The General Assembly convened for the first time this year for mostly ceremonial affairs. The House saw the swearing-in of its first new speaker in a decade, with Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) replacing Tim Moore, who has transitioned into his new role in the U.S. Congress. To view all House leadership, click here.

Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) remains at the helm of the Senate, which he’s held since 2011. To view all Senate leadership, click here. The Senate also released committee assignments, including the Education/Higher Education Committee, which was assigned two new chairs to work alongside Chair Michael Lee (R-New Hanover). To view the committee’s full membership list, click here.

Over the past week, Hall, Berger, and Governor Josh Stein have all signaled that recovery from Hurricane Helene in WNC is the upmost priority for North Carolina leaders. The House and Senate have since adjourned until January 29, when much of the real work is expected to officially begin.

During this year’s first meeting, new members and advisors were welcomed to the State Board. Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt wasn’t able to attend in person due to constitutional duties with the Senate, but Treasurer Brad Briner had the opportunity to introduce himself in person. Briner also provided comments on the major funding gap in the State Health Plan, of which teachers and other school employees are a part of, and shared that his “expectation is that after we are done doing everything we can to lower the cost of administering this program, we will unfortunately have to raise premiums for the first time in I believe nine years for all employees of the state.” To learn more, click here for an article from NC Newsline.

The Board also welcomed their newest Local Board Advisor, Darrell Pennell. As winner of NCSBA’s 2024-25 Raleigh Dingman Award for Outstanding Boardsmanship, Darrell will hold a non-voting seat on the State Board to provide insight from the local board perspective. Mr. Pennell currently serves as the Chair of the Caldwell County Board of Education and member of the NCSBA Board of Directors. We are proud to support Darrell in his work with the State Board and we are excited to continue to watch him positively impact public education across North Carolina.

To view the full agenda for the January meeting, click here. To learn about specific items for approval or discussion that may impact or be of interest to local school boards, please read on.

APPROVED Golden LEAF Schools Initiative – Request for Proposals (RFPs): In an effort to ensure that every child achieves educational excellence, DPI revealed a $25 million initiative funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation aimed at improving school performance, specifically in middle schools in Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, through innovative educational strategies. Middle school math will be the major focus. The initiative formally received approval to issue their request for proposals. Click here to view the RFPs. Click here to view the presentation. To view the press release and learn more, click here.

DISCUSSION (Report to the NC General Assembly) Statewide Trends in Student Digital Learning Access: It is legislatively required that data be collected and presented on in-school access to devices, at-home access to devices, and at-home access to internet connectivity. Most notably, while 100% of LEAs currently have a 1:1 school device to student ratio, 82 out of those 115 LEAs do not have funds to refresh devices for the next cycle, which is recommended to occur every 4 years. This issue did not face a vote this month, but the State Board has been encouraged by DPI to explore funding options to sustain student device access, especially at a 1:1 ratio. To view the presentation, click here. To view the full report, click here.

DISCUSSION PowerSchool Data Security Breach: Chief Information Officer for DPI, Vanessa Wrenn, shared that there was recently a cyber incident related to PowerSchool, which has since been contained using services from Cybersteward and Crowdstrike, who maintain a “fix, analyze, advise” structure. A PowerSchool contract employee’s credentials were used to access student and teacher data, though PowerSchool is confident all stolen data is now destroyed, and the system is secure for use. As an added layer of protection, a protocol is in place to monitor the general web and dark web for the data, in the event that it pops back up. No action by any school or DPI could have prevented this from happening. All impacted schools should have already been notified. No action needs to be taken unless otherwise advised by DPI.

DISCUSSION Discussing Long Session Legislative Priorities: Led by the Government and Community Affairs Committee (chaired by Wendell Hall and Vice-Chaired by Jill Camnitz), the State Board reviewed their legislative priorities from the last few years before brainstorming priorities for the 2025-2026 long session, including:

• Calendar flexibility
• Teacher compensation
• Retention and recruitment
• Improving principal pay
• Expanding advanced teaching roles
• Support for low performing schools
• Mental health
• School nutrition
• Math (supports, professional development, more)
• Modifying the formula for school performance grades
• School capital and building needs
• Reinstating Master’s pay
• Addressing issues with the State Health Plan
• Device refresh
• School safety

The State Board and the Department of Public Instruction plan to approve a final joint list of priorities during the Board’s February meeting.

DISCUSSION Recommendations from NC Principal of the Year Network: The Board received a presentation from the NC Principal of the Year Network on their legislative priorities, which primarily focused on reforming principal pay, assistant principals, school performance grading, and principal support programs. To view the full list of recommendations, click here. To view the presentation, click here.

APPROVED (Rules Update) New Temporary Rule on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL): After the public comment period, the new temporary rule on NIL remains unaltered from what was proposed in November. Click here to view the approved temporary rule.

APPROVED (Rules Update) Permanent Rules on Interscholastic Athletics: Click here to view the presentation summarizing changes. Actual changes shown in strikethrough are here (blue changes are substantive, yellow are technical). These changes will go into effect next school year.

APPROVED (SBE Policy Amendment) Course for Credit: As previously discussed, these changes to credit recovery were primarily made to align with other policy updates approved in November regarding numeric grades being required for non-elective graduation requirements. View the policy with changes here. See the short presentation highlighting changes here.

APPROVED K-12 Science Instructional Materials/Textbooks for Adoption: Following its presentation in October, this item received no feedback during its public comment period. The request has been approved for statewide adoption. Board member Olivia Oxendine questioned whether the new materials allowed space for critical thinking on multiple perspectives about climate change and the origin of the universe, concerns which she was assured were appropriately considered and addressed during development. To view the presentation, click here.

APPROVED Contracts Over $500,000: To view the full list, including those connected to the new Golden LEAF Schools Initiative, click here.

APPROVED 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Cohort 18 Competitive Grant Competition – Request for Proposals:  The purpose of this grant is to provide federal funds to establish or expand eligible community learning centers that operate during out-of school time hours to provide opportunities for academic enrichment. To view the presentation and learn more, click here. Note that the CCIP application opens on January 13, 2025.

