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Highlights
EdNC - Mebane Rash | August 7, 2025: Our top 10 issues are not the ones featuring most prominently in the news cycle right now…but here are the top 10 issues we think will frame this school year:
- Access to education for immigrants without legal status;
- Pathways to work are more important than ever;
- Exposing middle school students to college;
- Local, state, and philanthropic funding for the safety net for students and families;
- Wordsmithing school choice: Choice vs. fit, uniform vs. plural, quality vs. accountability, and the impact of churn;
- The relationship between education spending and teacher pay;
- The health of district fund balances;
- From grass roots to grass tops, educators are finding different ways to lean in;
- Will business leaders come together and align on issues that matter?; and
- This era for parent rights is complicated for students.
U.S. Department of Labor Press Release | August 13, 2025: The U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education published a milestone report, America’s Talent Strategy: Equipping American Workers for the Golden Age, which presents a bold vision and concrete actions to transform the federal government’s approach to workforce development. The strategy outlines the Trump Administration’s blueprint for how it will prepare the workforce to seize the opportunities of President Trump’s America First economic agenda and power the nation’s entry into a new Golden Age of economic growth. Read the full strategy.
WUNC - Liz Schlemmer | August 12, 2025: The mini-budget recently passed by state lawmakers to fund urgent needs includes continued funding to support free school meals at schools with high concentrations of poverty. The $3 million committed in state funds will help eligible schools afford to stay in a federal program known as the community eligibility provision that reimburses schools for offering free school meals to all students. The idea of the community eligibility program is that if at least a quarter of students at a school qualify for free or reduced price lunch, the school can receive federal funds to offer free meals across-the-board. But school officials say it can be hard to stretch those federal funds to make the program work.
EdNC - Sergio Osnaya-Prieto | August 11, 2025: More than 62,000 North Carolina public high school seniors are set to receive direct admission to select colleges and universities across the state this fall thanks to the NC College Connect program, according to a press release from the UNC System Office. During the State Board of Education’s meeting last week, the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Sneha Shah-Coltrane said specifically 62,959 students were directly admitted to at least 34 participating colleges last week. According to the NC College Connect website, students meet the program’s course requirements if they have met the state graduation requirements, including a fourth-level math class.
U.S. Department of Education Press Release | August 8, 2025: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced August 8 the “Returning Education to the States” Tour. As the Department works to fulfill President Trump's commitment to return education to the states, Secretary McMahon will visit all 50 U.S. states to hear from students, teachers, and school leaders about education models that are accelerating learning outcomes and are meeting the needs of families and local communities. To learn more about the “Returning Education to the States” Tour and view an interactive map, click here. Keep up with the Secretary’s Tour via @EDSecMcMahon! And for behind-the-scenes updates, follow @EDPressSec.
State Board of Education
Rulemaking Public Hearing
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Thursday, August 28 at 9 a.m.
September Board Meeting
- Wednesday, September 3 and Thursday, September 4
NC State Board of Education in the News:
EdNC - Chantal Brown | August 11, 2025: In their monthly convening last week, the State Board of Education approved the final draft of the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) 37-page, five-year strategic plan, titled “Achieving Educational Excellence.” The full details of each pillar and their respective measures and actions are now publicly available. DPI will be hosting a launch event to engage with stakeholders and the general public on Aug. 20 at Neuse River Middle School in Raleigh.
News & Observer - T. Keung Hui | August 12, 2025: North Carolina public high schools are no longer allowed to fail students solely because they have too many absences in a class. This policy goes into effect for the 2025-26 school year that most high school students will begin later this month. Schools can still impose non-academic consequences for excessive absences. For instance, schools can give in-school suspension and take away privileges such as participation in extra-curricular activities. Schools can also still fail a student who has a large number of absences. But the failure has to be due to the student's grades not being high enough.
About the State Board of Education
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
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Celebrate the Good in Public Education
EdNC - Matt Bristow-Smith | August 12, 2025
I believe in North Carolina’s public schools because they believed in me.
As our 2019 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, I have traveled our state from Murphy to Manteo. Despite our differences, one thing is constant: Public schools across N.C. are changing lives. We may not be perfect — but we are irreplaceable.
Public schools are the backbone of our communities - Public schools are one of the rare spaces where people from all backgrounds learn and grow together. We teach not only reading and math but also how to listen, how to lead, how to resolve conflict, and how to show up for others.
Teachers deserve our full attention — and our full support - Our teachers come in early to prep and stay late to tutor. They carry with them not just lesson plans but the stories, strengths, and struggles of the children in their care. They are mentors, counselors, coaches, and advocates. Our teachers are committed at a level that goes so far beyond contractual duties. We must restore the dignity of this work. Because when we invest in teachers, we invest in every student, every family, and every future in North Carolina.
Principal leadership matters - If teachers are the heart of a school, principals are the backbone. If you want strong schools, invest in strong principals — and then trust us to lead. Over the next year, the North Carolina Principal of the Year network will be lifting our collective voices, sharing a series of monthly perspective pieces. Each one will spotlight the challenges we face, the innovation we lead, and the hope we hold for the future of our public schools.
