K-12 Education Legislative Update - Friday, February 14, 2025

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Friday, February 14, 2025

Highlights

NCGA Educational Resources - How an Idea Becomes a Law

Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt - Press Release | February 13, 2025: Lieutenant Governor Hunt Releases Future-Ready North Carolina Plan, Outlining Policy Priorities

EdNC - Mary Ann Wolf | February 13, 2025: Perspective | The 2025 long session presents exciting opportunity

Office of the Governor - Press Release | February 11, 2025: Governor Josh Stein Recognizes School Bus Drivers During School Bus Driver Week

EdNC - Board of State Health Plan moves to set premiums based on salary tiers

North State Journal - A.P. Dillon | February 10, 2025: 2025 Charter School Summit held in Raleigh

Office of the Governor - Press Release | February 12, 2025: Governor Josh Stein Proclaims February as Career and Technical Education Month

NCDPI Press Releases

State Board of Education

State Board of Education will meet March 5 and 6, 2025

Board meeting agendas and presentations

EdNC - Hannah Vinueza McClellan | February 12, 2025: DPI, State Board approve legislative priorities and welcome superintendent’s cabinet

About the State Board of Education

YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.

Celebrate the good in public education

EdNC - Mebane Rash | February 13, 2025: Learn more about a plan for North Carolina to be first in education

BEST NC - The Educator Innovation Plan - Includes programs, policies, and initiatives that affect the lives and livelihoods of thousands of educators and tens of thousands of students.

Superintendent's Student Advisory Council

The Superintendent's Student Advisory Council is a diverse group of High School juniors and seniors from across all 8 of NC's State Board Regions. Each member serves a two-year term and meets biweekly to discuss education issues that leaders across North Carolina could solve and advocate for.

During each of their terms, advisors also will develop two proposals for the State Superintendent's office, or General Assembly members through a comprehensive presentation that outlines ways to create change through policy or legislation.

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

Apply Here

Educational Programs with the Governor's Office and General Assembly

Governor's Page Program - Governor's pages must complete a service project and will spend part of their page week planning a service project that reflects the goals and values of VolunteerNC.
Senate Page Program - Each Senator has their own criteria which they use to select Pages. The selection process for this program is competitive. Official appointments are made by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate based on recommendations by individual Senators.
House Page Program - Students submit their application to their Representative who selects the individuals to be appointed by the Speaker.
NCGA Internship Program - The programs provide valuable work experience for undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those with an interest in political science, public administration, law, and a career in public service.
Youth Legislative Assembly - The conference allows high school students an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the workings of local, state, and national government. Active participation in YLA increases the students' confidence and ability to debate current issues. Any high school student in good standing at a public, private, charter, or home school in North Carolina is eligible to participate in YLA.

K-12 Education Bills

2025 -2026 Biennium K-12 Education Bills Tracking Link

K-12 Education Bills to Watch

Bill	Title	Action
HB 47	Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I.	Passed House Appropriations, Re-ref to House Rules
HB 56	Publish Central Office Employment Information.	Ref to House State and Local Gov., if fav., Ed - K-12, if fav., House Rules
HB 82	Study Commission for LEA Size.	Ref to House Rules
HB 87	Cell Phone-Free Education.	Ref to House Ed - K-12, if fav., Judiciary 3, if fav, House Rules
HB 106	Revive High-Need Retired Teachers Program.	Ref to House Ed - K-12, if fav., Pensions & Retirement, if fav., Appropriations, if fav., House Rules
SB 48	Access to Sports and Extracurriculars for All.	Ref to Senate Rules
SB 55	Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices.	Re-ref to Senate Ed/Higher Ed. If fav, re-ref to Senate Rules
SB 56	Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I.	Re-ref Senate Appropriations/Base Budget
SB 77	School Contracted Health Services.	Re-ref to Senate Ed/Higher Ed. If fav, re-ref to Senate Rules

NCGA Members Corner

EdNC - Mebane Rash | February 11, 2025: Meet Sen. Kevin Corbin: Why the ‘voice of the far west’ believes in public schools

North Carolina General Assembly

2023-2024 Legislation with Effective Dates of July 1, 2024 through January 1, 2025

