Highlights
2025 Legislative Session Update
Lawmakers briefly reconvened in Raleigh on Tuesday and Thursday of this week, although no bills were considered and no votes were taken.
- The NC General Assembly last acted on July 30 when it passed HB 125: Continuing Budget Operations, which Governor Stein then signed into law (S.L. 2025-89) on August 6. This law, often referred to as a “mini budget,” enacted a base budget for the 2025-27 biennium, and includes several critical funding items for NC’s public schools, including but not limited to: student enrollment funding, authorization for employee step increases (retroactive to July 1), and funding needed to continue implementation of the new student information system (SIS).
- Lawmakers have been unable to agree so far on a new comprehensive state budget for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, and it is not yet known whether lawmakers will be able to come to a consensus before the April 21, 2026 start of the legislative short session. They have agreed to “reconvene” on the following dates, although legislative action on these dates, if any, is still to be determined:
- September 22-25, 2025
- October 21, 2025
- November 18, 2025
- December 16, 2025
- January 13, 2026
- February 10, 2026
- March 10, 2026
- April 7, 2026
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April 21, 2026— Start of 2026 Short Session
Budget Update
Per the notice from Superintendent Green, unless action is taken by the NC General Assembly, DPI plans on preparing to execute contracts and distribute funds after September 2nd that were previously paused due to the absence of a ratified budget. More information will be provided next week. General questions, please email allotments@dpi.nc.gov.
WRAL - Paul Specht | August 27, 2025: Raises for state employees are on hold until Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives can reach a state budget deal. Lawmakers earlier this month approved stopgap funding for some state agencies and certain higher-education needs, but they’ve yet to adopt a plan that would fully fund government operations or provide raises to state employees. Until a deal is reached, the state is operating under the funding levels approved under the 2023-24 budget. Tax rates are the main issue holding up negotiations, said Lambeth, a senior chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The personal income tax rates are scheduled to be 4.25% this year and 3.99% in 2026. The chambers have disagreed on how to plan for tax cuts in 2027 and beyond. State economists have warned budget writers that declining revenues could leave North Carolina without enough money to pay for the state’s growing needs.
U.S. Department of Education Press Release | August 27, 2025: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to Congress certifying that the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form will be available on time this fall for students and families across the country. In the letter to congressional leadership, Secretary McMahon confirmed that the form will launch by the congressionally-mandated October 1 deadline.
K-12 Dive - Kara Arundel | August 22, 2025: The Education Department is proposing the removal of a requirement for states to collect and report on racial disparities in special education, according to a notice published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 22. The data collection is part of the annual state application under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provides assurances that the state and its districts will comply with IDEA rules as a condition for receiving federal IDEA funding.
K-12 Dive - Kara Arundel | August 27, 2025: The Education Department promises to release a second tranche of federal grant funding in early October, court records show. Twenty four states and the District of Columbia are seeking to throw out a lawsuit challenging this summer’s delay of K-12 federal grant funding. A joint motion to dismiss was filed Monday by the coalition of states, led by California, and the Trump administration, with both parties agreeing that the balance of the remaining funds be released no later than October 3.
State Board of Education
State Board of Education Appeal Panel
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Tuesday, September 2
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Agenda | Livestream Link
- A three-member panel of the State Board of Education will meet about the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' Appeal from DPI’s decision to impose interest on unresolved overdraft from the State Public School Fund.
September Board Meeting
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Wednesday, September 3 at 10 a.m.
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Thursday, September 4 at 9 a.m.
About the State Board of Education
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
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From The Superintendent
Welcome back! Let's make this year unforgettable!
Superintendent Mo Green visited Hillsborough Elementary (Orange County Schools, NC) to talk first-day excitement with Carter and share a heartfelt welcome for students, families and staff across North Carolina.
Back to School Letter from Superintendent Green
"Dear North Carolina Students, Families & Educators: Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! As your State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I am thrilled to welcome each of you back to what promises to be an extraordinary year of learning, growth, and achievement in North Carolina's Public Schools."
Read the full letter here.
Celebrate the Good in Public Education
Live student performances at NCDPI the week of September 15th-19th
Monday, September 15th - Greene Central High School Marching Band from Greene County on the Halifax Lawn from 11:30-12.
The Greene Central HS Marching Rams have an extensive tradition of musical excellence. The GC Band was established in 1962 and the Marching Rams began competing in 1973. Within a year, the band already established itself as a top-performing ensemble winning multiple grand championships across NC and continued that success by hosting the first of forty-four Greene Central Band Day marching competitions and performing in the 1980 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. These days, that tradition of musical excellence plays on! Under the Directorship of Andrew Howell, the GCHS Band program has won many awards in Marching, ShowBand, as well as the Concert Band, receiving its first superior rating in school history. Unlike most HS programs, the GC Marching Rams mix traditional High-Step, modern Drum Corp, and HBCU ShowStyle into each musical performance. These exciting performances accentuate the diversity within our band program, while bringing our students, teachers, community members together.
Tuesday, September 16th - Chase Middle School Chorus, Rutherford County will perform at DPI in room 150 from 11:30-12.
The Chase Middle School Chorus is made up of 40 8th grade students from a small, rural school in Forest City, NC. They are part of a growing music program that reaches 42% of the student population through band and chorus. This group earned double Superior ratings at MPA this past year and had the unique opportunity to perform twice with the Symphony of Rutherford County. They also sing regularly for senior citizens at local nursing homes and senior centers, using music to connect with and serve their community. Under the direction of Michael Henderson, these students perform a diverse repertoire — including music in Spanish to celebrate and engage their Spanish-speaking classmates. They’ve grown into confident, expressive performers who love making music together and are excited for the chance to represent their school and share their voices with a broader audience.
Thursday, September 18th - “Dynamic Marching Machine” Warren County High School Marching Band from Warren County on the Halifax Lawn from 11:30-12.
The Undisputed "Dynamic Marching Machine" of Warren County High School from Warrenton, NC boasts a rich legacy of excellence. Since the early 2000s, this powerhouse program has consistently dominated the high-step marching band scene, securing numerous state and national championships. Their remarkable success is a testament to the unwavering dedication and relentless hard work of its student musicians. Hailing from a small rural town, these driven young performers consistently defy expectations, traveling extensively across the East Coast to deliver high-octane, show-stopping performances that captivate audiences and uphold the band's formidable reputation.
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K-12 Education Bills
Bills in the News:
The Carolina Journal - David M. Bass | August 28, 2025: State lawmakers convened for a brief session this week in which they were scheduled to consider veto overrides on several bills, but the sessions ended without the overrides being taken up. Instead, lawmakers have now scheduled the override session for late September. Bills on the state House side that were scheduled for consideration included three measures — House Bill 171, Senate Bill 227, and Senate Bill 558 — designed to curb the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda in K-12 education, higher education, and in state and local government.
WRAL - Emily Walkenhorst and Destinee Patterson | August 28, 2025: A new state law will require all public school districts and charter schools to have a school board-approved policy by Jan. 1, requiring cellphones and other portable communication devices to be turned off and put away, with only a few exceptions. Although the policies target student behavior, many students acknowledge the need for them. “Cellphones have proven to some degree to be beneficial in instruction, in helping students stay engaged, but they also, of course, are a massive tool for disengagement,” said Ian House, a senior at Green Hope High in Cary. He’s also a student adviser to the State Board of Education and surveyed students across central North Carolina about cellphones.
K-12 Education Bills to Watch
The following bills affecting K-12 education are still eligible for additional legislative action this session. All of the bills have already been placed on the House Calendar for a potential veto override attempt on Monday, September 22, 2025.
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HB 87 Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA).
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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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