringing our students "Back to School." Thank you for bringing our students "Home."
The words of NC SBE Chairman Eric Davis resonated during our recent presentation to the House Select Committee on Education.
"COVID 19 has had a devastating impact on our public school system and particularly on our students. Those effects extending across a wide spectrum academically, emotionally, physically, mentally and will endure for many years. Education leaders across our state have responded with courage and fortitude, determined the meet the needs of each individual student, and their families, while safe guarding our teachers and staff. The General Assembly's support and extension of greater flexibility has helped to meet our students’ needs. . . Our top priority remains defeating this virus sufficiently to safely return our students, teachers, and staff as soon as possible. Until then we will continue to strengthen our delivery of virtual instruction which due to the innovation and creativity of district and DPI leaders, and many partners, has already been significantly enhanced. Preparing for full return to our school buildings requires that we develop sufficient supplies and resources now to avoid future shortages and demonstrate our State’s commitment to the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff."
Invited by the House Select Committee on Education, the NC SBE and NC DPI presented our "COVID-19 Priorities for the 20-21 Academic School Year" (Click Here). Our most vital and important priority is to provide the tools and resources necessary to bring our students, faculty, and staff back to our schools under safe and healthy circumstances, and until then, to support high quality remote instruction. This is our Constitutional duty to provide a “Sound and Basic Education” to each and every one of our students.
Priorities of Need:
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Special Transportation Allotment
- Internet Connectivity/ Broadband Service
- ADM “Hold Harmless to Allotted 20-21 Funding”
- Child Nutrition Support and Federal Waivers
- Exceptional Children Funding for Extended Services
We continue to advise all readers to first consult "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in North Carolina" for the most pertinent information from the NC Department of Health and Human Services in regard to health and safety concerns. Below you will also find a list of COVID-19 resources which could provide more information and perspective as you and your organizations have discussions as how to best serve our state's students, schools, and communities.
While we are diligently monitoring safety and health metrics, we are arduously working with our students, while providing for their needs in all ways possible and in all capacities. This continued dedication to our duty, and the answer to our calling, requires your collaboration and our continued action on these priorities.
Only in our collective partnership will we transcend the immediate issues of COVID-19’s impact on NC Public Schools and provide the resources needed to make our schools whole and revitalize the spirit our communities require to move NC Public Schools- “Beyond Normalcy.”
"We Strive and Rise, Together." Freebird McKinney
 Such an honor to hear the words of Dr. Dudley Flood as he addressed the NC SBE on “Educational Equity and Opportunity."
NC State Board of Education
The agendas, COVID-19 Response and Legislative Updates can be found through the links below:
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Agendas for the August SBE meeting:
- Wednesday, August 5th - here
- Thursday, August 6th - here
- Friday, August 14th - here
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StrongSchoolsNC - Public Health Toolkit (K-12) here.
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COVID-19 Response For North Carolina Public Schools here.
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Remote Instruction Plans in Response to COVID-19 Crisis here.
- Remote Learning Resources here.
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SBE approves Allocation of $70 million from CARES Act Funds for Remediation and Summer Bridge Programs here.
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Final Remediation & Summer Jump Start Guidance in Response to COVID-19 Crisis here.
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Agendas for the July SBE meeting: Wednesday, July 8th - here | Thursday, July 9th - here
- Freebird McKinney's Legislative Updates:
Live Audio Streaming of SBE meetings are available at this link.
Link to SBE Meetings here.
Next monthly meeting: Wednesday, September 2nd, and Thursday, September 3rd.
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 Remembered as a principal “who championed the cause of being present for his students, always going above and beyond so every child knew that he or she mattered,” Enfield Middle School STEAM Academy Principal Teicher Patterson was honored, posthumously, by the State Board of Education during its August monthly meeting. Click for SBE Resolution.
