Highlights
Office of Governor Stein - Press Release | March 19, 2025: Governor Stein Signs First Bill into Law, Delivering Resources to Support Western North Carolina's Recovery
ABC 11 | March 19, 2025: Governor Josh Stein reveals budget proposal (YouTube Video)
 EdNC - Hannah Vinueza McClellan | March 17, 2025: ‘Highlights’ report of the budget for North Carolina public schools is out for 2024-25 | NCDPI Highlights of the North Carolina Public School Budget, March 2025
WFAE - James Farrell | March 18, 2025: How teacher salaries work in North Carolina
The Carolina Journal - Donna King | March 20, 2025: Trump executive order moves to shrink US Department of Education
EdNC - Mebane Rash | March 21, 2025: As Trump moves to close the federal department of education, is North Carolina prepared to assume more responsibility?
State Board of Education April Meeting
- Wednesday, April 2 at 10 AM
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Thursday, April 3 at 9 AM
About the State Board of Education
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
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March 20, 2025
Earlier this evening, on March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. While education funding is primarily provided at state and local levels, these federal changes could have real implications for North Carolina's schools and students.
As your State Superintendent, my priority remains ensuring every North Carolina student receives a high-quality education regardless of changes at the federal level.
While we do not have specific details on what this executive order will impact and how Congress will respond, we know what federal funding and services provide for North Carolina schools.
Almost 11% (10.9%) of funding for North Carolina's public schools comes from the federal government.
The more than $1 billion in federal education funding that North Carolina's public schools receive helps to provide educational services for students, including our most vulnerable students – those with disabilities and from low-income families – and supports various programs including Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
The salaries of more than 14,000 public school teachers and other educators (7.6% of all public school educators and staff in North Carolina) are paid with federal education funding.
The loss of federal education would not only be detrimental for public school students, especially students with disabilities and students from low-income families, but would also be detrimental to local economies. Public schools are:
- the single-largest employer in 44 counties,
- a top-3 employer in 85 counties, and
- a top-5 employer in all 100 counties.
The elimination of the Department of Education could delay grant processing, technical assistance and guidance for programs that serve our students.
In addition to seeking to close the U.S. Department of Education, the executive order seeks to "return authority over education to the States and local communities while "ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs and benefits on which Americans rely." It is too early to know how all of this will unfold. For example, while the funds that have been provided through various formulas (e.g., Title I funding and funding for exceptional children) remain in place, we have already seen the termination of competitive grants for certain activities such as teacher recruitment and retention.
It is also too early to know how these changes will impact the flow of federal funding. Indeed, the federal government's administrative capacity to efficiently distribute and oversee these funds is a growing concern. In addition, we are anticipating challenges on program implementation and compliance requirements.
Here at NCDPI, we are continuing to monitor federal executive orders and actions, maintain regular communication with districts and schools to understand and assist with immediate needs and concerns and advocate strongly for continued federal funding without disruptions through all available channels.
I recognize the uncertainty these changes create for educators and students who depend on federal programs and funding. NCDPI is committed to providing clear, timely information to districts as the situation evolves.
While we cannot control federal decisions, we can control our response to them. My commitment to you is that NCDPI will work tirelessly to help manage any impacts on our students and educators. I will also continue to keep our education community informed as we learn more about these changes and their implications.
My priority is for the 1.5 million students across the state and the schools, educators and people that support them. As we develop our strategic plan for the state, I am spending my time connecting with and listening to key partners, decision-makers and community members across this state. I encourage district leaders to reach out to NCDPI with specific concerns as we navigate this evolving situation together. I am confident that by working together - educators, families, communities and policymakers - we will continue to advance educational excellence for every student in our state.
Maurice "Mo" Green
Superintendent, NC Department of Public Instruction
Statement from NC State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green & State Board Chair Eric Davis on Governor Stein's Budget Proposal
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K-12 Education Bills
Bills in the News:
The Carolina Journal - David N. Bass | March 19, 2025: NC House Bill to ban DEI agenda in state and local government
NC Newsline - Ahmed Jallow | March 19, 2025: NC House panel advances bill restricting K-12 student cell phone use
New Session Law
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SL 2025-2 (HB 47) - Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 - Part I.
- Section 2G.1. (page 10) - Appropriates $9 million to establish the School Extension Learning Recovery Program (SELRP). All PSUs in Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties are able to participate, including charters and Asheville City Schools.
- Section 3.1. (page 13) - Extends the State of Emergency until June 30, 2025.
- Section 5.8 (page 19) - Allows all PSUs in Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties, including charter schools and Asheville City Schools, to deem complete an additional 10 missed instructional days due to inclement weather from December 2024 to February 2025.
- Section 5.8.(c) (page 19) - School Nutrition employees and contractors in Helene-impacted counties should be compensated for instructional days that were moved to remote learning due to the hurricane in September through November 2024 as if they had worked a scheduled on-site instructional day.
- Section 5.11. (page 21) - Reduces the waiting period for state employees that retired between April 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025 to return to work from six months to one month to assist with recovery efforts.
K-12 Education Bills to Watch
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Bill
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Short Title
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Action Description
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HB 21
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Drivers License Designation/Autism.
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Re-ref to House Rules
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HB 87
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Cell Phone-Free Education.
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Re-ref to House Rules
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HB 186
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The Stars and Stripes Commitment Act.
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Re-ref to House Rules
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HB 192
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Raise Teacher Pay & Dollar Allot. Study.
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Ref to House Appropriations, if fav, House Rules
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HB 414
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1-to-1 Credit for Career and College Promise.
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Ref to House Ed K-12, if fav., Higher Ed, if fav., House Rules
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HB 415
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Split Math Courses and Change Math Grad. Reqs.
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Ref to House Ed K-12, if fav., House Rules
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HB 433
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Registered Nurses in Schools.
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Ref to House Ed K-12, if fav., Health, if fav., House Rules
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HB 451
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Diabetes Education for Parents.
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Ref to House Ed K-12, if fav., Approps, if fav., House Rules
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HB 475
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State ID Cards for High School Students.
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Filed 3/20/2025
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SB 55
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Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices.
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Ref to House Rules (Made Crossover)
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SB 77
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School Contracted Health Services.
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Re-ref to House Rules (Made Crossover)
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SB 223
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Expand Academic Trans. Pathways/Sophomore HS.
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Passed the Senate – Sent to the House (Made Crossover)
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SB 227
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Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education.
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Passed the Senate – Sent to the House (Made Crossover)
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SB 360
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Healthy Students - A Nurse in Every School.
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Filed on 3/20/2025
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