In Other News
Education Commission of the States - Katja Krieger | October 22, 2026
On Oct. 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released an interim final rule or temporary regulations and notice of proposed rulemaking regulations for the federal scholarship tax credit, which was included in the 2025 passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). The legislation allows governors or a designated state official to annually opt in to a federally funded tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education, which is slated to begin Jan. 1, 2027. The deadline for states to submit their eligible scholarship granting organization (SGO) list to Treasury is by Feb. 15, 2027. For more information on the program and what states have opted-in, check out our previous blog post.
These regulations are not final, and additional guidance is still forthcoming. For instance, Treasury could still make changes to either rule in response to public comments, which must be submitted by Dec. 1. This public hearing for proposed regulations will be held on Dec. 15. Also, Treasury is expected to issue separate guidance under section 530 on what qualifies as an eligible expense. ECS will continue monitoring resources and provide updates on the program.
For further information about school choice policies, explore ECS’ School Choice page and make sure to subscribe to the Ed Note blog for updates as they are available.
BEST NC - Article originally published on EdNC.org | October 20, 2026
Last year, 3,000 new teachers started teaching in North Carolina schools on an Emergency or Permit to Teach license with no training requirements or experience as a teacher. These teachers leave the profession without obtaining a full license at a rate of 47%. TeachReadyNC seeks to break this cyclical dependence on unprepared teachers by giving them, instead, a paid apprenticeship with a supervising mentor teacher, a $5,000 stipend for training, and support from an Advanced Teaching Roles team.
TeachReadyNC is a new teacher apprenticeship model that is a partnership between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and ApprenticeshipNC. It was recently established in the 2026 North Carolina state budget as Section 7.24 of the 2026 Appropriations Act (SB 257). TeachReadyNC is now in its design phase, with the first cohort of districts launching as early as this school year.
DPI and ApprenticeshipNC are coordinating the project with support from BEST NC and other advisers including: RTI International (research, evaluation, and monitoring); The Innovation Project (district consortium and early adopter implementation); and Public Impact (ATR integration and team-based mentorship design).
The goal for TeachReadyNC is straightforward: No teacher in North Carolina should enter a classroom without training, preparation, and support.
To learn more about TeachReadyNC, visit BEST NC’s website and read the TeachReadyNC Overview
For more information on this program, please visit NCDPI's website.
The Carolina Journal - David N. Bass | October 18, 2026
The University of North Carolina System has awarded $400,000 to 15 of its universities to build teacher apprenticeships and other new pathways into K-12 classrooms, according to an Oct. 12 press release from the system office.
The grants are meant to push universities to create new ways into the teaching profession, especially for people who already hold a degree or work in a school, the announcement said. More than 4,000 educators are teaching in North Carolina public schools on temporary licenses, and the teacher attrition rate hit 10.11% in 2024-25, according to the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) annual report on the teaching profession. The system office did not say how much each university received.
Districts reported 5,459 teachers working on residency licenses at the start of this school year, up 5.3%, in a survey released Sept. 24 by the NC School Superintendents’ Association, as Carolina Journal reported. Teacher vacancies in the same survey fell to 2,009, the fewest in at least six years.
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Educational Programs and Opportunities
The 2026 Congressional App Challenge, the most prestigious competition in computer science.
Established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, the Congressional App Challenge encourages middle and high school students from across the country to develop an innovative app for a mobile device or computer. The competition is designed to expose students to the world of app development without requiring prior coding experience.
PRIZES AND REGISTRATION
The winners of the competition will have their app featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website and displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Winners are also invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception.
GENERAL RULES
- Students must either be in middle or high school
- Students can participate as individuals or in up to teams of four
- For teams, 50% of the students must either live or go to school in the district
- For solo students, the student must either live or go to school in the district
- Students have until October 26, 2026 to submit their apps.
- Apps can be coded on any platform, using any programming language, on any topic
IMPORTANT DATES
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October 26 – Deadline for students to register and submit their app online
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December 31 - Winner announced by at the latest
 Wednesday, October 28 | 6 PM - 7 PM (followed by Q&A)
A Free Virtual Discussion for K-12 Educators
American Indian Heritage Month each November offers a powerful chance for educators to highlight the rich cultures, histories, and ongoing contributions of American Indian communities in North Carolina. In preparation, K–12 educators are invited to join DNCR’s NC American Indian Heritage Commission to deepen essential understandings of contemporary American Indian tribes across the state while dispelling common misconceptions and stereotypes.
Participants will explore practical ideas, vetted resources, and culturally grounded approaches that support meaningful integration of Native people, stories, and perspectives into classroom instruction, during November and throughout the entire school year.
Educators in attendance can request a .1 CEU form after the event.
Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your practice and ensure your students learn accurate, relevant, and inspiring North Carolina Native narratives all year long.