APPROVED (Report to the NC General Assembly) School Connectivity Initiative: Click here to view highlights of the report. The full report is available here.

The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet next on February 5-6, 2025.

NCSBA will provide 1-2 page white papers (a.k.a. issue briefs) that provide additional background and details on each issue listed on our 2025-2026 Legislative Agenda. We plan to release the newest issue briefs in small groups over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

Kicking off the release, click here to review or download the 2025-2026 School Calendar Issue Brief and here for the 2025-2026 School Safety Issue Brief.

The following highlights are summaries directly based on the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) Federal Education Report and reflect information and ideas provided by the Consortium. Click here to read more about these topics and others in the December 16th report.

Education Leaders Rally on Capitol Hill for Social Security Fairness Act: Union leaders, lawmakers, and other stakeholders held a rally on Capitol Hill in December to urge a Senate vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA). The SSFA was created to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which advocates argue reduce Social Security benefits for millions of retirees, including teachers and other public service workers. The legislation has garnered substantial bipartisan support over its lifetime, but some Republicans have expressed concerns about the bill’s $195 billion cost over the next 10 years. Since the publication of this report, the SSFA was passed and signed by the President.

Tim Walberg (R-MI) Elected to Chair House Education and Workforce Committee: The Republican Steering Committee selected Tim Walberg, an eight-term congressman who has spent over ten years on the committee, over Burgess Owens (R-UT) for the role. Former Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) chose to step down after her most recent term with the committee. Walberg’s priorities going into the position include enhancing school choice, improving college affordability, and expanding apprenticeships and internships. Democrats on the committee will continue to be led by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA).

To see a list of education related bills filed in Congress between 1/1/25-1/9/25, click here.

The following links are recent news articles, press releases, and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News
BPR News: In Asheville visit, HUD secretary announces $1.6 billion in aid for rebuilding post-Helene
EdNC: NC General Assembly convenes to begin 2025 long session
WUNC: Major data breach hits NC schools. Plus, what’s next for Chromebooks?
NCDPI Press Release: NCDPI Launches $25 Million Initiative to Improve School Improvement with Golden LEAF Foundation Support
NC Newsline: NC legislature returns, with Hurricane Helene aid and oversight as top priorities
EdNC: Photos | Buncombe County students process Helene with art
News & Observer: New NC Gov. Josh Stein signs five executive orders on Helene. Here’s what they do.

National News
Politico: Walberg bests Owens to lead House Education and the Workforce panel
ProPublica: Arizona Regulators Closed a Failing Charter School. It Reopened as a Private Religious School Funded by Taxpayers.
CNN: More rural school districts are moving to a four-day week to attract and retain teachers
Education Week: FCC’s ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules Struck Down. Could This Mean Slower Internet for Schools?

The House and Senate have adjourned and plan to reconvene on January 29, 2025. To view the General Assembly’s legislative calendar, click here.

Set to a backing track of protests, the House successfully overrode the veto by a 72-46 vote down party lines. This time, all three House Republicans that previously voted against the bill voted in its favor. The Senate overrode the Governor’s veto last week, so SB 382 is now law.

Governor-elect Josh Stein and Governor Cooper have since filed a lawsuit to block changes enacted by SB 382 that would prevent Stein from appointing a new commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. To learn more about the lawsuit, click here.

The House also took up one of two constitutional amendments, and ultimately passed SB 921: Cons. Am./Require Photo ID For All Voters, which requires photo identification from absentee voters. The measure will go before voters statewide on November 3, 2026, before it is ratified. The House did not take up SB 920: Const. Ad. – Income Tax Rate Cap Modification.

The House Select Committee on Helene Recovery also met this week and received a brief overview of the General Assembly’s appropriations for Hurricane Helene recovery purposes (view here), along with presentations from Samaritan’s Purse (view here), the Office of State Budget and Management (view here), and the NC Division of Emergency Management (view here).

On the second day, Dr. Stephen Gainey, President of the NCHSAA BOD and Superintendent for Randolph County Schools, said the board wouldn’t be taking action on the item at that moment. “We had an item that was sent to the board regarding schools that do not have a clearly defined attendance zone, which the board saw that as probably representing charter schools and non-boarding parochial schools,” Gainey said, adding that ” … the board will explore this in future months, however our number one priority right now is to move forward, we are deep into the reclassification into eight classes, we’re deep into that process and we have to get that completed so our member schools know what to do in terms of planning for next year, the 2025-2026 school year.” To view the full recording of the meeting from Day 2, click here.

As this development is directly tied to the NCSBA 2025-2026 Legislative Agenda, we will continue to provide updates. If you happen to be colleagues or share a board with anyone on the NCHSAA BOD (view here), now may be the best time to reach out to discuss the issue with them.

These summaries highlight notable legislative additions and changes. Expanded details will be provided in the updated Legislative Session Summary (forthcoming).

Veto Overrides/Bills Passed into Law

S.L. 2024-57/SB 382: Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes

• New Cooperative Innovative High Schools: Impacts Dare Early College High School and Rockingham County CTE Innovation High School.
• Changes to the AI School Safety Pilot Program: Impacts New Hanover County Schools and Davidson County Schools.
• Changes to the Special Needs Pilot Program: Impacts Alamance County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Nash County Schools, Cabarrus County Schools, Union County Schools, and Vance County Schools.
• Expand Availability and Eligible Credits of SparkNC Pilot: Impacts all Public School Units (PSUs).
• Principal Licensure Portfolio Waiver
• Updated Advanced Teaching Roles Program: Makes multiple changes including that any approved K-3 class size flexibility resulting from an ATR classification would only last up to three years.
• Transfer Center for Safer Schools: From DPI to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
• Reports on Opportunity Scholarship Testing

Constitutional Amendments

SB 921: Cons. Am./Require Photo ID For All Voters

• Additionally requires photo identification from absentee voters. The amendment will go before voters statewide on November 3, 2026.

