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Friday, February 20, 2026 |
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Highlights
EdNC - Sergio Osnaya-Prieto | February 19, 2026
The State Board of Education’s task force to redesign North Carolina’s school accountability system kicked off its work Thursday with a discussion of the new model’s theory of action.
The Board voted to create the Task Force on Accountability last October in line with the joint strategic plan of the Board and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and members met for the first time in December. The task force includes stakeholders from across the state’s education system, including Board members, legislators, county commissioners, business leaders, district leaders, teachers, parents, and students. You can view all the task force participants here.
DPI has long discussed the issue, and in 2024, created a plan to redesign school performance grades during former state Superintendent Catherine Truitt’s tenure. Though lawmakers proposed legislation moving forward parts of the plan, it was never turned into law. You can view all of EdNC’s reporting on school performance grades here.
The North State Journal - A.P. Dillon | February 19,2026
North State Journal sat down with North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) to talk about his first year as speaker, as well as priorities for the upcoming short session. Hall, 38, is the first millennial to have held a top leadership role as House Rules chair before making history again as the first of his generation to be sworn in as House speaker last year — when he also welcomed his first child; his son Henry was born during session in April.
Hall referenced Republicans implementing tax cuts over the years and continuing to do that work, though he said they are now exploring a new area: property taxes.
“We’re looking right now at property taxes at the county and municipality level,” said Hall. “It’s a hot-button issue for folks because property values are going up, inflation is going up, and there are a lot of local governments who budget conservatively, but there are some who we’ve identified, and we’re learning more about that are probably spending more money than they should. “And so what we want to do is make sure that property tax system is fair; their folks aren’t being overburdened. And it seems very clearly in some parts of the state, at least right now, that people are being overly burdened with property tax.”
Hall said the select committee he formed last December to look at solutions to property tax burdens will examine the issue with an eye toward providing “property tax relief to taxpayers while balancing potential impacts on local government revenues.”
“Ultimately, what we want to see out of that is some legislation that’s going to result in folks keeping more of their hard-earned money, lowering those property taxes,” said Hall.
myFutureNC | February 12, 2026
North Carolina has built a more connected education-to-employment system—and it’s working. Today, 1.72 million adults ages 25–44 hold a postsecondary degree or industry-valued credential. In the past year alone, more than 57,000 additional North Carolinians earned a credential or degree—proof that when education, workforce, and policy move together, progress accelerates. This isn’t just growth. It’s momentum.
Updated Data: 2026 County Attainment Profiles
The 2026 County Attainment Profiles provide the most up-to-date picture of educational attainment across North Carolina—county by county. Find Your County Profile
Access event materials below:
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North Carolina State Board of Education Task Force on Accountability of Public School Units
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Thursday, February 19 at 9 a.m.
Key Resources from the Meeting:
March State Board of Education Meeting
- Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 10 a.m.
- Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Access all YouTube recordings of SBE meetings here.
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NCDPI Press Release | February 19, 2026
Nine public school leaders from across the state have been recognized as regional Principals of the Year. On May 15, one will be named the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year at a ceremony hosted at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary.
The 2026 finalists for NC Principal of the Year are:
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Northeast: Kelly E. Flora - Nags Head Elementary School (Dare County Schools)
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Southeast: Dr. Marlow Artis - Craven Early College High School (Craven County Schools)
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North Central: Dr. Mariah Walker - Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy (Wake County Public School System)
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Sandhills: Dr. Latreicia Allen - John Griffin Middle School (Cumberland County Schools)
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Piedmont Triad: Dr. Darrell A. Harris, Jr. - Eastern Guilford High School (Guilford County Schools)
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Southwest: LaTresha Wilson - Tuckaseegee Elementary School (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)
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Northwest: Dustin Farmer - Ashe County High School (Ashe County Schools)
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Western: Jennifer McBrayer - CHASE Middle School (Rutherford County Schools)
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Charter: Deborah Brown - The Exploris School (Raleigh)
This year’s ceremony will be livestreamed on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s social media platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. Follow along on social media at #NCTOYPOY.
To learn more about the program, visit the NCDPI website.
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Celebrate Arts in Our Schools Month in March Student Performances
Please join the NCDPI Office of Teaching and Learning Arts Education Team to celebrate the excellence in public education and recognizing the importance of arts programming in our K-12 schools as we showcase the artistic talents of these North Carolina Students. Join us for in-person performances throughout downtown Raleigh and live-streamed performances and virtual visual arts galleries in celebration of Arts in Our Schools Month this March. All viewings are from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and are free to attend or watch on YouTube.
Northwest Guilford Middle School Orchestra, Guilford County Schools
- Tuesday, March 3
- Location: NCDPI Room 150
NC Arts Council Poetry Out Loud Winners
- Thursday, March 5
- Location: SECU Daily Planet Theatre
- Anika Ryder (winner NC finals 2025)
- Alyssa Melvin (2nd place NC finals 2025)
Wednesday, March 4
- Carver Elementary & Poe GT/AIG Basics Magnet Elementary Schools
- Wake County Public Schools
K-12 Education Bills
Bills To Watch
The following bills have been placed on the House Calendar for Monday, March 9, 2026.
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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
The NCGA is currently scheduled to reconvene on the following remaining dates pursuant to SJR 776: Adjournment Resolution Changes. Legislative action on these dates, if any, is still to be determined:
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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Application Period Closes on Monday, February 23
The Lady Cardinal Mentorship is a 4-week paid summer enrichment opportunity running from July 6-31, 2026, for North Carolina high school girls, grades 9-12, interested in exploring careers in science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics within state government. Only 15-20 positions will be available for this incredible mentorship program. The program does not provide housing to participants.
To learn more about this opportunity, including criteria to participate as a mentee, contact Jean McBride.
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North Carolina General Assembly
House and Senate Page Program
The House and Senate Page programs offers current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors the opportunity to learn about, and participate in, the legislative process of our state. It is a four-day long experience that allows high school students to observe firsthand how our laws are made.
In Other News
Congress.Gov - Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] | 2/18/2026 Signed by President. (All Actions)
The Architect of the Capitol will create a congressional time capsule in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to be buried in the Capitol Visitor Center on or before July 4, 2026. The time capsule shall contain a joint letter from congressional leadership and such other contents as they shall determine. The time capsule shall be sealed until July 4, 2276.
The North State Journal - A.P. Dillon | February 15, 2026
Gov. Josh Stein rolled out an invitation to North Carolinians to participate in America 250 celebrations and events.
“Two hundred and fifty years ago, our founding fathers set forth to create a nation where all men are created equal,” Stein said in a Jan. 28 press release. “Thanks to tireless work by countless brave Americans over the generations, we have kept moving closer to living up to that ideal.
“This celebration of our nation’s independence and the part North Carolina played gives us the chance to reaffirm our commitment to justice, equality, and people’s individual freedoms. We look forward to commemorating North Carolina’s history across the state this year.”
Stein’s release also outlined America 250 efforts led by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), which can be viewed at america250.nc.gov.
The Celebrate 250 webpage currently includes two historical timelines, with key events and facts for both the American Revolution and the state Judicial Branch’s history: Putting Faces to Places: Who’s Where of the American Revolution and American Revolution to Digital Evolution: 250+ Years of North Carolina Justice.
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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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