The Workforce Act of 2026 allocates state funding to modernize education-to-workforce pathways and improve credit transfer for students in North Carolina. A primary provision directs $3.1 million to the ApprenticeshipNC program to support work-based learning and increase employer participation in apprenticeships. The bill also provides $350,000 to the Department of Commerce to create a list of industry-valued credentials and link them to labor market data such as wages and job placement. Additionally, it increases funding for short-term workforce development grants and requires private colleges to be included in the state's common digital transcript system by March 2027.
SB 915 establishes the 2026 Governor's Budget for North Carolina, allocating specific funding amounts to state departments, institutions, and agencies for their current operations. The bill directly affects a wide range of entities, including public schools, universities, health and human services agencies, and justice system bodies, by providing financial resources for their services. Key provisions include detailed dollar amounts for each fiscal year of the 2025-2027 biennium, with savings reverting to the state fund if not fully utilized. This legislation sets the financial framework for state government activities but does not specify new programs or policy changes beyond the budget allocations.
This bill allocates five million dollars to provide high-dosage early literacy tutoring based on the science of reading for first-grade students in North Carolina, with options for both in-person and virtual instruction. It clarifies that schools are permitted to use virtual tutoring programs and requires local school districts to report detailed reading proficiency data for first, second, and third-grade students on their websites. The reporting requirements include specific metrics on student performance, retention rates, and participation in reading camps to ensure public accountability. These changes take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
This bill requires North Carolina public schools to create policies limiting the use of wireless devices like phones and tablets during instructional time. It mandates that students in kindergarten through fifth grade cannot use any such devices in classrooms, while older students face stricter limits on device usage and access to non-instructional content like social media. To support these restrictions, the legislation appropriates funds to hire one teacher assistant for every classroom serving students in grades K through five. Additionally, the law grants parents the right to opt out of their children being issued wireless devices by the school and ensures that printed materials are used for instruction in elementary and middle schools.
This bill, known as the Students First Act, introduces three main changes to North Carolina's education system. First, it protects student privacy by explicitly classifying personally identifiable disciplinary records as confidential, preventing them from being released as public records. Second, it creates a work group to study and plan a transition to a weighted student funding model for K-12 public schools, aiming to increase flexibility and transparency in how schools receive state money. Finally, the bill establishes a pilot program for the 2027-2028 school year that would provide high school students with funds to participate in personalized learning and credit-bearing activities. The legislation also appropriates $300,000 to support the formation of the funding strategy work group.
This bill creates the North Carolina High School Redesign Commission to study and recommend ways to better prepare students for college and careers by exploring flexible diploma requirements, work-based learning, and competency-based education. The fifteen-member commission includes representatives from the legislature, governor, universities, community colleges, and business organizations, and it must submit its findings by April 2027. Additionally, the legislation appropriates $3.6 million to fund a pilot program for ten high schools focused on STEM education and manufacturing skills. The bill also establishes a new procedure to monitor and prevent local school districts from spending more than their state-funded allotments.
HB 1096, the First in Flight Act, allocates state funding to support North Carolina's aerospace industry and airport infrastructure. The bill creates a new aviation capital project account to provide grants to airports for modernization projects, provided those projects are linked to agreements with aerospace businesses. Additionally, it establishes an aerospace apprenticeship program and funds community college training initiatives to develop a skilled workforce in the sector. These measures aim to strengthen the state's economic position in aviation by improving facilities and expanding educational opportunities.
HB 1130 aims to improve conditions for public school teachers and instructional staff in North Carolina by adjusting pay structures and offering financial incentives for advanced certification. The bill reinstates education-based salary supplements for the 2025-2026 school year and allocates funds to support these payments starting in 2026-2027. It also establishes a forgivable loan program to help teachers cover the costs of obtaining National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, provided they achieve this credential within five years. Additionally, the legislation sets a new monthly salary schedule based on years of experience and grants a 12% monthly salary increase to teachers who hold NBPTS certification. Local school administrators will gain more flexibility in setting school calendars as part of the broader changes to teacher employment and quality of life.
This bill introduces a new 7% state income tax specifically on earnings that exceed $1 million. The revenue generated from this tax, after deducting administrative costs, will be sent directly to the Public School Fund to support local schools. The law applies to individual taxpayers and is scheduled to take effect for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2026.
This bill, known as the Plyler Educational Protections Act, ensures that all children in North Carolina public schools receive equal access to education regardless of their immigration status or their parents' citizenship. It prohibits schools from denying enrollment, excluding students from programs, or asking for documentation related to a student's or parent's immigration history, with limited exceptions for legal warrants or parental consent. To enforce these protections, the legislation requires schools to create specific action plans that designate a single point of contact for immigration authorities and establish clear procedures for handling their requests on campus. Additionally, the bill mandates that schools notify parents within 24 hours if immigration officials visit the school and provides guidelines for sharing student information only when legally required or authorized.
