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Highlights
News & Observer - Destin Hall | Dec. 3, 2025: North Carolinians deserve straight talk about our state budget. Both the House and Senate know we must get it done. The real question is whether we’ll deliver a budget that actually meets our state’s needs. Where the House plan diverges from both the Senate and the governor is in how to strengthen education long term. North Carolina’s future requires an all-of-the-above strategy: expanding school choice while also making North Carolina a leader in public school teacher salaries in the South. The House budget delivers 8.7% raises over the biennium, boosting starting teacher pay to the top in the Southeast, while fully funding opportunity scholarships so families can choose the education that’s best for their children.
Carolina Journal - Jacob Emmons | Dec. 2, 2025: Candidate filing for North Carolina’s 2026 elections opened at noon Monday, with key candidates for Congress, NC Supreme Court, and the state legislature officially throwing their hats in the ring. The deadline to file for the 2026 elections is noon Friday, Dec. 19. For those already filed, the deadline to withdraw a notice of candidacy is Dec. 16. The 2026 primary election is March 3 with the general election on Nov. 3.
For Candidates - Learn about filing for candidacy in North Carolina, establishing a candidate committee, filing petitions, and more. Candidate’s Guide to the 2025-26 Statewide Primary and General Elections See this link for updated candidates lists.
Disability Scoop - Michelle Diament | Dec. 4, 2025: Disability advocates and education stakeholders are challenging the Trump administration’s steps to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, arguing in a lawsuit that the actions will harm kids with developmental disabilities. The Arc of the United States and a coalition of educators, school districts, and employee unions say in an amended lawsuit filed late last month that the Education Department’s plan to transfer management of dozens of programs to other federal agencies is illegal.
Carolina Journal - Theresa Opeka | Dec. 1, 2025: Several new laws officially took effect today, Dec. 1, in North Carolina, including one that allows employees and volunteers at non-public schools to carry weapons on school property if authorized by school officials. A full list of laws with effective dates of July 1, 2025 - January 1, 2026 can be found here.
State Board of Education Task Force on Accountability for Public School Units
Friday, December 5 - Virtual Meeting at 3 p.m.
December State Board of Education Meeting
Wednesday, December 3
Thursday, December 4
Legislative Update and 2026 Short Session Planning
Rules Update: Driver Education
Special Recognitions
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Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools
- Special Olympics Athletes — Smithfield-Selma High School
- Nathaniel Beliveau
- Lillian Mizne
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National and State Schools of Character
- 2025 State School of Character: Patriots STEM Elementary | Principal Amy Peters | Cabarrus County Schools
- 2025 National School of Character: North Shelby School | Principal Paula Stevens | Cleveland County Schools
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2025 National History Teacher of the Year
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Valencia Abbott, who teaches in Rockingham County won the 2025 National History Teacher of the Year. This is the first time a teacher from North Carolina has won National History Teacher of the Year.
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North Carolina Blue Ribbon Schools - NC DPI Press Release
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Apex Friendship Middle School (Wake County Public Schools) Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing
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Henderson County Early College (Henderson County Public Schools) Exemplary High Performing
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Mills Park Middle School (Wake County Public Schools) Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing
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Pinehurst Elementary (Moore County Schools) Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing
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2025 National Association for Gifted Children - 2025 David W. Belin Advocacy Award
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Sneha Sha-Coltrane, Senior Director, Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education, was recognized and received the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC) -- 2025 David W. Belin Advocacy Award.
State Board of Education in the News:
NC Newsline - Ahmed Jallow | Dec. 4, 2025: The North Carolina State Board of Education on Wednesday focused on increasing pay for teachers and other school staff as it discussed its legislative priorities for the upcoming 2026 short session. Geoff Coltrane, senior director of government affairs at the Department of Public Instruction, warned that he expects “very limited revenue” in the year ahead and that legislators in Raleigh may not even pass a full budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. He urged members to narrow their requests for a better chance of success. “Our plan is, when possible, to really prioritize our budget legislative request based on the new strategic plan and those sort of critical must-have items,” Coltrane said, “so that we’re taking to the General Assembly a very narrow, tailored and strategic list of items that we hope to get across the finish line.”
Access all YouTube recordings of SBE meetings here.