House and Senate Convene: Wednesday, September 2nd
During the regular session that reconvenes on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, only the following matters may be considered:
- Bills that (i) appropriate federal funds received in response to the COVID-19 pandemic or associated matching State funds, (ii) are in accordance with federal law, regulations, and published guidance in effect on that date, and (iii) contain no other matters.
- Bills that (i) provide for action on appointments by the General Assembly pursuant to G.S. 120-121 or provide for the selection, election, appointment, or confirmation, including the filling of vacancies, by one or both houses as required by law and (ii) contain no other matters.
- Bills that (i) provide for action on gubernatorial nominations or appointments and (ii) contain no other matters.
When the Senate and the House of Representatives adjourn on Thursday, September 3, 2020, they stand adjourned sine die.
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Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 10 am
The chairs of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (Sen. Deanna Ballard, Rep. Craig Horn, and Rep. Hugh Blackwell) invited DPI and SBE to present at this meeting.
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COVID-19 Response For North Carolina Public Schools
The COVID-19 Response for North Carolina Public Schools, issued by the North Carolina State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction, provides guidance to public school leaders in response to school closures resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Gov. Roy Cooper directed the North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) in collaboration with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop a plan to:
- Ensure access to a quality education for students through the remainder of the school year;
- Provide students with remote learning while school buildings are closed; and
- Ensure that all school employees – including janitors, bus drivers, teaching assistants and cafeteria workers -- will work in safe environments and be paid.
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PRESS RELEASE: Governor Cooper Directs $95.6 Million to Support Students Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Governor Roy Cooper directed $95.6 million in new funding to help support K-12 and postsecondary students most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who can benefit from support during the upcoming school year. The funding is North Carolina’s share of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, a part of the federal CARES Act. The GEER funds are intended to provide emergency support to school districts, postsecondary institutions, or other education-related entities for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor is directing the following investments to support K-12 students across North Carolina:
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$40 million to the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to hire more school nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists in our public schools.
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$20 million to the State Board of Education and DPI to support the academic needs of at-risk students and students with disabilities through additional in-school supports, such as after-school programming, tutoring, or hiring more teachers or teacher assistants.
The investments in K-12 education will help students continue learning despite the pandemic and also align closely with efforts to help North Carolina meet its constitutional obligation to provide all students with access to a sound, basic education and resolve the Leandro case.
See Complete Press Release here.
- CARES Act will provide $1.4 billion in federal COVID-19 relief in the state budget.
- The $2 trillion economic relief package provides assistance to workers, small businesses, families and state and local governments.
- •$740.4 million for education and state government services
- •$375 million for small business and local government assistance
- •$313 million to public health and safety
LINK: Recommendations to Address COVID-19’s Immediate Needs- Office of State Budget Management
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Education Matters - NC Public School Forum
North Carolina State Board of Education Chair, Eric Davis discusses the options for Reopening K-12 Public Schools - LINK
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Education Matters - NC Public School Forum
Principal Tabari Wallace, NC Wells Fargo Principal of the Year Advisor Spotlights the Class of 2020 - LINK
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Friday Institute for Educational Innovation
Featuring SBE Chairman Eric Davis and SBE Superintendent Advisor Dr. Anthony Jackson
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NC State Board of Education - Legislative Priorities
- Early Grades Literacy
- Leandro Focused Initiatives
- Teacher and Principal Preparation, Professional Learning Opportunities, and Compensation
- School Accountability and Teacher Effectiveness Models
- School and District Assistance and Turnaround
- Connecting High School Students to Post-Secondary and Career Opportunities
- Supporting the Whole Child, including Social/ Emotional and Mental Health Support, as well as Child Nutrition Programs (Second Chance Breakfast)
- Internet/ Broadband Connectivity
- NC Education Corps
K-12 Public Education Bills that have become Session Law
Chaptered Sesson Law 2020-80 on 7/1/2020
Overview: Appropriates about 700M in additional federal CARES Act funding.