The stakes are higher than we think - We must remind ourselves, and each other, that public schools are not the problem. They are the best solution we have for preparing our children for the future, for strengthening our communities, and for preserving what is good and possible in North Carolina. We need a commitment from every elected public leader to make our N.C. public schools first in the nation — no matter what it takes.
A call to believe again - We believe that every child arrives with something to offer and with the potential to be transformed. We challenge, support, and believe in each and every one of our scholars. This is what public schools do at our best: we validate identity and nurture growth. We say, “Be yourself” — and then we help you become your best self. Let’s continue to believe. Let’s continue to invest. Let’s continue to ensure that public schools in North Carolina are not just open — but thriving.
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K-12 Education Bills
Bills in the News:
WRAL News - Laura Leslie | August 7, 2025: North Carolina’s Democratic governor and Republican state lawmakers agree that North Carolina should opt into the new federal school voucher tax credit program. But they don’t agree on which students should benefit from the additional money or who should make that decision. The program is included in the congressional legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law by President Donald Trump in July. It allows a nonrefundable dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to a “scholarship granting organization.” It takes effect in tax year 2027. There is no cap on the total amount of credit that can be claimed, so the program could cost the federal government billions of dollars per year in foregone tax revenue. Under House Bill 87, the North Carolina State Educational Assistance Authority, the agency that oversees state school vouchers, would be tasked with certifying and listing “scholarship granting organizations” that qualify for the tax credit.
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New Session Laws Affecting K-12 Education
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HB 125 Continuing Budget Operations. Ch. SL 2025-89
K-12 Education Bills to Watch
The following bills affecting K-12 education are still eligible for additional legislative action this session. Bills with an asterisk* have already been placed on the House Calendar for a potential veto override attempt on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. For a complete list of education bills to watch, see 2025-2026 Biennium K-12 Education Bills Tracking Link.
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HB 87 Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). Vetoed 8.6.2025 | Veto Document
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HB 171* Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.
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SB 50* Freedom to Carry NC.
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SB 153* North Carolina Border Protection Act.
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SB 227* Eliminating "DEI" in Public Education.
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North Carolina General Assembly
State Budget Information & Resources
2025 State Budget Proposal
2025 State Budget Update
2023 State Budget
Other State Budget Resources
K-12 Education Legislation Resources
Enacted Hurricane Helene Recovery Legislation
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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.
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FY25-26 Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF) Grants Application Schedule
The application period for new FY25-26 Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF) Grants [per G.S. 115C, Article 38B] will open on August 18, 2025. Program guidance and application materials will be available on the Capital Funding page of the School Planning website when the application period opens. The deadline for submitting applications and supporting materials is October 3, 2025.
Questions about the NBPSCF grant program should be directed to Nathan Maune, AIA, via email.
Burroughs Wellcome Fund supports teaching professionals in their efforts to provide quality hands-on, inquiry-based activities for their students. The Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics awards enhance the excitement for STEM in the classroom by providing funds for materials, equipment, and supplies related to the implementation of high-quality curriculum and activities in the classroom. |
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This award provides up to $3,000 for one year to cover the cost of equipment, materials, and supplies. An additional $1,500 may be requested for professional development related to the implementation of new equipment or the use of materials in the classroom. Awards are made to teaching professionals that hold a professional educator's license to teach in a North Carolina K-12 public school. Frequently Asked Questions
Application Instructions - Deadline September 30, 2025
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The N.C. Office of Environmental Education encourages, supports and promotes environmental education programs, facilities and resources and equips educators with the skills and knowledge to improve environmental literacy, stewardship of natural resources in North Carolina. Click on the link below to learn more about grant opportunities offered through the N.C. Office of Environmental Education.
In Other News
NC State Health Plan | August 15, 2025: The State Health Plan (Plan) Board of Trustees met today to set premiums for the 2026. The approved premiums include increases for most members and a cost reduction for some members who cover children on their plan. To lessen the financial burden on the state’s lowest paid active members, the Plan will be introducing salary-based premiums in 2026.
The approved premiums for active, Non-Medicare and Medicare members are below. Please note that salary bands are not applicable to retired members. To view the Board of Trustees materials from today’s meeting, click here.
Plan members will receive more information regarding benefits and premium rates approved today prior to the 2026 Open Enrollment period which will take place Oct. 13-31, 2025.
Click HERE to view a message from Treasurer Brad Briner.
  
EdNC - Gabriela Ramirez and Mebane Rash | August 12, 2025: During Teacher Appreciation Week 2025, Gov. Josh Stein established by executive order the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee (GTAC), and he announced that Rachel Candaso — a middle school teacher at Wellcome Middle School in Pitt County Schools and the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year — will chair the committee. All of the regional teachers of the year are also serving on the committee. On July 29, the committee met for the first time. They discussed the teacher voice pipeline and the issues that matter most as they work to connect classroom practice to state policy.
The committee meets quarterly, and the next meetings are scheduled for Oct. 28, Jan. 27, 2026, and April 28, 2026. Bookmark this page to follow the work of the committee throughout the school year.
 Courtesy of the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Committee
Click here to subscribe to the weekly legislative update or other NC Department of Public Instruction topics.
To view previous K-12 Education Legislative Updates, click here.
NCDPI Office of Government Affairs: Anne Murtha – Legislative Specialist
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