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Highlights
WUNC – Liz Schlemmer | October 2, 2025: With a federal government shutdown now in effect, State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green has sent guidance to public schools on what to expect.
Green's message assures public school administrators that he expects most federal funding to continue to flow to schools, although federal support and new initiatives will be limited. The U.S. Department of Education plans to furlough 95% of its staff, not counting those who work in the Office of Federal Student Aid on college student loans.
Most of the federal funding schools receive annually has already been distributed, or would be Wednesday, Oct. 1. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon indicated in a memo to the Office of Management and Budget that schools should expect to receive those funds.
However, some grants sent directly to school districts that are not forward-funded may be affected. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's CFO Alexis Schauss told the state board of education Wednesday that could include the Impact Aid program. The program provides funds to help school districts that have less taxable property in their county that can contribute to local school funding, because some of that land is federally owned.
Green also cautioned in his memo to school administrators that although he expects very few funding disruptions based on what has occurred in past government shutdowns, he's prepared for that to change based on the U.S. Department of Education's recent history of withholding school funds.
AASA, The School Superintendents' Association - Tara Thomas | Sept. 24, 2025: [Last] week, the Trump Administration announced changes to the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for specialty occupation positions. Many school districts use this program to fill critical vacancies, especially in rural areas where staff shortages are more acute.
Two changes were announced: (1) The Administration released a proclamation will require employers to pay $100,000 per petition to be considered. This will only impact new petitions after the effective date of September 21, 2025. Petitions or applications submitted prior to the date are exempt.
(2) DHS issued a proposed rule to create a weighted selection process that would generally favor the allocation of H-1B visas to higher skilled and higher paid individuals. Once the proposed rule is entered into the Federal register, it will be open for public comment for 30 days.
October Board Meeting
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Wednesday, October 1
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Thursday, October 2
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Government and Community Affairs
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Accountability Redesign for Public School Units
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Strategic Plan Update
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Superintendents' Perspective on 2025 – 2030 Strategic Plan for NC Public Schools
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SBE Rule Adoption: Qualifications of School Nurses
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SBE Policy Amendment: Licensure Testing Requirements (LICN-003)
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
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 Champions of Public Education
Special thanks to the following members of the North Carolina General Assembly who are championing our K-12 public schools to be the best in the United States by 2030.
Northeast - Town Hall at Halifax Community College: Wednesday, September 24:
Northeast - Greenville, Pitt County: Thursday, September 25:
Southeast - Jacksonville, Onslow County: Friday, September 26:
Strategic Plan Regional Tours
Join us for a public forum in each of the eight education regions! The evening event will include a program about the strategic plan by Superintendent Green. If you are unable to attend the events in person, there will be a virtual option in November.
Thank you to everyone who attended a Regional Tour!
✔️ Northeast - Greenville, Pitt County: Thursday, September 25 - Northeast Tour Photo Gallery
✔️ Southeast - Jacksonville, Onslow County: Friday, September 26 - Southeast Tour Photo Gallery
Piedmont-Triad - Greensboro, Guilford County: Thursday, October 16
Southwest - Charlotte, Mecklenburg County: Monday, October 20
Northwest - Morganton, Burke County: Wednesday, October 22
Western - Bryson City, Swain County: Thursday, October 23
Sandhills - Lumberton, Robeson County: Monday, October 27
North Central - Chapel Hill, Orange County: Wednesday, October 29
Virtual - Zoom: Monday, November 3, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
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- There will be greeters at the facility entrance to direct you to the location of the event.
- Please bring your ideas for how your work aligns with the Strategic Plan. There will be an interactive technology option, so bring a device such as a phone or laptop if you want to participate.
- For any accommodations (e.g., language translation, sign language interpreters, alternative formats, wheelchair access) please email mowantstoknow@dpi.nc.gov in advance of the meeting.
More information about the strategic plan is available here: go.ncdpi.gov/bestinnation.
Celebrate the Good in Public Education
NCDPI Blog - Karley Wells, 2025 Wells Fargo Western Regional Principal of the Year | September 30, 2025
One year ago, Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving behind destruction and heartache that we will never forget. In those first days, it felt as if the storm had taken so much from us: homes, routines and, for a while, our sense of normalcy.