K-12 Education Legislation Resources

Chapter 115C. Elementary and Secondary Education
2024 education bills and summaries.
NCSBA - 2024 Legislative Session Summary
Requirements and Guidance on School Calendar
Law Modifications

Enacted Hurricane Helene Recovery Legislation

HB 149 Disaster Recovery Act of 2024. | Bill Summary
SB 743 The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 - Part II. | Bill Summary | Committee Report
SB 382 Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes. | Bill Summary

FY 2023-2025 Budget Information

SB 332 - 2023 Appropriations Act Changes | Bill Summary
SB 357 - Adjustments to the 2023 Appropriations Act
Office of State Budget & Management
- April-Revenue Forecast
- Budget Manual
All Legislative Budget Documents
K-12 Education Budget | NC DPI

Education Reports - NC DPI / SBE Reports

Useful Acronyms

DPI = Department of Public Instruction

GS = General Statute

HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill

JR = Joint Resolution

LB/LOB = Legislative Building/Legislative Office Building

LEA = Local Education Agency

NCGA = North Carolina General Assembly

PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute

PSU = Public School Unit

SBE = North Carolina State Board of Education

SL = Session Law

For the glossary of education acronyms/terms, click here.

For the glossary of legislative terms, click here.

Five NC Educators Receive Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

NC DPI Press Release - February 7, 2025

Five North Carolina teachers were honored last month as recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the highest award K-12 teachers can receive for instruction in those two subjects by the federal government. In all, 336 teachers nationwide were named by former President Joe Biden as award recipients spanning from 2021 to 2023.

Chasity Bolch, Newton-Conover Middle School (Newton-Conover City Schools)
Adam Haas, Rocky River Elementary School (Union County Public Schools)
Nardi Routten, Creekside Elementary School (Craven County Schools)
Sara-Elizabeth Senseney, Mountain Heritage High School (Yancey County Schools)
Leigha Jordan, Valley Springs Middle School (Buncombe County Schools)

Read the entire Press Release here.

NC Teacher of the Year Finalists Announced

NCDPI Press Release - February 10, 2025

RALEIGH – Nine North Carolina educators have been named regional Teachers of the Year in recognition of their outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.

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.

“Those of us doing the work see the incredible impact of public education every day, so to see these nine exceptional educators lifted up and honored for their dedication to students is priceless” said State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “I know that this group will serve their students and fellow educators admirably, and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the year ahead.”

The mission of the North Carolina Teacher of the Year Program is to promote the profession through advocacy and support while recognizing outstanding teaching professionals who are implementing best practices in classrooms across North Carolina.

On April 11, one of these excellent educators will be named the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year during an awards ceremony at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. The event will be livestreamed on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. Learn more about the NC Teacher of the Year program on the NCDPI website. Follow along on social media at #NCTOY.

The finalists for NC Teacher of the Year are:

Northeast: Rachel Candaso - Wellcome Middle School (Pitt County Schools)

Southeast: Hannah Moon - Emsley A. Laney High School (New Hanover County Schools)

North Central: Tamika J. Farmer - G. W. Carver Elementary School (Edgecombe County Schools)

Sandhills: Dr. Anthony Martin - East Columbus Junior/Senior High School (Columbus County Schools)

Piedmont-Triad: Chanel Jones - Broadview Middle School (Alamance-Burlington School System)

Southwest: Yaronda Kilgo - Wingate Elementary School (Union County Public Schools)

Northwest: Tayler Bomar - Greenlee Primary School (Mitchell County Schools)

Western: Lydia Sale - West Elementary School (Swain County Schools)

Charter: Lindsay Phillips - Mountain Island Charter School

Read the entire Press Release here.

One Week Until ...2025 Virtual State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina

Help Us Close the Gap: The State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina

Join myFutureNC on Thursday, February 20th, for The State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina and learn how we can work together to close the educational attainment gap in our state. Together, we can create a brighter future for all North Carolinians. Invite your team to join virtually as myFutureNC shares the steps we need to take to ensure that by 2030, 2 million North Carolinians hold a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree.

Register: https://bit.ly/3ZPHu2r

Learn about funding opportunities

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To view previous K-12 Education Legislative Updates, click here.

NCDPI Office of Government Affairs: Anne Murtha – Legislative Specialist

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