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Friday, March 20, 2026
Highlights
North Carolina public schools are achieving historic results. From record-breaking career credentials to historic graduation rates, our 1.5 million students and over 110,000 educators are building a brighter future for our state.
 In the 2024-2025 school year, North Carolina’s public school students reached historic milestones:
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Graduation Rate: Achieved an 87.7% four-year cohort graduation rate – highest in state history.
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Advanced Placement (AP): Attained record levels of participation and performance, with more than 90,000 students taking at least one AP exam and 72.1% earning scores that qualify them for college credit at UNC System institutions. This exceeds the national average of 70.1%.
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Career and Technical Education (CTE): Set new records for career preparation, with 36.1% of students participating in a CTE course and more than 380,000 industry-recognized credentials earned. North Carolina ranks second in the nation for percentage of students participating in CTE courses.
Image: WITN - Superintendent Mo Green visits Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School
WITN First Alert - WITN Web Team | March 18, 2026
State Superintendent Mo Green visited Lenoir County on Wednesday as part of a school tour focused on improving student achievement in rural communities. His stop at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School highlighted how Lenoir County Public Schools is using the Golden Leaf Foundation Schools Initiative to strengthen instruction and expand opportunities for students. During the visit, Green met with district and school leaders, toured classrooms, and learned about programs aimed at improving educational outcomes in rural areas. “To have this incredible investment in our schools will make a big difference,” Green said. “We believe over the course of five years, we will see improvements in these schools, and I will speak to our General Assembly and encourage them to make more investments.”
State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
NOW OPEN - 2026 Advisory Council Application
Calling all rising juniors (current 10th graders) in high school! Apply today to serve as a Student Advisor on State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green's Student Advisory Council. If you are interested in state K-12 education issues, advocating on behalf of your peers, and serving as an advisor to decision-makers in K-12 education, this opportunity is for you!
This survey closes on May 1, 2026 at 11:59pm. Link to the application - HERE
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is a strong and diverse group of high school students from across the state’s eight education regions. The SSAC meets virtually each month, and members serve a two-year term that concludes at the end of their senior year of high school. Throughout the appointment, advisors hear from experts at the Department of Public Instruction, State Board of Education, the General Assembly, and the Governor's Office, among others, to learn about issues facing our state and share their input on what can be done to support students, teachers and our local school districts and charter schools.
At the conclusion of each year, advisors have the opportunity to participate in a Student Advocacy Day at the North Carolina General Assembly. The council members will also meet with the Superintendent of Public Instruction during their visit to Raleigh.
April State Board of Education Meeting
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 10 a.m.
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Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Access all YouTube recordings of SBE meetings here.
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As we close out Find Your Fit, Build Your Future: Celebrating Choice in NC Public Schools, we’re ending where this initiative has pointed all along: North Carolina public schools are launchpads.
Every day across our state, students walk into classrooms, labs, studios, gyms and auditoriums that open doors. They explore Career and Technical Education pathways, audition for specialized arts programs, compete in athletics, earn industry credentials and college credits — all at local public schools, completely tuition free.
When students find their fit, incredible things can happen.
Students in Wake County, Guilford County, Durham Public Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and districts across the state have gone on to excel in film, television, music, athletics, writing and public service. From Ken Jeong (Walter Hines Page Senior High School) to Reneé Rapp (Northwest School of the Arts), from Michael Jordan (Emsley A. Laney High School) to Drake Maye (Myers Park High School), from leaders like Governor Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson (both Chapel Hill High School) — their journeys began in local public schools surrounded by educators who saw potential and programs designed to nurture it.
Of course, these well-known names are only a snapshot. They’re memorable examples of a bigger reality: public schools are full of future nurses, electricians, engineers, teachers, chefs, entrepreneurs, first responders, artists and community leaders — students who may never trend on social media but who will shape the future in very real, lasting ways.
North Carolina public schools are building futures every day — in rural towns, growing suburbs and vibrant cities from Murphy to Manteo. They are launching students into careers, college, service and leadership. They are cultivating artists, entrepreneurs, engineers, teachers, health care professionals and public servants.
So as we close this initiative, we leave you with this reminder:
You don’t have to leave North Carolina public schools to go far. In fact, NC public schools can take you anywhere.
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Arts in Our Schools Month - Student Performances
Arts in Our Schools: Holly Springs High School Colla Voce
Holly Springs High School Colla Voce, Wake County Public Schools
Colla Voce is the auditioned advanced ensemble at Holly Springs High School. Comprised of 11th and 12th graders, Colla Voce has established a strong tradition of excellent choral singing, consistently receiving superior and gold ratings at state and national choral festivals. Most notably, they have performed at NCMEA (2014 & 2023), Carnegie Hall (2015 & 2024), NC-ACDA (2017) and the London International Choral Festival (2020 & 2024). The students are dedicated musicians who love to sing a variety of choral repertoire.
Click here to enjoy their performance at the North Carolina Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Next week is the final week of Arts in Our Schools Month.
Join us 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. All viewings are from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and are free to attend or watch on YouTube.
GW Carver A+ Elementary Choir, Kannapolis City Schools
- Tuesday, March 24
- Location: NCDPI Room 150
Sheep Harney Elementary, JC Sawyer Elementary, Northside Elementary, Weeksville Elementary, River Road Middle, Northeastern High, & Pasquotank County High, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools
Southern Lee High School Marching Band, Lee County Schools
- Thursday, March 26
- Location: Halifax Mall Lawn
Scheduled Education Committee Meeting
K-12 Education Bills
Bills To Watch
The following bills have been placed on the House Calendar for Monday, April 6, 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 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
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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
BEST NC - Policy Brief | 2026
Research from both the business and K-12 sectors reinforces a truth long understood but too often ignored in policy: Principals are the pivotal force shaping school culture, instructional quality, teacher retention, and — ultimately — student achievement. But, despite this well-documented reality, the education sector has historically lagged far behind other industries in its efforts to recruit, prepare, support, and retain exceptional leaders.