When our schools finally reopened, one of my teachers described that first day back as “a reunion unlike any she had ever experienced.” She said the joy on her students’ faces as they saw their friends and reconnected with their teachers was unforgettable. It was even better than the excitement of the first day of school because this time, they weren’t just starting a school year. They were returning to a community that had been tested, strengthened and brought closer together.
This anniversary is not about reliving the pain of what we went through, but about celebrating the good that rose out of it. The good we see when challenges bring out the best in us. The good that reminds us why we do the work we do each day.
MSN - Renee Umsted | October 1, 2025: The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham is the No. 1 public high school in the country, according to Niche. The platform's rankings include more than 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools and 11,000 school districts.
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K-12 Education Bills
Bills in the News:
WRAL News - WRAL Staff | October 1, 2025
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Senate Bill 245 allows North Carolinians to renew their driver’s license online more frequently and eases a law allowing new drivers to document their driving practice hours and submit logs to the state. It also allows teen drivers to be able to upgrade from a Level 2 Limited Provisional License to a Level 3 Full Provisional License online.
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House Bill 358 provides $65 million for disaster relief — mostly for Hurricane Helene but also $15 million for Tropical Storm Chantal, which flooded parts of central North Carolina in early July.
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House Bill 926 will go into law without the Governor's signature. It provides State Board of Education with authority to grant waivers for K-3 class size requirements to ATR schools whose grant funding ended in 2024-25.
New Session Laws
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SB 245 Expand Remote Drivers License Services. | Ch. SL 2025-91 on 9/30/2025
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HB 358 Continuing Budget Operations Part II. | Ch. SL 2025-92 on 9/30/2025
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HB 926 Regulatory Reform Act of 2025. | Will become session law w/o the Governor's signature
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, October 20, 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.
Reminder: Bills ≠ Laws
Only a few dozen bills typically make it “across the finish line” and become law each legislative session.
- For the current 2025 legislative session, 1,800+ total bills were introduced.
- Of these, 103 bills have become law so far.
- Of these 103 new laws, NCGA staff have noted 39 laws relate to education in some way.
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North Carolina General Assembly
NEW: During its September reconvening, the NCGA passed SJR 776: Adjournment Resolution Changes, which adjusted its legislative schedule for the remainder of the 2025 legislative session.
The NCGA is currently scheduled to reconvene on the following remaining dates, although legislative action on these dates, if any, is still to be determined:
o Oct. 20, 2025 - Oct. 23, 2025
o Nov. 17, 2025 - Nov. 20, 2025
o Dec. 15, 2025 - Dec. 18, 2025
o Jan. 12, 2026 - Jan. 15, 2026
o Feb. 9, 2026 - Feb. 12, 2026
o March 9, 2026 - March 12, 2026
o April 6, 2026 - April 9, 2026
o April 21, 2026 — Start of 2026 Short Session
State Budget Information & Resources
2025 State Budget Proposal
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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In Other News
WUNC - Liz Schlemmer | “Even engaged parents and educators often feel lost in a maze of shifting policies, expanding school choice, and funding fights. This free seven-part email series from WUNC explains how education in North Carolina works.” Sign Up Here
K-12 Dive - Anna Merod | Sept. 30, 2025: The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 Tuesday to remove both school bus Wi-Fi and internet hotspot services from eligibility for federal E-rate funds. During fiscal year 2025, schools and districts requested $42.6 million to use E-rate funds for hotspots and $15.3 million for school bus Wi-Fi, according to federal data.
North State Journal - A.P. Dillon | Sept. 28, 2025: The use of artificial intelligence in K-12 schools is evolving as rapidly as the technology itself. North Carolina’s AI guidebook was created to “ensure age-appropriate, safe, and meaningful integration” of the technology in K-12 classrooms. The announcement of the guidebook noted that the state’s Department of Public Instruction was “the fourth state education department in the nation to issue guidance to its schools on the use of this cutting-edge technology.” Wake County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Taylor said the district is taking a measured approach to using AI. “AI is just one of the newest and latest technologies,” said Taylor. “It’s not very different than what we’ve seen in the past, but it is what I would call an exponential type of product. … We don’t want policies that restrict; we want policies that help govern."
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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