NC State University’s Institute for Emerging Issues is holding a Future Forward Energy forum on February 19, 2025, in an effort to help local leaders, including education leaders, navigate NC’s evolving energy landscape (including affordability, reliability, and resilience). Further, according to Duke Energy, electricity demand in NC is growing at the fastest rate in 30 years but the workforce is reportedly struggling to keep up. Thus, the forum will also look at the growing effort to engage K-12 students in career opportunities related to the energy sector. If you’re interested, registration is open and available here.

The following highlights are summaries directly based on the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) Federal Education Report and reflect information and ideas provided by the Consortium. Click here to read more about these topics and others in the December 9^th report.

ED Policy Guide on Student Cellphone Use in Schools: The Department of Education (ED) recently released Planning Together: A Playbook for Student Personal Device Policies. This resource was created to address the negative impacts of unrestricted cellphone use in schools, including issues with focus, procrastination, mental health, and cyberbullying. The playbook is intended to “help schools, districts, and states create clear, research-informed policies for managing student use of cell phones and personal devices.” The guide, which includes sample policies and engagement ideas, takes into account a variety of learning and safety considerations. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of locally informed policies, acknowledging that different schools bring varying strengths and challenges.

STEM Education Federal Strategic Plan: The White House recently revealed the Federal Strategic Plan for Advancing STEM Education and Cultivating STEM Talent. This five-year strategy from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on STEM (CoSTEM) focuses on teaching, recruiting, and retaining “diverse STEM talent.” The three guiding principles of CoSTEM’s plan: (1) access and opportunity, (2) partnerships and ecosystem development, and (3) transparency and accountability. It calls for initiatives that ensure STEM opportunities reach every community and all individuals interested in STEM fields. The full plan and release notice are available here.

The following links are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News
News & Observer: Why this Western NC lawmaker flipped his vote, helping Republicans pass power-shift bill
NC Newsline: Proposed constitutional amendment to require photo ID for mail voting passes legislature
News & Observer: Federal government will cover more Helene recovery costs in NC with new Biden approval
WRAL: Truitt reflects on academic, financial challenges facing NC schools as she prepares exit
EdNC: State Board discusses learning recovery during Superintendent Truitt’s last meeting
NC Health News: School-based clinics, nurses bridge care gaps for kids, communities after Helene

National News
New York Times: U.S. Students Posted Dire Math Declines on an International Test
The 74: As College-Educated Workforce Has Diversified, Teachers Haven’t Kept Pace
Education Week: Language Barriers Keep Parents From Attending School Activities, New Data Show
The 74: In Ohio, Phonics-Based Science Of Reading for Preschoolers

After the gallery of observers was cleared from the chamber for repeated outbursts, the Senate overrode the veto along party lines with 30 Republicans voting in favor and 19 Democrats voting against. Click here for the official bill summary and here for an article expanding on some of the details of SB 382.  Additionally, the education provisions include:

• New Cooperative Innovative High Schools: Impacts Dare Early College High School and Rockingham County CTE Innovation High School.
• Changes to the AI School Safety Pilot Program: Impacts New Hanover County Schools and Davidson County Schools.
• Changes to the Special Needs Pilot Program: Impacts Alamance County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Nash County Schools, Cabarrus County Schools, Union County Schools, and Vance County Schools.
• Expand Availability and Eligible Credits of SparkNC Pilot: Impacts all Public School Units (PSUs).
• Principal Licensure Portfolio Waiver
• Updated Advanced Teaching Roles Program: Makes multiple changes including that any approved K-3 class size flexibility resulting from an ATR classification would only last up to three years.
• Transfer Center for Safer Schools: From DPI to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
• Reports on Opportunity Scholarship Testing

SB 382 will not become law unless the House also overrides the Governor’s veto when they return to Raleigh for next week’s scheduled session. NOTE: Two weeks ago, three Republicans voted against this bill when the House passed it with a 57.78% majority. A successful override, however, requires that at least 60% of the present members support the override, otherwise, the veto stands.
The House is also expected to vote on the two constitutional amendments approved by the Senate this week.

• SB 920: Const. Ad. – Income Tax Rate Cap Modification: Lowers the maximum rate of tax on incomes from 7% to 5%.
• SB 921: Cons. Am./Require Photo ID For All Voters: Additionally requires photo identification from absentee voters.

Constitutional amendments require 60% approval from both chambers. If that threshold is met, each bill calls for the measure to go before voters statewide on November 3, 2026.

(Cellphones in Schools) Role of Legislation: Senator Jim Burgin (R-Harnett) and Senator Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) were present on the first day to discuss and receive questions about their ongoing work surrounding cellphones in school. They referenced a bill on the issue that’s currently in the works and highlighted the importance of bipartisan collaboration.
Local Perspective: Steve Gainey, Vice-Chair of the Brunswick County (BCS) Board of Education, and Dale Cole, BCS Superintendent, along with Dr. Stan Winborne, Superintendent of Granville County Schools, talked about the impact of their locally-driven pilot programs for cellphone management in their respective districts. They covered challenges, lessons learned, and outcomes, while highlighting the importance of avoiding passing down an unfunded mandate. One of the areas of overwhelming agreement is that many stakeholders need to be involved in the discussion if there is to be a statewide policy or piece of legislation.

(Beyond Cellphones) Principals: Three principals from the NC Principal of the Year Network discussed, among other items, the importance of aligning principal pay with teacher pay to retain and recruit high-quality leaders. There is a lack of a clear pipeline for principals, and financial incentives for principals to work in low-performing schools remain local and insufficient.
Community Partners: The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) highlighted its partnerships with schools to provide and access school-based health services, including Medicaid-reimbursable services. However, many districts have yet to access these funds due to administrative challenges, so NCDHHS is working to help districts navigate the Medicaid reimbursement processes.

