Education

died · North Carolina · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 191: CFSS Gun Prsnt. for Grade 7 and 9 Students.

SB 191 requires North Carolina's Center for Safer Schools to create an interactive presentation about the legal, medical, and emotional consequences of gun use, substance abuse, and gun safety for students. It mandates all public school districts to provide this presentation to every 7th and 9th grader annually, with schools required to notify parents 14 days in advance and allow opt-outs. The bill allocates $900,000 in recurring funds for the Center to develop materials and train schools, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. This policy directly affects 7th and 9th grade students and school districts across North Carolina.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates curriculum content on gun safety with $900k funding, advancing educational programming for students per Subjects: CURRICULUM; EDUCATION.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 239: Change to Exceptional Children Funding Formula.

HB 239 modifies North Carolina's funding formula for children with disabilities in public schools. It changes how funds are allocated to local school districts by capping per-child funding at 13% of a district's total enrollment plus students using state scholarship programs. The bill requires the State Education Assistance Authority to provide annual scholarship data by March 15 to help calculate district funding. It also appropriates $25 million in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support this revised funding structure, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $25M recurring funds for exceptional children education, directly increasing state budget allocation for a public service.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $25M recurring funds for exceptional children while modifying funding formula to maintain support for disability services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education Student Financial Aid

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died · North Carolina · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 179: Partnership with Voices Together.

SB 179 appropriates $2.5 million from North Carolina's General Fund annually for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund middle school programming through the nonprofit Voices Together. The bill directly supports middle school students in North Carolina school systems who have intellectual or developmental disabilities or experience learning delays, preparing them for future employment services. This funding enables Voices Together to expand its existing high school-level transition services to younger students through structured educational programming. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the Senate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.5M from General Fund for special needs education program, increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $2.5M annually to fund middle school special needs programming, expanding educational access for students with disabilities through nonprofit partnerships.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds program addressing developmental disabilities and mental health services for students through education, directly supporting healthcare-related needs per bill subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget K-12 Education

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 204: Remove Testing Requirement for Teacher Lisc.

SB 204 removes standardized testing as a requirement for obtaining or renewing a teaching license in North Carolina. It directly affects all educators applying for teacher licensure (both standard and limited licenses) by eliminating the need to pass standardized exams. The bill prohibits the State Board of Education from creating new rules requiring such tests, including for limited licenses (which are for teachers already employed but needing to meet full licensure requirements). This change applies only to new license applications and renewals after the bill takes effect.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves standardized testing barrier for teacher licensure, reducing barriers for educators and supporting teacher access and retention in education system90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Testing & Assessment

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 259: Brown-Morgan Science Olympiad Grant.

HB 259 establishes a $127,500 pilot grant program for North Carolina public schools to support participation in Science Olympiad competitions during the 2025-2026 school year. The program provides funding to cover registration fees, materials, travel, and teacher stipends for schools that did not have a Science Olympiad team in the previous year, prioritizing these applicants. Public school units must apply by August 31, 2025, and funds must supplement - not replace - existing school budgets. The Department of Public Instruction will report participation data and unfunded applications to the legislature by May 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $127,500 for STEM education pilot via appropriation, explicitly listed under APPROPRIATIONS/BUDGETING subjects while supplementing existing budgets.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $127,500 grant to fund Science Olympiad participation, prioritizing schools without teams and supplementing budgets to expand STEM educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 167: Revise, Study, and Fund LEP Allotment.

SB 167 revises North Carolina's funding for schools supporting students with limited English proficiency (LEP), requiring new allocation rules and a state study. It appropriates $16.2 million annually for 2025-2026 to schools with at least 20 LEP students or 2.5% LEP enrollment, funding classroom staff, materials, and training. Schools must use these funds to supplement, not replace, existing local spending. The bill also mandates a 2025 study to evaluate funding adequacy and recommend improvements to bilingual education programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $16.2M annually for LEP student programs, explicitly funding public education services through state budget allocation without replacing local funds.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $16.2M annually for LEP student support, mandates supplemental funding (not replacement), and requires study to evaluate adequacy - directly advances educational access for English learners.95% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 284: Additional Time for School Calendar Good Cause Waiver.

HB 284 allows Ashe, Allegheny, and Watauga County Schools in North Carolina to open earlier than the standard August 26 date if they meet "good cause" requirements related to weather or emergencies. Specifically, it permits opening as early as August 12 (instead of August 26) if the school was closed 8 days per year during four of the last ten years due to severe weather, power failures, or similar emergencies. The bill requires local school boards to adjust closing dates to maintain required instructional days if they use this waiver. It applies only to these three counties and takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school calendar adjustments to maintain instructional time during weather emergencies, supporting educational continuity for affected counties.75% confidence

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 304: Allow Flexibilities for Trades High School in Iredell County.

HB 304 allows Iredell-Statesville Schools to create a specialized Trades High School for grades 10-12 focused on Career and Technical Education (CTE). The school would operate under exemptions from specific state education statutes (Part 1 and Part 1D of Article 8 in Chapter 115C) and must follow teacher requirements: at least 50% licensed staff, college degrees for core subject teachers, and mandatory training for non-licensed instructors in disability support and classroom management. Students earning a Trades Diploma must complete 22 credits, with the school submitting diploma criteria to the State Board of Education before the 2025-2026 school year. This bill directly affects Iredell-Statesville students, staff, and the district’s curriculum structure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables specialized CTE program with quality safeguards, expanding career-focused curriculum options in secondary education per bill's focus on Trades High School creation and teacher requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Higher Education

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 325: Legislative Building Field Trip Pilot Program.

HB 325 establishes a two-year pilot program (2025-2026 and 2026-2027) to fund public school field trips to North Carolina's Legislative Building. It provides up to $2,000 per school for transportation costs (bus rental, fuel, driver pay) to participating schools, prioritizing those in counties designated as "Tier 1" under state law. The program is funded with $1.5 million annually from the General Fund, requiring schools to submit budget applications by October 1 and reporting usage to the legislature by February 15 each year. The bill directly affects public school units statewide, with priority given to schools in designated underserved counties.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.5M annually from General Fund for school field trip program, directly funding public education through state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school field trips to Legislative Building with $1.5M annual funding, prioritizing underserved schools to enhance educational access and engagement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · North Carolina · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 326: DPI to Study Increased Teacher Planning.

HB 326 requires North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study ways to increase teacher planning time or reduce workloads that cut into it. The DPI must report to lawmakers by February 15, 2026, with specific recommendations, cost estimates, and other relevant findings. The bill allocates $5,000 in one-time funding for the study, which can include partnering with outside experts. This is a procedural study bill with no immediate policy changes; it aims to inform future decisions about teacher workloads in public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates DPI study to increase teacher planning time/workload reduction, directly supporting educator needs per education topic indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers

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