Education

in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 393: Betting and Addiction in Pers. Finance Course.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of gambling costs/addiction in required financial literacy curriculum, expanding educational content on financial health and student decision-making.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 540: Increase Small County Funding.

SB 540 increases funding for small county school systems in North Carolina by revising their supplemental allotment schedule. It provides higher base funding amounts based on student enrollment (e.g., counties with 0-1,300 students receive $1.82 million annually instead of prior rates), directly affecting small school districts with under 3,300 students. The bill appropriates $20,961,180 in recurring funds from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement these changes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, ensuring increased per-student funding for eligible small county school systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $20.96M from General Fund to increase school funding for small counties, directly advancing public education budget allocation per legislative intent.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases base funding for small county schools via revised allotments and $20.9M appropriation, directly advancing K-12 educational access and resources for under-3,300-student districts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget School Funding

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 434: School Workers Fair Pay Act.

SB 434, the School Workers Fair Pay Act, requires North Carolina public schools to pay all noncertified employees (such as cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative staff) a minimum hourly wage of $17.00, effective July 1, 2025. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to adjust salary schedules to meet this rate and allocates $144.7 million from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support this change. Funds must supplement existing salaries without replacing current state or local funding. This policy directly affects thousands of non-teaching school staff across all North Carolina public school districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $144.7M from General Fund to fund school worker wages, increasing state budget expenditure for public services per bill's funding mandate.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates $17/hour for school staff with $144.7M funding, directly supporting educational workforce compensation and school operations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates $17/hr minimum wage for school staff with $144.7M funding, directly increasing compensation and protecting worker pay rights under Labor & Employment policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Student Health Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 433: Restore Educator Longevity.

SB 433 reinstates longevity pay for North Carolina educators, directly affecting teachers, instructional support staff, principals, and assistant principals in public schools. It sets specific annual payment rates based on years of state service: 1.5% for 10-14 years, 2.25% for 15-19 years, 3.25% for 20-24 years, and 4.5% for 25+ years, paid as a lump sum each year. The bill appropriates $140.3 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these payments. It becomes effective July 1, 2025, restoring previously cut longevity benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $140.3M from General Fund to fund educator longevity pay, increasing state spending on public education personnel.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRestores longevity pay for educators with $140M funding, directly increasing teacher compensation and retention in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores longevity pay for educators via state-funded salary increases (1.5%-4.5% based on service years), directly advancing employment benefits for state employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 435: Restore Master's Pay for Teachers and ISP.

SB 435 restores education-based salary supplements for North Carolina teachers and instructional support personnel (ISP) that were previously eliminated. It directs the State Board of Education to use the 2013 policy (TCP-A-006) to determine eligibility for the "M" salary schedule and degree-based pay increases (e.g., for master's or doctoral degrees). The bill appropriates $8 million from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to fund these reinstated supplements. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting eligible educators' pay through revised salary calculations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $8M from General Fund to restore teacher pay supplements, directly increasing education budget allocation and funding public employee salaries.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRestores master's degree-based teacher salary supplements with $8M funding, directly increasing educator compensation and reversing prior cuts.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores degree-based salary supplements for teachers/ISP, appropriating $8M to fund reinstated pay increases for state employees, directly advancing compensation standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Teachers

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 612: Convert School Buses to Electric by 2050.

SB 612 requires all new school buses purchased by North Carolina school districts to be electric starting in the 2026-2027 school year, with the goal of converting the entire school bus fleet to electric by the end of the 2049-2050 school year. It also creates a grant program to help small counties purchase electric "activity buses" (used for field trips and events) by covering up to 50% of the cost. The bill appropriates $350 million for general school bus conversions and $50 million specifically for the activity bus grant program, beginning in 2026-2027. This directly affects all school districts, with additional financial support targeted at smaller counties eligible for supplemental funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $350M for school bus conversions and $50M for grants, directly increasing state budget allocation for public transportation infrastructure and education funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $350M for electric school bus conversions and $50M for grants, improving school transportation infrastructure and student access to educational activities.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates electric school buses by 2050, funds conversions ($350M), and promotes alternative energy infrastructure through grants, directly advancing renewable transportation and reducing fossil fuel dependence.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires electric school buses to reduce emissions, funds conversion with $400M total, directly advancing clean energy and pollution control in transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates electric school buses, funds conversions ($350M), and creates grants for electric activity buses - promotes sustainable transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Public Transit

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 601: Revise Private Need-Based Scholarship.

SB 601 revises eligibility rules for North Carolina's need-based scholarships at private colleges. It requires qualifying institutions to hold specific regional accreditation (like SACSCOC) and meet campus standards, directly affecting private colleges seeking state scholarship funding and their students. The bill updates definitions in law to clarify which schools qualify, adding new accreditation criteria and distinguishing between "main permanent" and "permanent" campuses. These changes apply to scholarships awarded starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. The bill does not alter scholarship amounts or create new programs, only refining which institutions can participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates scholarship eligibility to require regional accreditation, ensuring state funding targets qualified institutions and strengthens program integrity for higher education access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 511: Informational Literacy in Schools.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new curriculum standards for informational literacy, enhancing student research and media skills across K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates digital/technological literacy education in K-12 curricula, promoting responsible tech use and critical evaluation skills per bill's definition.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Libraries

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 534: Capital Project Funding at NCA&ampT/WSSU.

SB 534 allocates $237.5 million in one-time state funding from the Capital and Infrastructure Fund for capital projects at two North Carolina universities. Specifically, it provides $125 million to North Carolina A&T State University for an Agricultural Research Classroom and $112.5 million to Winston-Salem State University for a Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Complex. The funding is designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and becomes effective July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects the operations and infrastructure development of these two public universities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $237.5M from Capital & Infrastructure Fund for university capital projects, directly advancing state budget appropriations for public infrastructure spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $237.5M for university infrastructure projects at NCA&T and WSSU, directly funding higher education facilities per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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died · North Carolina · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 630: School Mental Health Support Act.

SB 630, the School Mental Health Support Act, creates two programs to improve student mental health services in North Carolina public schools. It appropriates $50 million for a grant program to help schools hire mental health support personnel (like counselors and psychologists), prioritizing schools serving students without insurance or with disabilities. Additionally, it allocates $50 million for a loan repayment program covering 20% of student debt annually for mental health workers (e.g., counselors, psychologists) who graduated from UNC schools and work in high-need areas. Both programs require annual reporting to legislative committees on funding distribution and outcomes. The bill directly affects public school units and mental health professionals in North Carolina.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $50M for grants to hire school mental health staff (prioritizing underserved students) and $50M for loan repayment for mental health workers, directly enhancing student mental health services in public schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $50M for school mental health grants and $50M for loan repayments for mental health workers, directly expanding access to services per bill's explicit funding and program creation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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