Federal Accountability: Alex Charles, Senior Director in DPI’s Office of Federal Programs, presented on federal accountability, emphasizing the importance of updating the ESEA State Plan (which allows NC to identify our way of adhering to federal requirements) since a complete review has not been done since 2017. The current timeline for revising the ESEA State Plan requires all draft revisions by the end of the year, followed directly by a period of public comment, and ultimately a submission to the US Department of Education following SBE approval in February 2025. However, stakeholders quickly pointed out that the timing is difficult, considering Hurricane Helene impacts, winter break, and the administration change. After the discussion, Charles acknowledged that the timeline may be revisited. Additionally, he highlighted the value and growing necessity of aligning federal accountability and state accountability.
Standards & Testing: Statewide assessments, EOGs and EOCs, and academic standards were discussed separately and in conjunction as they relate to student-centered redesign.

Constitutionality Review of FCC’s Universal Service Fund: The U.S. Supreme Court has plans to review the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that funds broadband expansion and internet subsidies, an effort that directly supports the E-Rate program which critically impacts public schools. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the fund’s setup is unconstitutional, which conflicts with other rulings in federal circuit courts, but critics of the program maintain that the fund imposes an improper tax.

State News
EdNC: North Carolina school board election results by district
High School OT: NCHSAA board will ‘explore’ charter, parochial school proposal at a later date
WLOS: Buncombe County’s ‘Grow Your Own’ initiative aims to fill teacher gaps with local talent
High School OT: NCHSAA won’t sanction flag football this year, but commissioner thinks it will happen eventually
EdNC: The Next NC Scholarship will allow many NC students to go to community college for free
News & Observer: NC middle schools struggling to recover academically after pandemic, new report shows
State Affairs: North Carolina’s post-pandemic learning recovery data shows promising trends
EdNC: North Carolina economic development tier designations released for 2025
News & Observer: Does banning students from using phones in class work? Some NC school leaders say yes.

National News
New York Times: Texas Education Board Backs Curriculum With Lessons Drawn From Bible
Education Week: Billions of School Tech Dollars At Risk as Supreme Court Takes Up E-Rate Case
K-12 Dive: IDEA 2004 turns 20: How the landmark reauthorization changed special education
Education Week: How a Supreme Court Case on Vaping Stands to Impact Schools
K-12 Dive: ‘No one-size-fits-all’ student cellphone policy, says Education Department

The House will be back in town next week and are scheduled to hold a voting session. Notable committee meetings include:

House Select Committee on Helene Recovery
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
10:00 AM, Click here to stream.

Per HJR 18081, if all goes as planned, when the House and Senate adjourn on Friday, December 13, 2024, they stand adjourned sine die, thus marking the end of the 2023-2024 legislative biennium.

The other relevant bill is 131 pages and used up much of the oxygen in the legislative building this week. It’s SB 382: Disaster Relief -3/Budget/Various Law Changes. The first 13 pages are dedicated to Hurricane Helene relief and support. An additional $227 million was transferred to the Helene Fund where most of it will remain unspent until appropriated by the General Assembly. The remaining 118 pages are a hodgepodge of policy changes and appropriations, such as an additional $33.7 million to fund child care stabilization grants through March 2025. Below is a more comprehensive breakdown of the sections directly and indirectly impacting K-12.

Also – in case you’re wondering – state lawmakers are scheduled back in Raleigh for another session on December 2. Stay tuned.

These summaries highlight notable legislative additions and changes. Expanded details will be provided in the updated Legislative Session Summary (forthcoming).

Bills Passed into Law

S.L. 2024-55/HB 10: Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments

• Expands the Opportunity Scholarship Program and provides an additional $463 million dollars for this school year.
• Appropriates $825 million in recurring funds for the Opportunity Scholarship Program by the 2032-2033 fiscal year.
• Provides $95 million dollars in recurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to be allocated to the ADM Contingency Reserve to fund growing public school units (PSUs).

