Highlights
WUNC - Liz Schlemmer | October 30, 2025: North Carolina's state budget is now nearly four months overdue. For public school employees, that means the school year started without a cost-of-living raise. WUNC is sharing stories of educators who are feeling financial strain from the policy issues playing out in the series "From Politics to Paychecks."
Inside her garage in her Mebane home, Michelle Reed opens a giant black trash bag filled with scrap metal. Reed says her two teenage daughters have been collecting it for years to sell. She added: "It's really disheartening that after this long in education, that we are having to resort to things like that.” Reed's husband has also been donating plasma, and plans to use the money from that to help pay for Christmas presents this year.
On the current salary schedule, North Carolina teachers are paid the same salary from years 15 through 24, except for very modest increases when the state passes a new budget. Reed said it's dismaying to think about. In recent budgets, Reed said those cost-of-living raises from a new budget amounted to less than the cost of a tank of gas per month. And without a budget, it will be nothing. Negotiations have stalled to the point that no budget is expected this year. And even if lawmakers did pass a budget, both proposals weighted raises toward young teachers, while averaging less for veterans.
Government Executive - Eric Katz | October 29, 2025: Forcing a large swath of the federal workforce not to work for going on a full month is having significant and lasting impacts on the economy, according to a non-partisan legislative branch review, causing a loss of at least $7 billion dollars from the gross domestic product. That figure would grow to $11 billion if the shutdown lasts another two weeks or $14 billion if it were to last until Nov. 26, the Congressional Budget Office found in a report on Wednesday.
NPR - Cory Turner, Kadin Mills | October 29, 2025: Beginning Nov. 1, more than 65,000 children will be at risk of losing access to Head Start, the federal early-learning program for low-income families. That's because federal funding for individual Head Start programs cannot be disbursed while the government is shut down. Nationally, Head Start serves roughly 750,000 infants, toddlers and preschool-age children, providing not just childcare and early learning but also free meals, health screenings and family support.
Called Meeting: Reconvening of WS/FCS Appeal
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Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 9 a.m.
November Planning & Work Session
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State Board Planning Session
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Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 11 a.m.
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Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 10a.m.
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State Board Meeting
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Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 9a.m.
NC State Board of Education in the News:
NC Newsline - Ahmed Jallow | October 27, 2025: The North Carolina State Board of Education on Monday approved a contract with the accounting firm Mauldin & Jenkins LLC to review Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ financial practices. The contract calls for Mauldin & Jenkins LLC to examine how the district authorizes spending, tracks purchases, and follows state and federal rules. A report is due by December 31, with a public presentation scheduled for February 15.
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.
North Central - Wednesday, October 29
Strategic Plan Regional Tours
Superintendent Green and team made their final in-person stop on the 2025 Strategic Plan Regional Tour on Wednesday, October 29. If you were unable to attend an in-person event, please join us for the virtual option next week!
Thank you to everyone who has attended a Regional Tour event!
✔️ 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 - Southwest Photo Gallery
✔️ 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
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More information about the strategic plan is available here: go.ncdpi.gov/bestinnation.
Public School Forum - Amos Fodchuk | October 25, 2025: We’re joined by NC Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green to learn about the strategic plan to make North Carolina’s local public schools the best in the nation by 2030. Key goals include increased graduation rates, increased participation in Career and Technical Education programs and leading the Southeast in educator compensation. YouTube Video
The News & Observer - Tammy Grubb | October 30, 2025: The voices of parents, students, teachers and local officials rattled the walls Wednesday at Chapel Hill High School as state Superintendent Mo Green brought them to their feet with an exhortation to embrace success.
"I am a champion of public education," the crowd shouted, louder each time, as the school's band marched in through the doors to a rousing, pep rally-style medley.
After the event, Green said one of the two biggest challenges will be setting expectations for how great public schools should look and feel. The other will be ensuring adequate funding to carry out the mission, he said, including better teacher pay.
State lawmakers, some of whom attended his tour stops, have an important part to play that will require them to come together across party lines, just like the State Board of Education did in approving the plan, Green said.
"When you do, and when the General Assembly does its part, then we can make this happen, and I feel good about the General Assembly hearing us and finding ways to do some things that really will improve the funding for our public education system," he said.
From The Superintendent
October 29, 2025
Education Leaders,
On Wednesday, October 29, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Financial and Business Services Division and the Office of School Nutrition received notice of a disbursement of school nutrition claim funds that will fully reimburse our hard-working school nutrition programs for all meals served in October and submitted for reimbursement in November. Please continue to submit all claims for reimbursement on or before the due date of November 10, to ensure timely payment.
We have heard from a few PSUs about a misconception regarding the upcoming November 1 SNAP benefits lapse and its impact on school nutrition programs. Please note that SNAP and school nutrition funding are separate. While school nutrition funding remains uncertain during the federal shutdown, we have not received any official notice of interruption at this time. School nutrition programs should continue normal operations.
As a reminder, any parent/guardian may apply for free/reduced price meals at any point during the school year if their income changes and if the school where their student(s) are enrolled utilizes free/reduced income applications to determine student eligibility for school meals. For schools that are enrolled in the community eligibility provision (CEP), free/reduced price meal applications are not needed, and no action is required to provide meals at no cost to students.
Please know that we are committed to sharing new information as it becomes available.
Maurice "Mo" Green
Superintendent, NC Department of Public Instruction
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Celebrate the Good in Public Education
DPI Press Release | October 30, 2025
For the 2025-26 school year, 212 schools across North Carolina have been selected and approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Every North Carolina school that applied was selected and approved to participate.
The FFVP is a federally assisted program providing fresh fruits and vegetables to children during the school day at eligible elementary schools at no cost. The purpose of the FFVP is to introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables, include new and different varieties, in an effort to increase overall acceptance and consumption of fresh, unprocessed produce among children.
North Carolina was among the first states to participate in the FFVP, and for the past 20 years, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has been awarded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) FFVP grant.
“North Carolina’s involvement as one of the first states to implement the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program demonstrates our commitment to providing our students with the best in public education across the nation,” said State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “The Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program not only aligns with NCDPI’s strategic plan for achieving educational excellence, but also supports the health, well-being, and academic success of our students.”
Read the entire Press Release here.
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K-12 Education Bills
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.
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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, 108 bills have become law so far.
- Of these 108 new laws, NCGA staff have noted 42 laws relate to education in some way.
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