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Friday, September 5, 2025 |
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Highlights
News & Observer - Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan | Sept. 2, 2025: Summer has waned and the state of North Carolina hasn’t passed a new state budget by Labor Day. That makes it two months late, given that the new fiscal year began July 1. If that sounds familiar, it is because in recent years the state budget being late has become the norm.
- The 2019 budget cycle was the most significant in recent history because there was no comprehensive budget passed at all.
- The 2021 two-year budget bill did become law, but not until it was nearly Thanksgiving that year.
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In 2023, the budget deal arrived in late September.
- The current 2025 budget battle is over future tax cuts. If Hall and Berger reach a compromise soon, they could pass a budget bill before the end of September.
EdNC - Analisa Sorrells Archer | Sept. 2, 2025: The federal budget reconciliation bill, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, cuts federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion through 2034. That’s about 20% — the largest cut in SNAP history. The law also includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, a program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income individuals, including children in low-income families. Students in households that lose access to SNAP or Medicaid will lose their automatic access to free or reduced-price school meals and SUN Bucks, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides $120 per eligible child in grocery benefits that can be used in the summer months when schools are out. Instead, families will have to submit applications to remain eligible for free school meals.
Office of NC Governor Josh Stein | Sept. 2, 2025: On Tuesday, September 2, Governor Josh Stein announced an Executive Order on artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure North Carolina’s leadership in AI literacy, governance, and deployment. The executive order establishes an AI Leadership Council, an AI Accelerator within the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT), and AI Oversight Teams within each state agency. The council will be chaired by Secretary of Information Technology Teena Piccione and Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley.
WUNC - Liz Schlemmer | Sept. 2, 2025: When families move into a new neighborhood or research schools to choose where to send their child, one of the first things they might learn about their local school is its letter grade. For more than a decade, North Carolina public schools have been rated with an A through F score. North Carolina's State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green wants to re-evaluate that system to give families more context around the grade.
State Board of Education
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Special Called Meeting: WS/FCS Appeal
September Board Meeting
Special Recognitions
- Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching | Presentation
- STEM Schools of Distinction Recognition | Presentation
Accountability and Testing Results for the 2024–25 School Year
Strategic Plan Update
About the State Board of Education
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
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Celebrate the Good in Public Education
DPI Press Release | Sept. 3, 2025
North Carolina students achieved a three-year high in most standardized tests at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, according to the annually released test data that was presented to the State Board of Education today.
Students scored higher in 12 of 15 math and reading assessments, with only third-grade reading, English II and NC Math I trailing the 2023-24 results. The average composite score for 11th graders taking the ACT, a college readiness test, rebounded to 18.2 in 2024-25 from a slight dip of 18.1 the previous year.
Demonstrating alignment to Pillar I of the Strategic Plan, Prepare Each Student for Their Next Phase in Life, new data shows that the four-year cohort graduation rate has also risen to 87.7%, up from 87.0% in 2023-24, and is the highest in the past 10 years.
State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green said these scores are a baseline for what’s to come. “I’m proud of our students and educators who have worked hard to improve these metrics even as we acknowledge that our students are more than test scores,” he said. “While the progress and growth shown in these reports deserves praise, we must continue our work to promote excellence for all students. Our plan is to Achieve Educational Excellence – for every child in North Carolina and to have the best public schools in the nation. I am eager to see this data continue to improve as we work to implement our strategic plan.”
Read the full press release to learn more about gains for English Language Learner (EL) students, Hurricane Helene testing waivers, individual district highlights, alignment with the new Strategic Plan, and more.
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K-12 Education Bills
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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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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Burroughs Wellcome Fund Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) for Public School Teachers Grant - Applications Due Sept. 30
The Promoting Innovation in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) 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.
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.
Learn more and apply for the grant here. The deadline to apply is September 30 at 3 p.m.
In Other News
Governor Josh Stein Press Release | August 29, 2025
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Rachel Maria Ogo Candaso of Martin County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Candaso is currently an AVID Elective Teacher and Site Coordinator at Wellcome Middle School in Greenville. She is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
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Dolores Amanda Aguayo of Alamance County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Aguayo is a Visual Arts Teacher at Gavelly Hill Middle School in Efland.
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Tayler Duncan Bomar of Mitchell County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Bomar is a Second Grade Teacher at Greenlee Primary School in Spruce Pine. She is a 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year.
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Emily Morgan Burrus of Haywood County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Burrus is a French Teacher at Pisgah High School in Canton.
