New Grant Opportunity: 2026–2027 Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the 2026–2027 Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program, a new funding opportunity designed to help North Carolina public schools develop, maintain, or expand educational and competitive speech and debate teams for students in grades 9–12.
Grant Opportunity at a Glance
Who is eligible? Any North Carolina public school unit (PSU) that includes a high school serving students in grades 9–12 may apply.
How much funding is available? A total of $250,000 in nonrecurring funding is available statewide for the 2026–2027 school year. NCDPI may award up to $10,000 per participating high school team.
What can grant funds support? Grant funds may be used for:
- Coach stipends, including up to $2,500 for one lead coach and $1,500 for one assistant coach
- Fees associated with participation in speech and debate leagues or competitions
- Travel to and from speech and debate competitions
What are the program requirements? Teams receiving grant funds must participate in both the Tarheel Forensic League and the National Speech and Debate Association.
What will be prioritized? Funding will be awarded through a competitive process, with consideration given to applications that support access, broad geographic representation, economically disadvantaged student populations, and a clear plan for measuring the program's impact on academic achievement and other student outcomes.
Important Dates
Application Opens: August 19, 2026
Application Deadline: September 19, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. ET
Anticipated Award Notification: No later than October 31, 2026
PSUs will submit one application on behalf of participating high schools. The application will be submitted through the Google Form provided to PSU leaders.
We encourage interested PSUs to review the Competitive Speech and Debate Grant Program Guidance & Planning Document carefully before applying. The document includes eligibility requirements, allowable uses of funds, application guidance, evaluation rubrics, budget requirements, and other information to support the development of a competitive proposal.
Important Links
This grant provides an exciting opportunity to expand student access to speech and debate experiences that strengthen communication, engagement, academic learning, and student voice.
Questions about this grant can be directed to Dr. Kristi Day at Kristi.Day@dpi.nc.gov.
New Grant Opportunity: NC Competency-Based Education Innovation Grant Program
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the North Carolina Competency-Based Education (CBE) Innovation Grant Program, a new multi-year opportunity designed to support schools ready to reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment through competency-based education.
Through this competitive grant program, 10 North Carolina schools will be selected to receive $330,000 each to support the planning and implementation of competency-based education models.
About the Opportunity
The CBE Innovation Grant Program is designed to support schools and districts in transitioning to educational models that focus on mastery of learning rather than instructional time. Participating schools will explore innovative approaches that provide students with more personalized learning pathways, flexible opportunities to demonstrate mastery, and rigorous learning experiences grounded in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
The initiative will focus on four key areas:
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Redesigning learning pathways to support personalized learning and flexible student progression
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Innovating assessment practices, including formative and performance-based approaches that measure student mastery
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Building educator capacity through sustained professional learning and implementation support
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Developing strategies and promising practices that can inform the expansion of competency-based education across North Carolina
Funding
NCDPI will award grants to 10 participating schools, with each selected school receiving $330,000 over the life of the program.
Participating schools will use $95,000 each applicable school year for training on the implementation of competency-based education. Remaining grant funds may support costs associated with the transition to CBE, including travel and competency-based education resources.
Who May Apply?
The grant program is open to all North Carolina public school units.
NCDPI will prioritize schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to competency-based education and assessment innovation and show readiness to undertake this significant instructional transformation.
Program Timeline
The initiative is a multi-year commitment.
2026–2027: Planning and preparation
2027–2028: Implementation begins
2028–2030: Continued implementation, learning, evaluation, and refinement
June 30, 2030: Grant funding and services conclude
Selected schools will participate in professional learning, technical assistance, collaborative learning opportunities, monitoring, evaluation, and quarterly progress reporting throughout the initiative.
Important Application Dates
Application Opens: August 19, 2026
Application Deadline: October 18, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
Tentative State Board of Education Approval: December 2026
Interested PSUs are strongly encouraged to review the North Carolina Competency-Based Education Initiative Guidance & Planning Document and application materials carefully before beginning a proposal.
Important Links
This opportunity is intended for schools ready to engage in meaningful, sustained work to rethink how students experience learning, demonstrate mastery, and progress toward rigorous academic expectations.
Questions about this grant can be directed to Dr. Kristi Day at Kristi.Day@dpi.nc.gov.
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