Bills Sent to the Governor

SB 382: Disaster Relief-3/Budget/Various Law Changes

• Sec. 2A.8. NC COLLABORATORY TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE THE OFFICE OF LEARNING RESEARCH (OLR)
  • Sec. 2A.8.(a): OLR Established: Beginning in 2024-25, appropriates $1.5 million in recurring funds to the NC Collaboratory to establish and operate the Office of Learning Research (OLR). A portion of the funds are to be used to provide information and support needed by elementary and secondary public schools.
  • Sec. 2A.8.(d): Access to Information: Requires public school units (PSUs), DPI, and the State Board of Education provide “reasonable access” to records, data, processes, personnel, and any other information deemed relevant by the OLR or the Collaboratory (see Sec 2A.8(a)).
• Sec. 3J.10. CHARTER SCHOOL APPEAL CHANGES: Removes State Superintendent’s authority to appeal decisions by the Charter School Review Board to the State Board of Education.
• Sec. 3J.11. NEW COOPERATIVE INNOVATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS: Waives approval requirements and permits Dare Early College High School and Rockingham County CTE Innovation High School to operate as cooperative innovative high schools and requires them to be evaluated as such beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
• Sec. 3J.12. CHANGES TO THE AI SCHOOL SAFETY PILOT PROGRAM: Requires the two participating districts, New Hanover County Schools and Davidson County Schools, to contract with the same vendor to implement a school safety system that integrates AI technology into existing cameras, video management systems, and alerting protocols. Lists a new set of required performance capabilities.
• Sec. 3J.13. CHANGES TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS PILOT PROGRAM: Replaces the LEAs in the pilot from Alamance County Schools, Catawba County Schools, and Nash County Schools to Cabarrus County Schools, Union County Schools, and Vance County Schools, with the goal of increasing opportunities for students with special needs. DPI must now provide an interim report on the results of the Program to the General Assembly by June 20, 2025. The final report is due to the General Assembly by October 15, 2027.
• Sec. 3J.14. EXPAND AVAILABILITY AND ELIGIBLE CREDITS OF SPARKNC PILOT: Expands the program eligibility to all public school units (was 18 school districts). Completion of the competency-based elective credit of a High-Tech Learning Accelerator satisfies the computer science requirement for high school graduation. Students may earn up to four credits in Learning Accelerators (High-Tech or Health Science Learning Accelerator) but may not complete the same learning experience more than once for credit. Appropriates nonrecurring funds through the 2025-26 fiscal year.
• Sec. 3J.15. PRINCIPAL LICENSURE PORTFOLIO WAIVER: Requires the State Board of Education to waive the portfolio requirement for an administrator license for any individual who meets the following criteria:
  • Completed at least one course as part of an approved administrator preparation program by August 31, 2025.
  • Meets all licensure requirements in State law, rule or policy.
  • Does not otherwise qualify for a waiver of administrator license requirements.
• Sec. 3J.16. UPDATE ADVANCED TEACHING ROLES PROGRAM: Amends 115C of the General Statutes by adding “Article 20A. Advanced Teaching Roles.”
  • Classroom excellence teachers no longer have to be on the team of teachers led by an adult leadership teacher. However, they must still serve in an advanced teaching role (ATR) and maintain responsibility for at least 20% of additional students.
  • Reduces the number of job responsibilities to choose from for advanced teaching roles.
  • Modifies annual deadlines for the State Board of Education to issue their request for proposals for ATR plans (was September 15, now July 15), for local boards of education to submit proposed ATR plans (was October 15, now August 15), and for the State Board to review proposals and select participants (was December 15, now October 15).
  • Clarifies that voluntary relinquishment of an advanced teaching role will not be considered a demotion.
  • Increases compliance review requirements for the State Board of Education of each ATR unit. Following each five-year review, the State Board of Education has full discretion in renewing or terminating the plan of any ATR unit or schools that fail to meet established criteria.
  • Requires DPI to provide guidance and support to ATR units that are identified by the State Board of Education as struggling to implement that unit’s ATR plan.
  • If State funds are insufficient to cover the full dollar amount of ATR supplements, the State Board of Education and the ATR may disburse supplements in proportion to their available funding. ATR units are encouraged but not required to fund the remainder of the supplement from alternate funding sources.
• Sec. 3J.17. TRANSFER CENTER FOR SAFER SCHOOLS: Transfers the Center for Safer Schools (Center) from the Department of Public Instruction to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The Center’s Executive Director will now be appointed by the Director of SBI. Repeals the Task Force for Safer Schools.  Grant applications will now be submitted to the Executive Director of the Center.
• Sec. 3J.23. REPORTS ON OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP TESTING: The Office of Learning Research (OLR) is required to study and recommend, to the extent practicable, only one nationally standardized test for use in third grade and one test for use in eighth grade. The purpose of the tests is to compare the performance of students in private schools receiving Opportunity Scholarships (vouchers) with students attending public school units. That study and report are due to the General Assembly by December 31, 2025. The recommended nationally standardized tests would replace the current end-of-grade assessments for third and eighth grade. 

During the Delegate Assembly at this year’s Annual Conference, delegates from local school boards around the state amended and ultimately approved NCSBA’s 2025-2026 Legislative Agenda, which will guide the advocacy and lobbying efforts of the Governmental Relations team. To view the approved agenda for the 2025-2026 legislative biennium, click here.

The following highlights are summaries directly based on the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) Federal Education Report and reflect information and ideas provided by the Consortium. Click here to read more about the following topics and others in their November 18th report.

Funding the 2025 Fiscal Year: The current spending measure funding the federal government is temporary and expires on December 20^th. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said that there won’t be a holiday-time omnibus bill, which suggests that FY 2025 spending will be handled by another continuing resolution (CR) through March. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is still intent on forcing action on FY 2025 spending bills by the end of the year. Additionally, during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, the White House and GOP leadership on Capitol Hill are expected to try to reauthorize the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act through the reconciliation process. This effort may impact school choice initiatives, most likely establishing a substantial tax-credit program, expected to be similar to the Educational Choice for Children Act.

What’s Next for the U.S. Department of Education (ED): The continuing existence of ED has come into question with the re-election of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire for its elimination. Yet, eliminating the ED would be complicated and require Congressional cooperation that would be unlikely in the Senate. While it’s complete elimination is all but impossible, there will likely be agency changes in other ways. Political appointments in the ED may be purposefully left vacant and a return to a full in-office work week could lead to attrition with no further recruiting efforts in place. Further, the Musk-Ramaswamy Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) effort will likely include ED recommendations, but it remains unclear how those would be implemented.

Examining the Future of Standardized Testing: FutureEd hosted a webinar on certain challenges that nationwide standardized testing presents. While statewide standardized testing provides necessary insights into school performance and can drive improvement, federally mandated testing has become increasingly divisive by complicating new initiatives and stalling a national conversation on raising academic standards. The webinar examined improvements to school assessment systems that are student-centered while also providing parents and teachers with necessary information on student learning outcomes. Each state has a different approach to standardized testing, with certain states like Montana moving toward a series of student assessments throughout the year, as opposed to a single year-end assessment. The discussion also touched on matrix sampling, a method that assesses students across a wide range of subjects, with experts emphasizing that standardized testing should provide scores in all subjects to fully address the learning needs of every student. Funding is often the primary obstacle to creating a comprehensive and valuable test, and the perfect solution for accurately assessing students remains a question.

On November 19, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education, the role responsible for leading the U.S. Department of Education and serving as the primary advisor to the President and federal government on policies, programs, and activities related to all education in the country.

Though she has spent much of her life based in Connecticut, the nominee for Education Secretary was born, raised, and educated in North Carolina. Linda McMahon (née Edwards) was born in New Bern, North Carolina to parents who both worked at Marine Corps Station Cherry Point. McMahon attended Craven County Schools’ New Bern High School and later graduated from East Carolina University in 1969 with a bachelor’s in French.