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$75 million appropriated to DPI for school nutrition programs to be used for innovative meal service, permits the funds to also be used for the Summer Food Service Program, and extends the deadline for expenditure from the end of the 19-20 school year to December 30, 2020, when all COVID relief funds must be spent.
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$7 million to DPI for PPE for public schools in response to COVID-19 to meet the guidelines from the CDC.
- –In response to a request for $50M for PPE, recognizing that one month of PPE for schools’ costs approximately $38M. The GA plans to wait to see which plan the Governor has schools going back in before appropriating more funds to PPE.
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$5 million to DPI to award as grants to public school unit so they may provide access to services for exceptional children who list critical services due to school closures.
- •Permits DPI to withhold up to $12 million from the transportation allotment for emergency school nutrition transportation services, if necessary.
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$3.9 million to cover the costs of reduced-priced lunch co-pays for eligible students in the 20-21 school year. It also requires the State Board to report on any unpaid meal charges at the end of the year to reassess needs for the appropriation moving forward.
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$18 million for the School Business System Modernization Project that has been a multi-year project working to enhance school data, accountability, and performance management systems.
–This section also directs that $650,000 of the above-mentioned funds be transferred to Government Data Analytics Center for support of the annual school report card data system and the School Finance reporting system.
–Enhances districts' ability to track monies and the outcomes of monies spent in a time when federal dollars are being allocated out to districts with much uncertainty surrounding approved use of funds.
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Chaptered Session Law 2020-27 on 6/19/2020
An Act to Appropriate Funds to the Department of Public Instruction for Increased Average Daily Membership in Public Schools
- Directs the State Controller to transfer, by August 15, 2020, $75 million in nonrecurring funds from the Civil Penalty and Forefeiture Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2020-21 to fund an increase in Average Daily Membership (ADM) for 2020-21.
- Requires DPI, by August 15, 2020, to transfer for 2020-21, $3,923,230, in recurring funds from the cash balance in the School Bus Replacement Fund to fund an increase in ADM for 2020-21.
- Requires that State Controller to transfer $22 million from the Coronavirus Relief Reserve to the Coronavirus Relief Fund (both established in SL 2020-4). Appropriates the transferred funds on a nonrecurring basis to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) for 2020-21 to be allocated to DPI to fund an increase in ADM for low-wealth counties due to the impacts of COVID-19. Specifies that the requirements and limitations in Part I of SL 2020-4 apply to these funds and requires OSBM to include the funds in its required report.
Effective Date: July 1, 2020
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Chaptered Session Law 2020-49 on 6/29/2020
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School Psychologist Licensure Exemption- Exempts school psychologists serving as contractors of DPI from the NC Psychology Board licensure requirement. These psychologists will now only be required to obtain NCSBE licensure.
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Clarify Use of Digital Learning Plan Funds- Clarifies that funds used in the 2020-2021 school year for Digital Leaning Plans are to be used solely for software licenses from the digital literacy curriculum provider.
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Modifications to the 2020-2021 School Calendar- Makes minor adjustments to "year round school" by allowing calendar plans to have a few more days of flexibility.
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Modify Use of School Nutrition Funds- Allows the $75 million appropriated to DPI for school nutrition programs to be used for innovative meal service. Extends deadline to December 30, 2020.
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LME/MCO Expenditure for Student Behavioral Health Needs- Allows the Reinvestment Plans of managed care entities to include assistance to public school unites within the entity's area for student behavioral health needs.
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Change Charter School Report Date- Changes the date the SBE must submit its report to the JLEOC on the educational effectiveness of charter schools.
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Superintendent May Approve Bonds to Finance or Refinance a Charter School Facility- following a public hearing conducted in the county where the charter school facility is or will be located.
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Revise School Administrator Stipend- at least as much as that person would make as a teacher, whichever of the two is higher.
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Extend Maximum Grant Term to Six Years for North Carolina Transforming Principal Preparation Program- Extends the maximum grant term from 5 years to 6 years.
Effective Date: This is effective when it becomes law, unless otherwise noted.