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From the Appalachian Mountains to the Albemarle Sound, the regional tour to launch the strategic plan went to many corners of North Carolina. The stops included big cities — Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Boone and Greenville — and small towns — Bryson City, Gibsonville, Lumberton, and Hertford. In every location across North Carolina, it was clear: there is a growing movement to galvanize champions of public education.
Want to get involved in making NC's public schools Best in the Nation?
Click "Be a Champion" below!
 NCDPI's Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education
NCDPI Press Release | December 4, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is gaining national recognition for its advanced learning efforts, both as a partner in the new National Research Center on Advanced Education and through a national award honoring one of its leaders.
At Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting, NCDPI announced that it is one of three state agencies participating in the National Research Center on Advanced Education, which will serve as a hub for research, innovation and policy development related to programs and services that meet the needs of young learners with aptitude and skills beyond their peers.
The project is led by Johns Hopkins University and funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant. Other partners include the American Institutes for Research, Texas A&M University, the University of Calgary and the state education departments of New Jersey and Nebraska.
A Continuum of Potential
In 2018, the NC General Assembly passed legislation to expand access to advanced courses by automatically enrolling rising eighth graders in Math 1, a high school-level course, if they score a level five on their seventh-grade end-of-course math exam. The legislation also directs districts to place all students in grades 4-12 in advanced math courses if they achieve a level five on their end-of-grade or end-of-course exams.
This effort was the first of its kind in the nation and has served as a model for other states due to its simplicity and far reaching impact across the state.
In North Carolina, it's part of an ongoing effort over the past decade to unlock the potential of every child in public schools and broaden access to advanced learning opportunities.
The office has worked to create a continuum of onboarding points for advanced learning. Student participation in these opportunities rises as they progress through their educational journeys.
For example, in the 2024-25 school year:
- 16% of fourth graders are identified in Academic or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs;
- 31% of eighth graders took Math 1 in middle school;
- 56% of 2024-25 graduates participated in college-level coursework while in high school; and
- 62% of seniors were eligible for the NC College Connect direct admissions program.
Honoring an Advocate
Sneha Shah-Coltrane has led NCDPI’s Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education since 2009. She was recently recognized by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) with its David W. Belin Advocacy Award, which honors an individual who has been a consistent advocate on behalf of gifted students and a voice for supporting gifted and advanced learning services in school settings.
At NCDPI, in addition to advocating for auto-enrollment in Math 1 and other advanced math courses, Shah-Coltrane has led efforts to increase access to and achievement in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and dual enrollment and is a driving force behind NC College Connect, a direct college admission program that has directly admitted over 70,000 students this fall alone.
She also led the creation of the Office of Advanced Learning and Gifted Education at NCDPI, bringing together all advanced learning programming – ranging from early admittance to kindergarten to NC Governor’s School – to promote a K-12 approach to tapping student potential.
Despite the Belin Advocacy Award being in her name, Shah-Coltrane said the recognition belongs to the entire state of North Carolina.
“The synergy of our policymakers, educators, students and families has created the policies, practices and mindsets to do what is best for our students. We aim to see each child as ‘at-potential’ and cultivate and respond to their advanced learning needs,” she said. “It’s been my life’s work to advocate for those students whose potential we can see easily and also for those students whose potential has yet to be tapped. Being recognized with this award shows that N.C. is on the right path towards expanding excellence in public schools across our state.”
Read the entire Press Release here.
 The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is a diverse group of high school students who advise state education leaders on topics that affect public school students. The SSAC is composed of 11th- and 12th-grade students from all eight of the state’s educational regions. Students typically serve two years on the Council until the end of their senior year.
Their monthly meetings with the state superintendent and NCDPI staff members give them an opportunity to share the student perspective on a variety of issues, from school cell phone policies to higher education access.
Learn about the 2025-26 SSAC members at this link.
Press Conference on Needs-Based School Construction Grants
At a press conference Dec. 3 at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), state and district leaders highlighted nearly $400 million in Needs-Based School Construction Grants that will help 10 districts replace or renovate aging facilities and build new elementary schools, high schools and a career and technical education (CTE) center.
Transylvania County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Fletcher shared plans for a new CTE facility that will open modern career pathways for students across the district. Tyrrell County Schools Superintendent Brianna Williams called the funding an “early Christmas present,” enabling the district to consolidate all schools on one campus and create a state-of-the-art learning environment for the youngest students through grade 13.
