|
Highlights
WNCN - Deana Harley | October 23, 2025: Republican House Speaker Destin Hall told fellow Representatives on Wednesday to not expect any more voting sessions for the rest of 2025. It comes despite the legislature not passing a final budget. Hall said the plan could change, so lawmakers should keep certain dates open, but the chances of any voting sessions are slim. A spokesperson with Senator Phil Berger, the Republican leader in the Senate, said the Senate also doesn’t anticipate any more votes in 2025.
The Carolina Journal - CJ Staff | October 21, 2025: On Tuesday, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a targeted spending plan that directs millions toward disaster recovery, education, infrastructure, and government operations. Senate Bill 449, Continuing Budget Operations Part IV, is the latest “mini-budget” to fund essential state operations for the 2025–26 fiscal year after lawmakers were unable to agree to a final full state budget by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2025. Education funding includes updated allotments for Cooperative Innovative High Schools, with $275,000 per school in Tier 1 counties, $200,000 in Tier 2, and $180,000 in Tier 3.
EdNC - Liz Bell | October 20, 2025: Efforts to align the state’s educational systems with its economic needs were highlighted by officials across the educational continuum at Gov. Josh Stein’s first education cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The cabinet, established by the state legislature in 1992, is tasked with working across agencies and programs, and “maintaining a strategic design for a continuum of education programs, from early childhood into the workforce,” according to the governor’s website. One of Stein’s top three priorities centered on workforce development and career readiness. Specifically, he is focused on expanding work-based learning opportunities like apprenticeships (also a Commerce goal), strengthening the health care workforce (also a priority of the Department of Health and Human Services), and supporting the community college system’s Propel NC funding model. Members said these efforts are important to maintain the state’s No. 1 CNBC ranking for business.
K-12 Dive - Kara Arundel | October 21, 2025: As rumors swirled that special education programs could soon be leaving their longtime home at the U.S. Department of Education, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the agency is “exploring additional partnerships” with other federal agencies to support this programming. The Trump administration has said for several months that it wants to move special education out of the Education Department. Several special education and public school advocacy groups, however, are cautioning that without federal oversight, monitoring and technical assistance, the burdens for complying with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — the nation’s special education law that turns 50 next month — will fall to states and districts.
Special Called Meeting - October 27, 2025 at 12 p.m.
November Planning & Work Session
-
State Board Planning Session - November 4-5, 2025
-
State Board Meeting - Thursday, November 6, 2025
YouTube recordings of SBE meetings HERE.
|
 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.
Piedmont-Triad - Thursday, October 16
Southwest - Monday, October 20
-
Rep. Dean Arp and Mrs. Anne Arp, East Elementary School, Union County Schools visit
-
Rep. Mark Brody, East Elementary School, Union County Schools visit
-
Rep. Jordan Lopez, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Strategic Partners Luncheon
Western - Thursday, October 23
-
Sen. Kevin Corbin and Mrs. Beth Corbin, Franklin High School, Macon County Schools visit
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 has attended a Regional Tour event so far!
✔️ 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 - Piedmont-Triad Photo Gallery
✔️ 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
|
- 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.
From The Superintendent
The Charlotte Observer - Rebecca Noel | October 21, 2025:
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green is making a lofty promise: In five years, North Carolina will have the best public schools in the country.
By the end of his presentation at West Charlotte High Monday night, he had the room on its feet.
“I am!” the crowd chanted. “A champion! Of public education!” the crowd rang out, as the West Charlotte drum line processed through the aisles of the auditorium.
Green, who was elected in November and took office in January, made the stop in Charlotte as part of a tour around the state’s eight education regions to introduce his new five-year strategic plan, entitled “Achieving Educational Excellence.” It has three main goals, Green said: high academic achievement, character development and having the best public schools in the country.
Green said NCDPI will provide each district with updates about where it stands in relation to the statewide goals and work “closely” with them over the next four and half years to reach those goals. Read the full plan here.
Read the entire article here.
|
K-12 Education Bills
Latest Mini Budget Bills
-
SB 449 Continuing Budget Operations Part IV | Signed into law 10/23/25
-
SB 599 State Teacher/Employee Pay & Local LEO Bonus | Refused by Senate - Held by House Clerk on 10/23/2025
NC Political News Press Release | October 24, 2025: This morning, the Senate Rules Chairman was forced to return four ineligible bills to the House of Representatives for violating the General Assembly's agreed-upon adjournment resolution for the October session. The only bills eligible for consideration under the agreed-upon adjournment resolution set by both chambers include vetoed bills, redistricting, conference reports with previously appointed conferees, bills returned for concurrence on or before Sept. 25, and joint adjournment resolutions. None of the four bills sent to the Senate fit these criteria.