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Bobbie Joe Cavnar of Gaston County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Cavnar is an English Teacher and Chair of the English Department at South Point High School in Belmont. In 2016, he was the North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
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Summer Anne Espinosa of Union County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Espinosa is a Kindergarten Teacher at W.R. Odell Primary School. She is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Beginning Teacher of the Year.
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Tamika Jaquetta Farmer of Martin County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Farmer is a Fourth Grade Teacher at G.W. Carver Elementary School in Pinetops, where she also serves as a mentor to new elementary teachers. Farmer was also named 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Central Region’s teacher of the year as well as the 2025 Edgecombe County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
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Emma Nicole Geist of Wake County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Geist is an Extended Content Standards Teacher at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary.
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Taleah Chanel Jones of Guilford County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Jones is a Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher at Broadview Middle School in Burlington. She is also the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Piedmont Triad Region Teacher of the Year.
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Yaronda Ameris Kilgo of Union County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Kilgo is a Kindergarten Teacher at Wingate Elementary School in Monroe. She is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Piedmont Southwest Region Teacher of the Year.
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Christian Cortez Martin of Craven County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Martin is a Middle School English Language Arts Teacher at Craven County Schools as well as a Teacher Cadet Cadre Member at the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children. He was named Craven County Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year in 2024.
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Anthony Sean Martin of Columbus County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Martin is a Technology Engineering and Design Instructor at East Columbus Junior/Senior High School in Lake Waccamaw. He is also the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Sandhills Region Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for North Carolina State Teacher of the Year.
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Elyse Cannon McRae of Pitt County as an Active Classroom Teacher. McRae teaches World History, Economics and Personal Finance, AP Psychology, and Civic Literacy at South Central High School in Winterville.
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Marisha Darice Merchant of Onslow County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Merchant is an English and AVID Elective Teacher at White Oak High School in Jacksonville.
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Hannah Parry Moon of New Hanover County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Moon is a High School English Teacher and Chair of the English Department at Laney High School in Wilmington. She is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Southeast Region Teacher of the Year.
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Lindsay Combs Phillips of Lincoln County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Phillips is a Kindergarten Teacher at Mountain Island Charter School in Mt. Holly. She is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Charter School Teacher of the Year.
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Lydia Roberts Carson Sale of Swain County as an Active Classroom Teacher. Sale is a First Grade Teacher at Swain County Schools. She also serves on Swain County Schools’ District Leadership Team. She is the 2025 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Western Region Teacher of the Year.
The Hill - Julia Shapero | Sept. 4, 2025: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is pushing for the passage of kids’ online safety legislation in the face of growing concern about the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on young users. Blackburn, who has long advocated for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), is doubling down on her calls to get the legislation across the finish line in the wake of recent revelations that Meta deemed “sensual” chatbot conversations acceptable for children. KOSA, which the Tennessee Republican reintroduced earlier this year, seeks to regulate the features tech companies can offer kids online and reduce the addictive nature and mental health impacts of their platforms.
EdNC - Sophia Luna | September 3, 2025: NCCareers.org is an integrated career information system supported by many public and private partners, including NCWorks, the NC Department of Commerce, College for North Carolina (CFNC), the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and the North Carolina Community College System.
The website houses a wealth of job market information specific to North Carolina. If you are interested in:
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Learning more about the kinds of jobs North Carolina has to offer: Explore the website’s occupation database that stores data on more than 800 occupations.
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Figuring out what kind of career you might like and be good at: Take the website’s four interactive self-assessment surveys.
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Finding a job to apply for: Search for a job listing using the “Job Search” page.
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Finding a place to study the program you are interested in: Search the “Training and Education” database that pools together all of the programs available at North Carolina’s community colleges, public universities, and independent colleges.
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Planning and keeping track of career information: Use the “Career Plan Builder” to create your career development plan, with its own how-to guide available here.
In 2019, The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction launched the Purple Star Award Designation initiative to recognize the state’s strong military presence and its support for military families. The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families.
- 2025-2026 Purple Star Applications opened on September 1, 2025.
- Applications are due no later than February 1, 2026.
To learn more about the Purple Star Award Designation, please email Howard.Lattimore@dpi.nc.gov.
For a full list of awarded schools, please visit this link.
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Live student performances at NCDPI the week of September 15-19
Monday, September 15 - 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 16 - 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 18 - “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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To view previous K-12 Education Legislative Updates, click here.
NCDPI Office of Government Affairs: Anne Murtha – Legislative Specialist
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