HB 966, the College Cost Reduction Act, prohibits all University of North Carolina (UNC) schools from requiring students to pay extra for mandatory course software (Learning Management Systems or LMS). It directly affects UNC students by banning any requirement for paid LMS access beyond existing, approved student fees. The bill mandates the UNC Board of Governors to create a policy ensuring professors or courses cannot force students to pay for LMS services - only free or fee-covered options may be required. The rule takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.
SB 659, the "Investing in North Carolina Act," raises salaries for public school teachers and state employees for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It establishes a new monthly salary schedule for teachers based on experience (ranging from $4,600 for 0 years to $6,370 for 29+ years), adds specific supplements for certified teachers, nurses, counselors, and specialists, and provides cost-of-living increases for retirees. The bill also expands the Wage$ program statewide and creates a tax credit for qualifying employers equal to 5% of wages paid or $10,000, whichever is lower. Directly affecting teachers, state employees, community college staff, UNC employees, retirees, and participating employers, it focuses on concrete pay adjustments through funding appropriations.
This bill allocates $1,000,000 from the General Fund for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to Edgecombe Community College. The funds are specifically designated as a directed grant to construct an Industrial Technology and Skilled Trades Facility. This facility aims to strengthen the local workforce by providing training infrastructure. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2025, and directly affects Edgecombe Community College and the regional workforce development efforts.
SB 579 aims to transform the high school experience in North Carolina. It establishes the North Carolina High School Redesign Commission, tasked with exploring and recommending changes to high school and higher education policies to better prepare students for college or the workforce. The Commission will examine areas like flexible diploma requirements, work-based learning, industry credentials, and personalized, competency-based learning pathways.
The bill also creates the Competency-Based High School and Healthcare and High-Tech Pathways Program. This program, initially involving the Mooresville Graded School District and Mitchell Community College, will develop competency-based pathways for students to earn associate degrees or industry credentials, with an initial emphasis on healthcare.
HB 373 allows University of North Carolina (UNC) institutions to offer tuition discounts to two specific groups: military students receiving federal or North Carolina National Guard tuition assistance, and students enrolled in employer-sponsored financial support programs approved by UNC. The discount covers the difference between the military/employer funding and full tuition, without creating new free tuition programs. UNC must report annually to the legislature on the number of students receiving these discounts and their financial impact on institutions. The policy takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.
HB 138 allows Gates County Schools to align their academic calendar with the College of the Albemarle’s schedule, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill amends state law to permit this alignment without requiring a "good cause" waiver for weather-related closures, though existing waiver rules for severe weather remain unchanged. It directly affects Gates County Schools and their students, staff, and community college partners. The provision applies exclusively to Gates County and does not alter minimum instructional day requirements.
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.
HB 365, the Workforce Education Act, revises North Carolina's community college funding model to base allocations on student enrollment in workforce-focused programs like career training and continuing education, starting in 2025-2026. It creates an Enrollment Increase Reserve (funded with $6 million initially) to provide additional support to colleges experiencing enrollment growth exceeding 5% or 325 students, preventing funds from reverting to the general budget. The bill also expands funding for cooperative high schools in underserved areas, with tiered payments based on county development status (e.g., $740,000 for first high schools in "Tier One" regions). These changes directly affect community colleges, public school students accessing career programs, and participating high schools seeking to expand workforce education opportunities.
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.
SB 389 expands North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program to include home-schooled students. The bill adds a new provision (Section 1(b)(2)) specifying that home-school students would receive up to 25% of the state's average per-pupil funding allocation annually, compared to 45-100% for private school students based on household income. It directly affects home-schooled students in North Carolina who have not yet earned a high school diploma and meet the program's income requirements. The bill defines "home school" as meeting state requirements under Part 3 of Article 39 and specifies that funds cover required educational costs (books, materials) but not tuition or transportation. This change modifies existing scholarship rules without altering income-based tiers for private school students.