Bills To Watch
The following bills affecting K-12 education are still eligible for additional legislative action this session. All of the bills have been placed on the House Calendar for Monday, November 17, 2025, although it is currently unlikely that any votes will be taken during this reconvening.
-
HB 87 Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA).
-
HB 171 Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.
-
SB 50 Freedom to Carry NC.
-
SB 153 North Carolina Border Protection Act.
-
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, 108 bills have become law so far.
- Of these 108 new laws, NCGA staff have noted 42 laws relate to education in some way.
|
|
|
North Carolina General Assembly
SJR 776: Adjournment Resolution Changes, approved by lawmakers in September; adjusted the legislative schedule for the remainder of the 2025 long 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 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
2025 Enacted "Mini Budgets"
2023 State Budget
Other State Budget Resources
K-12 Education Legislation Resources
Enacted Hurricane Helene Recovery Legislation
|
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.
|
|
|
WFAE - Adam Wagner | October 22, 2025: North Carolina has a new Congressional map, barring likely legal challenges. The N.C. House of Representatives voted 65 to 48 in favor of a new map that shifts about 500,000 people in eastern North Carolina between the 1st and 3rd Districts to give the GOP an advantage in the 1st. Legislative Republicans have said they are redrawing the districts to make it easier to win that district and uphold President Donald Trump's agenda.
Yahoo!News - Blaise Malley | October 23, 2025: Retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015, issued some words of caution to members of his party, warning to “be careful what you wish for” because North Carolina is a purple state and expanding the map could backfire on the party in a wave election. Tillis, who served four years as the speaker of the state’s House, added that he pushed for an independent redistricting commission while working in both the minority and majority of the state legislature. The most significant changes come in Democrat Don Davis’s 1st District, which loses several Democratic-leaning areas to a neighboring district, making it more favorable to Republicans. In his statement, Davis noted that the district voted for both he and Trump in 2024.
Thomas Fordham Institute - Trinady Maddock | July 29, 2020: A report from the Center for American Progress explores the ways partisan gerrymandering in four states affects children, their families, and their education. Gerrymandering involves drawing district lines to favor one political party—something both Republicans and Democrats have done. According to CAP, it can also mean even less funding for schools. The authors use four states—Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—to make its case that gerrymandering affects school funding. In North Carolina, right and left polling firms found significant support among residents for increased funding for both early childhood and K–12 education, but funding increases proposed by the Democratic Governor Roy Cooper were cut in half by legislators. | SOURCE: Alex Tausanovitch, Steven Jessen-Howard, Jessica Yin, and Justin Schweitzer, “How Partisan Gerrymandering Hurts Kids,” Center for American Progress (May 2020).
N&O Under the Dome - Laura Brache | October 21, 2025: Even though the series came out in 2021, the reporting remains relevant to anyone interested in how politicians draw election-district maps. Find all four episodes here. Podcast: Explore North Carolina’s long history of gerrymandering election maps
In Other News
Office of Governor Josh Stein Press Release | October 17, 2025: For people impacted by the shutdown, there are resources available:
- Interested public servants can apply on www.nc.gov/joinNC, where applicants will be connected with employment recruiters from the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) to help match their skills to job opportunities.
- Furloughed employees can explore temporary employment opportunities through Temporary Solutions and find support at OSHR’s Furlough Resource Center.
- Furloughed employees and their families may also access the Employee Assistance Program to seek guidance through the many challenges the shutdown causes.
- Federal workers affected by the shutdown can apply for unemployment benefits online or by calling 855-435-6969.
EdNC - Sergio Osnaya-Prieto | October 20, 2025:
Carolina Demography and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) have partnered to create a School District Typology, an instrument to review evidence-based grouping of school districts, according to a Sept. 25 press release. The UNC-Chapel Hill-based demographic research unit developed the tool to help DPI compare school districts for research and evaluation purposes, the release says, as well as efforts to scale interventions.
Click on the image to view the NCDPI Typology data
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
|
|
|
|
|