“These grants will directly impact thousands of students, ensuring safe, modern, accessible learning environments that show their education matters,” said Superintendent Mo Green.
Created by the General Assembly in 2017, the program has now delivered over $2.1 billion in school facility improvements across North Carolina.
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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 below have been placed on the House Calendar for Monday, December 15, 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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North Carolina General Assembly
2026 NCGA Candidate Information
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 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
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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
EdNC - Jyanne Guide and Molly Urquhart | Dec. 2, 2025: Over the past decade, North Carolina’s students have experienced increasing mental health challenges. Data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed that 39% of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless, and the 2025 NC Child Health Report Card found that over 50% of children ages 3 to 17 faced difficulties accessing mental health treatment they needed. “North Carolina faces a youth mental health crisis,” said Dr. Ellen Essick, section chief at NC Healthy Schools within the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in a press release. In 2019, North Carolina became one of 16 states at the time to expand school-based Medicaid to cover services provided to any Medicaid-enrolled student who has an IEP, Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individual Health Plan (IHP), Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), or 504 plan. Students are six times more likely to access mental health support when services are available on campus, according to Essick, and the 2019 expansion made that kind of support possible by widening the pool of reimbursable services.
EdNC - Mebane Rash | Dec. 1, 2025: Today, Dr. Don Phipps — a “leader among leaders” — begins his tenure as superintendent of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WC/FCS), and the “All In For Our Schools” campaign provides different ways for you to support his leadership and this district moving forward.
Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Share the “All In For Our Schools” website with neighbors, friends, and family, as well as organizations, faith communities, businesses, and local officials.
- Donate to the futures fund, the student success fund, the classroom supplies fund, or a book drive.
- Order items on Amazon from teacher and school wish lists.
- Volunteer or partner with the district.
- Advocate with local and state officials for additional resources in support of the school district.
- Share what you are doing to support the WS/FCS schools.
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Thomas Edison Pitch Contest Now Open
If you’ve ever wanted your students to try an invention challenge that feels creative, doable, and actually fun to run, this is the one. Registration for the Thomas Edison Pitch Contest is now open!
Teams create an invention that solves a real problem, submit a short idea video in January, and compete for awards that celebrate creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving.
This year’s contest is built to be easier to start and more exciting to finish. You can choose the build path that fits your students and compete for new awards that recognize creativity at every level. It’s the most flexible version of the contest we’ve ever run.
If you want something engaging that fits into a busy classroom and gives students a real shot at being inventive, this is your moment.
Open Dates: Registration is open from December 1 to January 16.
Cost: It’s completely FREE to participate!
Eligibility: Students in grades 4-12 with a teacher or adult mentor (18+).
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Ready, Set, App! Registration is Now Open
NCBCE initiative sponsored by Lenovo
Registration is open for the 7th annual Ready, Set, App! Challenge!
The North Carolina Business Committee for Education’s Ready, Set, App! challenge is a mobile app development competition for high school students sponsored by Lenovo™. Student groups are asked to develop a mobile app using a mobile app development platform (e.g., MIT App Inventor) to solve a problem in their school or community. Ready, Set, App! focuses on three primary pillars:
- Mobile App Development
- Professional and Personal Development
- Interpersonal and Soft Skills Development
All North Carolina high school students are invited to join the 7th cycle of the Ready, Set, App! challenge, a statewide competition to design, develop, and pitch an original mobile app that makes a difference in their school or community. Students form teams of 3 to 5 members and one adult advisor to complete their project over the course of several months.
No prior coding experience is necessary to participate. Ready, Set, App! provides tools and support throughout the process. Every registered team will be paired with an intern mentor for guidance and gain access to online resources, virtual workshops, and in-person events across the state.
Upon completion of their projects, teams will pitch and demo their apps for a chance to advance as finalists. Finalist teams will present to a live audience and panel of judges at the final pitch competition, held at Lenovo headquarters in the spring. Winners will take home exciting prizes in the form of brand-new Lenovo tech! Please note, registration will be open until 11:59 PM EST on January 26th.
If you are unable to find an advisor, have trouble forming a team of at least 3 members, or have any other questions, please contact NCBCE Program Manager, Udai Virk, at udai.virk@nc.gov.
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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