State News
EdNC: General Assembly passes new bill with regulatory changes, child care grants, and Helene aid
WUNC: NC Senate leader defends move to strip power from Democrats as bill heads to governor
NC Governor’s Press Release: Governor Cooper Announces $1 Million in Field Trip Funding for Public Schools
EdNC: Could helping to rebuild their communities offer students real-world learning and academic credit?
News & Observer: Should lawmakers ban students from having phones in school? Why NC superintendent says no.
EdNC: After ESSER funds, State Board discusses how to serve low-performing schools, districts
News & Observer: State board moves ahead with allowing NC public school athletes to sign NIL deals
WRAL: Students can’t choose pass/no pass for core NC high school classes, state board votes
EdNC: DPI releases a new NC art education resource hub for the 2024-25 school year
Great Minds: North Carolina’s Nash County Public Schools ‘Knocking It Out of the Park’ in English Language Arts
EdNC: Teach for America highlights progress in Edgecombe County Public Schools
NCDHHS Press Release: Increasing Crisis Counseling Services for People Impacted by Hurricane Helene; NCDHHS Receives Federal Funding to Expand Hope4NC and Help People Rebuild and Recover

National News
NC Newsline: 3 states blunt school choice momentum
The 74: Michigan Moves Closer To Universal Pre-K—But It’s Not Quite So Universal Yet
NPR: Trump picks business executive Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department
K-12 Dive: Demand for $200M FCC cybersecurity pilot far exceeds capacity
New York Times: Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law Requiring Ten Commandments in Classrooms
The 74: Our Schools Were Victims of Mass Shootings. We Know What Congress Needs to Do

The General Assembly’s last opportunity to formally convene during this legislative biennium (per HJR 1081) will be Monday, December 2, through Friday, December 13, 2024.

Here are the four races within 1%:

In the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Democrat Mo Green defeated Republican Michele Morrow by 51.09% to 48.91%. Click here to read more about his plans for NC’s public schools on EdNC. The results for the other Council of State races with seats on the State Board of Education are as follows:

Lt. Governor – Rachel Hunt (D) defeated Hal Weatherman (R)
State Treasurer – Brad Briner (R) defeated Wesley Harris (D)

The current legislature has more work to do with less than two months remaining in the 2023-24 legislative biennium. State legislators are scheduled back in Raleigh for up to four days beginning on Tuesday, November 19, to consider a third Hurricane Helene relief bill to address the needs in Western North Carolina. Speaker Tim Moore explicitly stated last month that the House plans to vote on overriding Governor Cooper’s veto on HB 10: Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments. That is the bill that makes private school vouchers available to every K-12 student in the state. To learn more about the evolution of private school vouchers and the lack of accountability in North Carolina, click here to read this article from WUNC. HB 10 also provides additional funding to growing school districts and charter schools.

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) announced during this week’s State Board of Education meeting that the agency will continue to advocate for further Hurricane Helene relief, including a fluid figure of $150M for repairs and renovations, technology loss, and school nutrition supplies loss. DPI is also advocating for the legislature to fund summer learning programs to counteract learning loss as a result of missed school days. NCSBA will support DPI’s requests of the General Assembly.

The State Board of Education met for their monthly meeting to discuss, among other items, Hurricane Helene relief and SBE’s new temporary rule for student-athletes as a result of the recent NIL ruling. To view the full November agenda, click here. To learn about specific items that may impact or be of interest to local school boards, please read on.

APPROVED Federal Accountability Waiver – Hurricane Helene: DPI will submit a request to the US Department of Education on behalf of certain disaster-impacted PSUs to waive some of the federal requirements specified in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These waiver requests extend to achievement scores associated with end-of-course (EOC) tests (NC Math 1, NC Math 3, English II, biology), as well as overall participation requirements. The request notes that the validity of the measures will be compromised as a result of reduced instructional time, and in waiving these requirements, schools will be able to focus on returning students to instruction without the pressure of performing well on EOCs used for accountability purposes. To view the waiver request, click here. To read the NCDPI press release, click here.

APPROVED (SBE Policy Amendment) Read to Achieve Program – Hurricane Helene: Considering the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, any public school unit (PSU) located in a FEMA-designated major disaster area may offer mid-year promotion to students that have demonstrated reading proficiency on the Read to Achieve assessment by the extended deadline of January 15, 2025. This policy will only apply to the 2024-2025 school year. View the policy change here.

APPROVED (SBE Policy Amendment) Academic Credit for Work-Based Learning – Hurricane Helene: For the 2024-2025 school year only, DPI will allow students enrolled in a CTE work-based learning course to put county recovery and disaster relief service hours towards class credit. Click here to view the policy amendment.

APPROVED Contracts Over $500,000: Eileen Townsend, Chief of Insurance in the District Operations Division at NCDPI, gave an update on Hurricane Helene damage claims for those counties insured under the state property fund (not including those privately insured). Current structural damage costs for these covered districts are around $80 million, but estimates will continue to be assessed. She also provided an update on the two-year extension of the state contract for workers’ compensation claims management. Additionally, Alex Charles, Director in the Office of Federal Programs at NCDPI, requested over $800,000 for the 2025 Homeless Education Support contract to continue to serve students experiencing homelessness, of which there are over 30,000 in the state, through the 2024-25 school year.

APPROVED (SBE Policy Amendment) NC Public Schools Allotment Policy Manual – Hurricane Helene Relief: The Allotment Policy Manual was adjusted to reflect additional policy resulting from Hurricane Helene, as well as technical correction to the Teacher Assistant Reimbursement Program. Click here to view the changes.

APPROVED (SBE Policy Amendment) Policies, Laws, and Guidelines Governing School Attendance – Hurricane Helene Relief: Changes to the School Attendance and Student Accounting Manual reflect new legislation related to Hurricane Helene, and also include a paragraph that clarifies counting Pre-K students towards principal salary. Pre-K students enrolled in a Pre-K classroom at a public school with a “school number of 300 or greater” are shown on the Principal’s Monthly Report for calculating the principal’s salary. They are not added to the school’s ADM totals for funding purposes. Click here to view the full manual with changes.

DISCUSSION Superintendent’s Report: Superintendent Truitt rounded out the conversation on Hurricane Helene, noting that while the legislature has already provided $50 million for school repairs and renovations, DPI is still working and waiting to find out what funds will be covered by federal sources so that they can accurately request more from the state to fill the gaps. Additionally, Superintendent Truitt noted that statewide support from mental health professionals for impacted students and families has been extraordinary thus far and will continue.