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Bill Summary - Chaptered Session Law 2020-7 on 6/8/2020
Overview: Requires the State Board of Education to create a school-based mental health policy and requires K-12 schools to adopt and implement this plan.
- The plan has to include a mental health training program and a suicide risk referral protocol
- The mental health training program will include: youth mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, sexual abuse prevention, sex trafficking prevention, and teenage dating violence
- Model suicide risk referral protocol will be provided to school personnel in grades six through twelve
- These programs (Mental health training and suicide risk referral) will be at no cost to employees
- These required trainings can be delivered electronically, through videoconferencing, in-person, or through a self-study
- Beginning August 1, 2025 and every 5 years after, the Superintendent of Public Instruction will review the minimum requirements of these programs
- By September 15 of each year, every K-12 school will report to DPI about content and prior compliance, which will then be reported to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services
- These statements apply to charter schools, regional schools, and laboratory schools
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Chaptered Session Law 2020-78 on 7/1/2020
Overview: Enacts policy directives for the 2019-2021 Fiscal Biennium, consistent with certain policy directives in ratified HB 966 of the 2019 Regular Session.
- Eliminate Report To Superintendent on the Adopted Schedule Of Fees
- Authorize the NC CTE Education Foundation to Administer Certain Grants – Develop and administer, in coordination with the SBE and the SPI, and in collaboration with the NC CTE Foundation, Inc., the Career and Technical Education Grade Expansion Program, as established under G.S. 115C-64.17, and shall make awards of grants under the Program. Report due April 30 of each year
- Broaden Certain Charter School Enrollment Priorities
- Expand Schools That Lead Pilot Program
- Arts Education Graduation Requirement
- Advanced Teaching Roles Changes
Effective Date: July 1, 2020
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Chaptered Session Law 2020-64 on 7/1/2020
- Appropriates $1,880,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Authorizes operation of three new CIHSs for subsequent school years.
- Directs DPI to report on funding for CIHSs by development tier area.
- Places a moratorium on new CIHSs for the 2021-2022 school year and limit approvals for certain new CIHSs.
- Prohibits the SBE from approving and new CIHSs that require General Assembly funding for the 21-22 school year.
- Requires the SBE to only conditionally approve up to 3 CIHSs to open in a school year if those schools request General Assembly funding, and may prioritize CIHSs in local school administrative school units that do not currently have CIHSs. Beginning with applications to open a CIHS for the 22-23 school year and beyond.
Effective Date: July 1, 2020
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Chaptered Session Law 2020-45 on 6/26/2020
Overview: Provides teachers, instructional support personnel, and assistant principals with salary increases based on years of experience.
- Establish the 2020-2021 Teacher Monthly Salary Schedule using amounts from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal years - based on years of experience.
- Across-the-board bonus of $350 for teachers and instructional support personnel.
- Encourages the Governor to provide an across-the-board bonus of $600 for teachers, instructional support personnel, and noncertified personnel from discretionary funds under the CARES Act.
- 2020-2021 Principal Annual Salary Schedule using salary amounts from the 2019-2020 fiscal year and growth data from the 2018-2019 school year or earlier. Salaries adjusted based on average daily membership.
- Bonus to principals who received a bonus in the 2019-2020 fiscal year in an amount equal to the amount received pursuant to Section 2.4 of S.L. 2019-247.
- Authorizes assistant principals salaries for the 2020-2021 fiscal year based on amounts from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal years - based on years of experience.
- Authorize salaries for employees of schools operated by State agencies to receive applicable salary increases based on years of experience.
- Provide funds for an increase in the average salary of public school positions.
- Standard provisions (i) the State Budget Act is not superseded by this act, (ii) other appropriations bills enacted in the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly remain in effect, and (iii) departmental receipts are appropriated up to necessary amounts.