BEST NC’s newest policy brief documents North Carolina’s efforts from 2016 to 2020 to dramatically increase and transform the principal pay structure, focusing on how this important funding lever can best be used to improve student outcomes. This report includes a robust set of recommendations to build upon and strengthen North Carolina’s nation-leading school leadership reforms.
See: NEW! Principal Pay in North Carolina: Aligning Compensation Strategies with Student Success (2026)
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The new salary schedule is based on the size of a school’s student population and the growth status of the schools the principal has led – based on the previous three years of growth data.
Image is linked to the NC State Salary Schedule for Public School Principals (2024-25)
NC Newsline - Clayton Henkel | March 16, 2026
How is North Carolina doing in building a workforce with the necessary degrees and job credentials for the 21st Century economy? myFutureNC recently released its latest update on the headway we’re making. NC Newsline caught up with the group’s President and CEO, Cecelia Holden.
There is encouraging news related to how well our state is doing in meeting its decade-long goal of building a workforce in which two-million residents hold a post-secondary degree or industry-valued credential by 2030. The interview reviewed some of the major challenges, including the reading and math scores of younger students, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disparities in how different regions of the state are faring. Also examined, the economic and future employment trends of artificial intelligence.
Click here to listen to the full interview with Cecilia Holden, president and CEO of myFutureNC.
Click here to read the latest report.
The Carolina Journal - David Bass | March 19, 2026
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson on March 11 secured an agreement to restore more than $2.5 million in federal education funding for North Carolina public schools for the remainder of the school year, a temporary reprieve while his lawsuit against the US Department of Education (USDE) moves forward.
The restored funds flow through the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program, which serves approximately 23,000 students statewide, including in counties still rebuilding from Hurricane Helene. Under the agreement, the US Department of Education will allow grantee schools to continue drawing on previously awarded grant funds through June 30.
The program funds expanded learning opportunities, teacher retention, and support for students dealing with adverse childhood experiences, primarily in rural and low-income communities.
The restored $2.5 million covers only the current school year — the broader legal challenge over the full grant remains active.
North State Journal - A.P. Dillon | March 14, 2026
The North Carolina State Treasurer’s office, led by Treasurer Brad Briner, announced several developments related to the state’s retirement savings, investment management and State Health Plan.
The North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans (SRP), comprising the NC 401(k) Plan and NC 457 Plan, reached a record $20 billion in assets at the end of 2025. The figure represents an increase from $17.7 billion at the close of 2024, with assets more than doubling over the past seven years, according to a press release.
In a separate meeting Feb. 25, the NCIA Board of Directors approved a new strategic asset allocation for the North Carolina Retirement Systems (NCRS) and voted to establish a long-term strategy for investing assets of the Ancillary Governmental Participants Investment Program (AGPIP).
EdNC - Ben Humpries | March 17, 2026
At the State Health Plan (SHP) Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, the board unanimously voted to approve a declaration of intent to implement a tiered-provider structure that would categorize health care providers based on the price of care they negotiate with the SHP. The SHP provides health care coverage to about 750,000 teachers, charter school employees, community college employees, other state employees, retirees, and dependents.
Presentation: State Health Plan - Board of Trustees Meeting | March 17, 2026
Open March 2-31, 2026
Your Voice Matters.
Teaching conditions in schools are important. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the North Carolina State Board of Education have made a sustained commitment to listening to educators and reforming schools to create the working conditions necessary for student and teacher success. This biennial survey collects the anonymous voices of educators across North Carolina to determine strengths and improvement opportunities in schools and districts.
Message From Superintendent Mo Green on the Teacher Working Conditions Survey
Need More Help? Please email NCTWC@dpi.nc.gov if you have any NC TWC questions for NCDPI. Individual educators should reach out to their NC TWC Coordinator if they need a survey code or have questions about participation. TWC Coordinators can reach out to the Survey Support team to update educator counts, if they have questions, or need additional assistance.
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EdNC - Donna Bledsoe | March 18, 2026
As educators across North Carolina complete the Teacher Working Conditions Survey this March, they are participating in one of the most important opportunities our state has to understand what teachers need to thrive and how school environments can continue to improve.
If school leaders are widely recognized as the number one factor influencing teacher recruitment and retention, and the second most influential school-based factor impacting student achievement, shouldn’t we seek feedback from principals and assistant principals with the same intentionality?
A group of educators and researchers came together to ensure that principal voice would not remain absent from the conversation. Together, this group began designing the Principal Working Conditions Survey: a tool created by school leaders, for school leaders.
Last Week to Apply!
Professional Development Opportunity - Voices of Freedom: Exploring History Through Place and Performance at Historic Stagville
The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) invites educators to a free, powerful professional development opportunity to connect history, place and performance.
Voices of Freedom: Exploring History Through Place and Performance at Historic Stagville
- Part I: Sunday, April 26 at Historic Stagville (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) 5828 Old Oxford Highway, Durham, NC, 27712
- Part II (optional): Monday, April 27 at Durham Performing Arts Center (7-10 p.m.) | Attending teachers will receive a free ticket to “Biscuits & Banjos presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community"
Attending educators will receive:
- A $50 stipend
- A ticket to “Biscuits & Banjos presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community” at DPAC (up to a $120 value)
- A private tour of Stagville and performance by the acclaimed Mary D. Williams
- 1 CEU
- Lunch
- Access to classroom resources
- The chance to network with other educators, as well as the opportunity to engage with DNCR/Historic Sites staff ready to serve as a source of support for work in the classroom
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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