NC schools and organizations invited to register for Poetry Out Loud Competition - October 30 Deadline
The Oct. 30 deadline for the North Carolina Poetry Out Loud Competition is quickly approaching.
According to the North Carolina Arts Council website, “Poetry Out Loud is a national program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts that encourages students to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation.”
Schools and organizations that are eligible to participate include:
- Public, private, parochial, independent, and charter high schools
- Homeschool students
- Libraries
- After-school programs
- Nonprofit organizations and other eligible community organizations
Registration for the 2026-27 program is open through Oct. 30. Click here to access information on rules and eligibility.
If interested in participating, this registration form can be used for schools and organizations to sign up.
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Three Professions. One Mission.
December 8-9, 2026 | Concord Convention Center & Embassy Suites
Attention ALL school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school-based mental health clinicians: You are invited to register for the inaugural NCDPI Better Together: School Mental Health Summit — Three Professions, One Mission, taking place on December 8–9, 2026, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa and the Concord Convention Center.
This groundbreaking statewide gathering will unite school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school-based mental health clinicians, supervisors, and directors for:
- Inspiring keynote presentations, including April Simpkins
- Engaging breakout sessions focused on school mental health
- Cross-disciplinary learning and practical strategies
- Opportunities to connect with colleagues and exhibitors from across North Carolina
Attendance is limited, and registration is subject to approval. Please review all registration agreements prior to completing your registration.
We look forward to coming together to learn, connect, and strengthen school mental health supports across North Carolina.
Presenters: Please do not register through this invitation. You will receive a separate email containing your presenter registration code and instructions.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Purple Star Award, which recognizes North Carolina schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a strong commitment to military-connected students and families.
For a full list of awarded schools, please visit this link.
Application
- November 17 at 4 p.m.
- December 10 at 9 a.m.
- January 7 at noon
- January 26 at 4 p.m.
For questions on the application, please email Howard Lattimore.
Applications close February 1, 2027
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Accessibility in STEM 2027 Conference
Free! Come Anytime! Network! Free CEU's!
Presenters Needed!
- Registration is $25 and is refundable upon attendance. Educators, families, students, and anyone interested are welcome to participate!
- Complimentary meals will be provided.
NC College Connect delivers direct admission offers to more than 105,000 seniors; 64 percent admitted to dozens of two- and four-year colleges without an application
Your moment is coming! Get ready! - With NC College Connect, you will be directly admitted to participating colleges and universities where you already meet admissions requirements. No essays, test scores, or recommendation letters needed. Yes, it’s that simple.
NC College Connect is a program that directly admits North Carolina public high school seniors who are on track to graduate, have a 2.8 GPA or higher, are enrolled in a fourth-level math and meet program requirements to participating UNC System universities, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and their local North Carolina community college. The higher your GPA, the more schools to which you’ll be directly admitted!
Don’t have a 2.8 GPA? If you are on track to graduate, you’ll be directly admitted to your local community college.
Participating institutions include 11 UNC System universities, all 58 North Carolina community colleges and 29 North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
Next steps for families
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Check the offer online. Seniors can log in to their College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) student account at NCCollegeConnect.org to see where they have been admitted.
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Watch the mail. An official NC College Connect letter will arrive in the coming weeks with the same information.
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Talk with a school counselor or advisor. Counselors and advisors can help students research opportunities, compare offers, understand next steps and plan for financial aid.
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Accept an offer or apply early. Students review their offers and submit a short form indicating their interest. Those who accept an offer during College Application Week, Oct. 19-25, avoid most application fees, and fee waivers are available for most other applications.
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Complete the FAFSA. Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step toward financial aid at any college.
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Decide where to enroll and complete enrollment. Weigh academic programs, campus location and environment, family and individual needs, and financial aid packages.
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EdNC - Molly Steur | September 23, 2026
The FAFSA form provides real-time results, allowing students to view their federal Pell Grant and other federal financial aid eligibility immediately after completing the form. The form also includes earning indicators for colleges students are applying to.
- How to apply
- Eligibility, citizenship, and parents’ information
- Why does the FAFSA matter?
- FAFSA completion rates
- Resources for the FAFSA application
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The Department of Education administers grant funding programs to fulfill the Department's mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness, to foster educational excellence, and to ensure equal access. Search for open and upcoming grant opportunities available from ED in the list at this link. The definitive list of U.S. federal government grants is located at Grants.gov.
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Partner with the Governor's Council on Workforce & Apprenticeships
Businesses across North Carolina are coming together to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline—and Your Company is invited to join in! By partnering with the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships (and through it, the NCWorks system), employers gain access to talent connections, workforce training resources, and support designed to help companies recruit, train, and retain the skilled employees they need to grow.
The Council’s Goal: Engage 50,000 employers across the state.
Visit commerce.nc.gov/employers to learn more and complete the interest form.
Add your voice. Share your workforce needs. Help shape the future of North Carolina’s workforce...and ensure your business stays competitive.
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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