SB 284 allocates $8.3 million in state funds to Guilford County Schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Specifically, $5 million will expand high-dosage tutoring programs by hiring more tutors, broadening subject areas, and increasing session availability. An additional $3.3 million will support learning hubs designed to help at-risk students complete graduation requirements and improve graduation rates. The bill directly affects Guilford County Schools students and staff through these targeted academic support programs.
SB 300 (the NC REACH Act) would require all students graduating with a bachelor's degree from a University of North Carolina institution or an associate degree from a North Carolina community college to complete at least three credit hours of instruction in American history or government. The bill mandates that courses cover specific foundational documents - including the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, Gettysburg Address, and the North Carolina State Constitution - and include a final exam worth at least 20% of the course grade. Students may be exempted through prior coursework (e.g., AP/IB exams, dual enrollment) that meets the same requirements. The bill explicitly states it will not increase total credit hour requirements for degrees and requires annual reporting on compliance by 2026. This is a proposed bill currently in committee review.
HB 418 mandates that all North Carolina public schools provide required arts education for K-5 students beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. It requires at least one 30-minute session per week in music, dance, or theatre arts (taught by a licensed instructor) and one session per week in visual arts (also taught by a licensed instructor), with classes kept at appropriate sizes. The bill directly affects every K-5 public school student and their educators across North Carolina, ensuring consistent arts instruction aligned with state curriculum standards. It does not alter funding or create new programs but sets specific instructional requirements for elementary schools.
SB 393 requires North Carolina public schools to include instruction on the costs of gambling - including sports betting - and gambling addiction in all required personal financial literacy courses. This policy change directly affects all K-12 students in the state, as it amends existing curriculum standards to add this specific topic. The bill mandates that schools cover these topics alongside other financial literacy elements like credit costs, mortgages, and credit scoring. The requirement will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a concrete addition to the curriculum, not a procedural change.
SB 511 requires all North Carolina public schools (K-12) to teach informational literacy, defined as skills to find, evaluate, and use information effectively - including digital, media, and technological literacy. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to create age-appropriate standards covering research processes, source evaluation (primary vs. secondary), fact vs. opinion, ethical information use, and access to library resources. Schools must develop curriculum in consultation with library/media staff and implement it starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This policy directly affects every public school student and educator in North Carolina through mandated curriculum changes.
SB 621 reinstates a temporary sales tax exemption for school supplies in North Carolina, effective July 1, 2025. The bill reenacts G.S. 105-164.13C, which exempts qualifying items like notebooks, pens, and backpacks from state sales tax during a designated period each year. This directly affects families purchasing school supplies for children, reducing their out-of-pocket costs. The policy change is limited to tax relief for specific items and does not alter education funding or curriculum.
This bill requires North Carolina public schools to teach age-appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) literacy from kindergarten through 12th grade starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It mandates state standards covering basic AI concepts, real-world uses, ethical issues like privacy and bias, and responsible AI use - such as preventing academic dishonesty. The standards can be integrated into existing computer science courses for middle and high school students. The bill directly affects all North Carolina public schools and their curriculum planning. It focuses on equipping students with foundational knowledge about AI systems and their societal impacts, rather than creating new programs or funding.
SB 748 requires North Carolina public elementary schools (grades K-5) to include critical thinking instruction in their curriculum, shifting focus from memorization to evaluating information. The bill amends state education statutes to mandate this change, affecting all K-5 public schools and their curriculum planning. It takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The law does not alter existing subjects but adds critical thinking as a required component of instruction.
HB 7, the NC REACH Act, requires all students graduating with a baccalaureate degree from a UNC system university or an associate degree from a North Carolina community college to complete at least three credit hours of coursework in American history or government. This coursework must include reading key documents like the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail, plus a final exam worth 20% of the grade. Students may qualify for exemptions through AP/IB/Cambridge scores, dual enrollment, or prior equivalent coursework. The bill ensures these requirements do not increase total graduation credit hours or conflict with accreditation standards, with annual compliance reports due to the legislature starting in 2026.
HB 596 establishes the Standard Course of Study Advisory Commission (SCOS Commission) to advise North Carolina's State Board of Education on academic standards. The 18-member commission includes teachers, principals, parents, school administrators, business representatives, and university officials to provide stakeholder input. It will recommend standards for core subjects like math, science, and civics that must be grade-specific, measurable, and aligned with college readiness requirements. These recommendations will guide updates to curriculum, testing, and teacher training programs used across public schools statewide.