Effective Date: July 1, 2020
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North Carolina State Board of Education
“State of the Shire”—Community Affairs Update
Congratulations and Welcome
2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC TOY- Maureen Stover
Maureen M. Stover, a science teacher at Cumberland International Early College High (Cumberland County Schools) was selected from a field of nine finalists representing the state’s eight education districts and charter schools.
“Maureen says that her training and experience in the military ingrained in her the mantra of service before self.”
As the Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Stover will spend the next school year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession. She also will serve as an advisor to the State Board of Education for two years and as a board member for the NC Public School Forum for one year.
Learn more about Stover and the Burroughs Wellcome North Carolina Teacher of the Year Program at this DPI bulletin.
Tar Heel Teachers at Home: Exclusive interview with Maureen Stover (Link)
NC Conference for Educational Equity
The Innovation Project's (TIP) creation of the inaugural Solution Creators Action Network (SCAN.)
TIP-SCAN provides a transformative process for its district members to help their students and communities thrive. TIP-SCAN maintains three commitments upheld by TIP and participating members and partners:
- A commitment to a full perspective on equity;
- A commitment to learner-centered transformation; and,
- A commitment to transparent, open design.
–Each commitment embodies deeply held beliefs regarding the relationship of public educators to their students, their communities and the world at large. Each commitment also reflects the fundamental rights of freedom, liberty, and equal opportunity held by each person.
–The vision for this group is to bring together educators and communities to construct approaches to education that reflect these commitments to equity, learner-centered transformation and transparent, open design.
Richmond County High School Visit with Representative Scott Brewer
 Wayne County Schools
 Lincoln County Schools Visit with Representative Jason Saine
 Future Teacher and Current DPI Legislative Liaison, Josh McGee, Visiting "Jump Start Programs" with Lincoln County Schools
Lincoln Charter "Jump Start Program" with Representative Saine
 Clay County - “Jump Start”- Summer Bridge Program
Cherokee County - “Jump Start”- Summer Bridge Program
 Buncombe County - “Jump Start”- Summer Bridge Program
Mount Airy City Schools - “Jump Start”- Summer Bridge Program
 Lisa Godwin (2017 NC TOY) with Onslow County Schools "Jump Start Program"
 Daniel Scott (2020 Southeast Regional Teacher of the Year) with Onslow County Schools
 Craven County - Representative Craig Horn (NCGA House Education Committee Chair) and Principal Tabari Wallace (2018 Principal of the Year) along with staff
THANK YOU for Your Service-
Collyn Smith UNC Chapel Hill Institute of Politics - Summer Intern
NC Department of Public Instruction, Carolina Panthers Player Impact Committee and Lenovo Team Up to Bridge the Digital Divide
This group has teamed up to provide North Carolina students critical access to technology in support of remote learning needs. The Carolina Panthers Player Impact Committee and its technology partner Lenovo, are providing 600 Chromebooks to the Columbus County and Richmond County school systems in the end of June.
The Carolina Panthers Player Impact Committee engaged with NCDPI after the onset of the pandemic to identify school districts where additional technology resources are needed for remote learning.
See Complete Press Release - Here
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Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Key COVID-19 Resources:
Drill down through these links for valuable information and tools
- If you have questions or concerns, call the COVID-19 Helpline toll free at 1-866-462-3821. To submit questions online, go to ncpoisoncontrol.org and select “chat.”
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ONLINE RESOURCES:
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
HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill
JR = Joint Resolution
SL = Session Law
GS = General Statute
PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute
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OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION:
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Freebird McKinney – Director of Legislative and Community Affairs | 984-236-2248
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Anne Murtha – Legislative Specialist | 984-236-2256
- Collyn Smith – Legislative Policy Intern
OFFICE OF THE NC SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CONTACT INFORMATION:
To view previous Weekly Legislative Updates click here.
The NC Department of Public instruction offers a number of topics for subscription.
- To subscribe to the Weekly Legislative Update, click here.
- To subscribe to other NC Department of Public Instruction topics, click here.
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