Superintendent Truitt also covered a recent event at the Friday Institute, titled “Real Issues, Real Data,” on the problem of cellphone use in school. The event received bipartisan support and interest from Senators Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) and Jim Burgin (R-Harnett). The conversation surrounding cellphone regulation will continue before any statewide action is made, and while certain districts have begun their own efforts to curb cellphone use and distraction, the SBE has yet to decide what their role is.

APPROVED (Rules Update) Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) – Proposed New Temporary Rule: Effective July 1, 2024, the SBE enacted temporary rules for interscholastic athletics for the 2024-2025 school year which prohibited public school student-athletes from entering any agreement for the commercial use of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). On September 5, 2024, the SBE proposed a permanent rule that would allow NIL deals, subject to certain rules and restrictions, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. On October 14, 2024, Wake County Superior Court Judge Graham Shirley signed a written order prohibiting the SBE from enforcing the temporary rule that bans NIL agreements and making the proposed permanent rule effective until a new rule could be enacted. The North Carolina Administrative Procedure Act allows the SBE to adopt a temporary rule in response to this recent court order. Click here to learn more about the temporary rule the SBE adopted at the meeting this week. Click here to read this temporary rule. The timeline for the rulemaking process moving forward is currently as follows (changes may result from the public comment period):

• • • SBE Proposes Temporary Rule: Nov. 7, 2024
    • Public Comment Period: Nov. 15 – Dec. 10, 2024
    • Public Hearing (Virtual): Dec. 6, 2024 @ 9 am
    • SBE Adopts Temporary Rule: Jan. 9, 2025
    • Temporary Rule Effective Date: Feb. 13, 2025

APPROVED (Report to the NC General Assembly) Low-Performing Districts and Schools, Improvement Planning, and Statewide Support: After much conversation, the report was approved (Vice Chair Alan Duncan was the only dissenting vote), contingent on adding “interim” to the title and noting that more information is forthcoming. The SBE will revisit this item during their working session in December to expand the report and potentially provide recommendations. See the report here and the presentation here. The conversation concluded by noting this is just one report and they will continue to have dialogue about what is needed and who should be involved.

APPROVED (Report to the NC General Assembly) Public School Unit Report – Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement: PSUs are legislatively required to report certain information regarding parent communication, policies, and rights to the SBE in order to address needs in the SBE “Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement” policy. See the full report here. Based on the data submitted by PSUs, the following results were shared:

• • • 98.4% of all PSUs assert that they are in compliance with Article 7B of Chapter 115C.
      • 114/115 LEAs; 197/201 Other PSUs.
    • 98% of all PSUs had zero appeals.
      • 114 LEAs had zero appeals; 195 Other PSUs had zero appeals
    • 94% of all PSUs provided no statements to parents.
    • 98% of PSUs had no parental hearings.
    • 99% had no actions brought against the PSU.
    • More than 99% of all PSUs had no declaratory judgments entered against the PSU.

APPROVED (SBE Policy Amendment) Adjunct Instructors in NC Public Schools: Amends the policy related to eligible adjunct professors in NC public schools to extend beyond CTE courses to all core academic subjects, fine and performing arts, and foreign languages. Adjunct instructors (not in CTE) may not contract with local boards of education for exceptional children’s services unless licensed by the SBE and may only contract with local boards of education to teach subjects for which they are approved to teach at the employing institution of higher education (IHE). View the policy changes here.

DISCUSSION (SBE Policy Amendment) Identification of English Learners and Exit Criteria: Feedback from English language educators in North Carolina led to a review of the current exit criteria, as well as the entrance criteria and the process for screening students when they enroll in a new school. The changes include a new standardized and statewide process to identify multilingual learners (ML) and households, in place of the current individually-developed Home Language Survey (HLS) forms offered by each PSU. For all changes to the policy, click here. To view the full presentation, click here.

DISCUSSION Excellent Public Schools Act Beginning of Year (BOY) Data Update: The Office of Early Learning presented the Excellent Public Schools Act Beginning of Year (BOY) data from the NC Statewide Formative Diagnostic Reading Screener administered to all eligible NC K-3 students. Grade levels and cohorts are making progress alike, and the number of students designated as “reading retained” has continued to decrease. To view the full presentation, click here. To read the NCDPI press release, click here.

The State Board of Education will meet next from December 3-5 for a planning and work session.

WCPSS and NCSU Win Mental Health Grants: The US Department of Education has announced that the Wake County Public School System and North Carolina State University are among the recipients of new grants for school-based mental health services. The $70 million investment is part of an ongoing initiative under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), targeted at increasing access to vital mental health resources for students. Through the School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs, the Department aims to double the number of school-based mental health professionals, including counselors, social workers, and psychologists, while also supporting education, prevention, and early intervention efforts. This expansion is one of the largest through the BSCA to date, and it will support 333 grantees across 48 states. In hiring more professionals, the funds will also go toward other important initiatives:

• Enhanced Training: Schools will be able to better prepare professionals in addressing the unique mental health needs of students.
• Financial Support for Future Professionals: By covering some of the costs of training, the Department of Education hopes to eliminate financial barriers for people interested in these careers. This includes providing stipends for interns in high-need schools.
• Diversity in Hiring: Recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds to work in mental health will help students see professionals who understand their cultures and experiences.

Wake County’s portion of the SBMH grant totals just over $2.4 million to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health service providers working in their schools. NCSU’s portion of the MHSP grant is $553,253 to train school-based mental health service providers for employment in schools and LEAs. For a press release on the grants and a full list of grantees, click here.

Representative Foxx Term-Limited as Education & Workforce Chair: Regardless of whether the Republican Party maintains control of Congress, one of North Carolina’s longest serving Members, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-05), will be moving on from her position as Chair of the Committee of Education and the Workforce. The House Republican Caucus has a six-year term-limit for committee chairs, and Rep. Foxx was already granted a waiver extension at the start of the last Congress.

Click here to read more about these topics and others in the October 28th report.

