Friday, August 28, 2026
Highlights
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Press Release | August 26, 2026
 Governor Josh Stein, Attorney General Jeff Jackson, and Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green at the press conference on Meta Settlement on August 26, 2026.
Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, will pay up to $645 million, with a guaranteed minimum of $451 million, to North Carolina and make major child safety upgrades to its apps in a landmark settlement with Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 51 bipartisan attorneys general. Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion to the states – the second-largest state consumer protection settlement in history and the largest big tech settlement ever.
The child safety upgrades will include comprehensive new measures to determine users’ age and keep children under 13 off the platforms. In addition, Meta will set default limits on the amount of time teens ages 13 to 17 can use Facebook and Instagram and give parents more control to adjust those settings in ways that work for their families.
Meta will also shut off feeds overnight, stop sending feed push notifications during the school day, and hide like counts, all by default. In addition, Meta will disable filters that mimic plastic surgery and tell parents when a suspicious person is contacting their teen. An independent auditor will check Meta’s work and publish what it finds.
“This is about protecting kids and empowering parents,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “We know that this company built these apps to keep kids hooked and misled parents about what was happening. Today, Meta has to change those features and hand parents the controls.”
North Carolina is slated to receive up to $645 million through 2035 from the settlement. Attorney General Jackson is encouraging the General Assembly to use the money to fund after-school and summer school programs across the state, crisis helplines for struggling children, and school health personnel.
Read the entire press release here.
Office of Governor Josh Stein Press Release | August 24, 2026
Governor Josh Stein and State Superintendent Mo Green visited Conn Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh to welcome students back on the first day of school.
“The first day of school is always exciting and holds so much promise for the students starting school across our state!” said Governor Josh Stein. “Thank you to the teachers and staff for all you do to educate our future leaders. Thank you to all the parents for partnering with your schools to help your child succeed. And to all of North Carolina's students, from pre-school to high school: This year is yours for the taking – good luck!”
Last week, Governor Stein visited W.M. Irvin Elementary School in Concord to deliver school supplies collected by the Governor’s Office during the eighth annual Governor’s School Supply Drive. In total, the drive collected more than 110,000 individual items for students in need across the state.
In last week’s NC Strong Update, Governor Stein highlighted how the state is working to keep North Carolina’s public schools strong by investing in student learning and teacher recruitment and retention.
Read the entire press release here.
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EdNC - Ben Humphries | August 27, 2026
The Public School Forum of North Carolina released a report on Wednesday detailing findings and recommendations from its two-year study of a weighted student funding model, which lawmakers and advocates have proposed as an alternative to North Carolina’s current model for funding public schools.
The Public School Forum’s report comes after a 2017 report ordered by the General Assembly exploring the transition to a weighted student funding formula, a 2023 bill sponsored by N.C. Senate education leaders which would have instated a weighted student funding formula, and, most recently, a provision in the 2026 budget (Page 217) creating a weighted student funding formula work group through the North Carolina Collaboratory.
“A weighted student formula is incredibly important,” said Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, in a Senate Education/Higher Education Committee meeting in May. “We need to move forward with it.”
In addition to the report’s recommendations to significantly increase investments in public schools, target investments to the students and communities who need it most, and continuously improve the funding formula as it is implemented and afterward, the report recommends implementing “low-cost adjustments to the current formula in the short-term.”
These could include increasing flexibility and the ability to transfer funds between allotments, which would “empower local district leaders to address the challenges specific to their communities.” The report also says implementing the Department of Public Instruction’s proposed weighted Exceptional Children model would be “an impactful first step.”
EdNC - Amy Rhyne | August 24, 2026
Over the past several years, states across the country have rewritten early literacy policy at an unprecedented pace. Science of reading legislation, teacher training requirements, instructional material reforms, and early intervention initiatives have reshaped the national literacy landscape.
Today, nearly every state has taken meaningful steps to strengthen reading instruction. But passing legislation was intended to be a starting point, never the finish line.
Early literacy matters 2.0: Literacy map. Courtesy of ExcelinEd | Click on the map to filter areas
From The Superintendent
NC DPI Press Release | August 26, 2026
North Carolina joined 51 bipartisan attorneys general in announcing a historic settlement with Meta to address the harm social media has done to the mental health of young people. North Carolina will receive up to $645 million from this settlement to support student well-being across our state.
I am grateful for the years of work by Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Governor Josh Stein, our former Attorney General, and their colleagues on this lawsuit and settlement.
Student well-being and academic success are interconnected. Students cannot reach their full potential in the classroom when they are struggling outside of it. While North Carolina public schools celebrate historic results with graduation rates, participation and performance on college-level courses and exams by high school students, and the number of industry-recognized credentials earned, continued progress on these results will not happen if our students are struggling with mental health challenges.
I look forward to working with Attorney General Jackson, Governor Stein, the General Assembly, the State Board of Education, my colleagues at NCDPI and other partners to help ensure that the resources from this historic settlement are used to support the well-being of our young people as effectively and efficiently as possible, so that every child in North Carolina, regardless of where they currently attend or will attend school, has access to the mental health supports they deserve.
Read the entire statement here.
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Queen City News | August 24, 2026
Queen City News interview with Superintendent Mo Green - August 24, 2026
Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green said changing demographics in North Carolina will bring some challenges, but they could also create opportunities. Interview Link
September State Board of Education Meeting
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Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 10 a.m.
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Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 9 a.m.
Access all YouTube recordings of SBE meetings here.
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Celebrate the Good in Public Education
 North Carolina High School Athletic Association
August 17, 2026
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) is proud to announce the NCHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2026, recognizing eight individuals whose contributions have had a lasting impact on high school athletics across the state. The 2026 class includes Michael Baker, Zoe Bell, Patty Evers, Greg Frey, Vicki Hamilton, Beecher “B.W.” Holt, Leonardo “Leo” Lockhart, and Bobby Reynolds.
These honorees represent decades of service as coaches, administrators, officials, and advocates for student-athletes. Their achievements include state championships, national coaching honors, pioneering leadership in school systems, and lifelong commitments to mentorship, sportsmanship, and community service. Collectively, their work has shaped programs, opened opportunities for students, and strengthened high school athletics throughout North Carolina.
Legislative Lookback: Week of August 24, 2026
There was no action this week on education-related bills or general legislation.
A Look Ahead: Week of August 31, 2026
The House and Senate will reconvene on Monday, August 31 at 12 p.m.
Pursuant to SJR 1091, the House and Senate may reconvene on the following dates:
- August 31-September 2
- September 28-30
- October 26-28
- November 16-19
- November 30-December 18
Items eligible for consideration include: veto override votes, appointment and confirmation matters, election law issues, litigation-related actions, impeachment proceedings, constitutional amendments, simple resolutions, conference reports, and resolutions to further adjourn the legislative session.
The NCGA legislative calendar is updated frequently, so be sure to check the NCGA Homepage for the most up-to-date information on committee meetings, voting sessions, press conferences, and more. Current Legislative Calendar
K-12 Education Bills
Education Bills to Watch
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HB 171 Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI.
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HB 301 Social Media & AI Safety.
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HB 832 Education Omnibus.
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SB 69 Various Local Provisions V.
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SB 177 Continuing Budget Adjustments.
Reminder: Bills ≠ Laws
Only a few dozen bills typically make it “across the finish line” and become law each legislative session.
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