The following links are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News
WUNC: Ten years of NC’s private school vouchers, and they’re only becoming less accountable
EdNC: Thanks to a whole lot of bathroom trailers and the sheer will of leaders, Mitchell County students are coming back to school
The Charlotte Observer: NC falls below national average for ACT scores in 2024. Is there actually a good reason?
EdNC: El Futuro is providing telehealth support to the Latinx community affected by the hurricane
NC Health News: Is NC Pre-K dying? Providers say low funding makes it hard to keep up.
EdNC: One month after Helene, students stage a play that the whole country should see
EdNC: Superintendent-elect Mo Green shares plans for North Carolina public schools following his win
Washington Post: In Helene-battered towns, many schools are still closed. What that means for recovery.
WRAL: ‘We can do better’: Wake school board leaning toward cellphone policy, but not before public input
EdNC: Together we rise: From the mountains to the coast, school districts join together to support our return to school

National News
K-12 Dive: USDA to eliminate school meal ‘junk fees’ for low-income families
K-12 Dive: How to navigate the rising cost of cyber insurance for schools
The 74: In the Rush to COVID Recovery, Did We Forget About Our Youngest Learners?
The 74: New Study: Many Older Students Struggle to Push Beyond Reading ‘Threshold’
K-12 Dive: From Zzzs to A’s: Classroom lessons focus on good sleep habits

The legislature is expected to return from November 19-22 (as permitted by SJR 916).

• *$50 million: Capital Recovery Funds – for repair and renovation of school district and lab school facilities’ unmet needs not covered by insurance or available federal aid.
• *$5 million: Technology Funds for Public Schools – for replacement of school technology, particularly student and teacher devices.
• *$5 million: School Nutrition Food, Supplies, and Equipment Loss – to repair or replace food nutrition equipment, food, and supplies in public school units (PSUs) participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
• $5 million: Additional Mental Health Funds for Public Schools – to provide increased mental health services to students, families, and school personnel to assist with the recovery process, trauma care, and reintegration into academic life following Hurricane Helene. Each eligible PSU will receive an initial $30,000 and the remaining funds will be distributed based on allotted average daily membership (ADM).

*Only in counties with a federal disaster declaration due to Hurricane Helene.

Aside from funding, SB 743 also incorporates the following education policy changes:

• Section 4A.1: Additional school calendar flexibility: Schools closed as a result of Hurricane Helene or PTC8 are granted calendar flexibility for missed instructional time from September through November 2024 (was October 2024). PSUs may also request a waiver from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to deem 20 more instructional days as complete (in addition to the 20 granted in the last relief package).
• Section 4A.2: Readmission of displaced charter school students: Allows charter school students that were displaced by Hurricane Helene to hold their seat at that charter school for the next (2025-2026) school year without having to reapply, even if the student temporarily attends a different school.
• Section 4A.5: Educator preparation program testing admissions waiver: For applications for admission for the spring semester of the 2024-2025 academic year only, recognized EPPs at the following institutions of higher education may admit individual students without requiring the students to meet any of the testing criteria set forth in G.S. 115C-269.15(a): Brevard College, Gardner-Webb University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Lees-McRae College, Mars Hill University, Montreat College, Appalachian State University, The University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Western Carolina University.

Representative Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) pointedly noted during session when discussing the impact of Hurricane Helene on students: “It’s changed their lives, and it’s changed their habits.” The impacts on students will only become clearer with time, and again, this package is not the last effort of the legislature to offer relief to WNC and legislators expect these discussions to continue indefinitely.

SB 743: The Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 – Part II  garnered unanimous support by state legislators and was sent to Governor Cooper.

S.L. 2024-52 / SB 132: Early Voting Sites/Helene Counties.

• Each county board of elections in the counties listed below are required to open at least one early voting site for every 30,000 registered voters, or any portion thereof, in that county no later than Tuesday, October 29, 2024, and until Saturday, November 2, 2024.
• Applies only in the counties of Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey.

The Delegate Assembly at NCSBA’s Annual Conference

REMINDER: School districts are allowed up to four voting delegates at the Delegate Assembly at this year’s Annual Conference (at the Sheraton Greensboro from November 18-20). Please submit your voting delegates and take part in this important meeting where school boards can participate in the advocacy and direction of our Association’s future! Your delegates must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on November 8, 2024, via email to communications@ncsba.org or your board will forfeit the opportunity to participate in the meeting. No onsite forms will be accepted. The current agenda for the 2024 Delegates Assembly can be found here.

Voting items during the Assembly will include the 2025-2026 Draft NCSBA Legislative Agenda. To view the Draft Legislative Agenda, click here. We will hold another live webinar (thanks to those who attended this week!) on October 31 from 10-11 a.m. to go over each priority and answer questions. Click here for the Zoom link. If you can’t make the next webinar, view the most recent recording here.

If you have amendments for any items, we strongly encourage you to submit them to Silya Bennai, Advocacy Coordinator, at sbennai@ncsba.org before the Annual Conference, though both Silya Bennai and Bruce Mildwurf, Director of Governmental Relations, will be available at Conference to receive additional submissions.

Education Department Provides Support for Hurricane-Impacted Communities: As school systems in Western North Carolina begin the long road to recovery from Hurricane Helene, the US Department of Education has published a list of federal resources that are available. These resources include guidance, on-the-ground support, technical assistance (including accessing federal resources), peer-to-peer connections for state and local leaders, and resources for recovery needs such as mental health support for students and educators and restore learning environments. The Department of Education has a Disaster Recovery Unit (DRU) that is working with federal recovery partners to support disaster recovery and connect education entities with disaster recovery experts. The DRU reached out to state educational agencies and over 500 institutions of higher education in impacted disaster areas to inform them of financial assistance. Click here for the complete list of resources as published by the Education Department.

Durham Public Schools Wins Diversity Grant: The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a new investment aimed at fostering diversity and improving student outcomes. With $65.4 million awarded to 12 new recipients of the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) and an additional $1.7 million allocated for two new grants under the Fostering Diverse Schools (FDS) Demonstration Grant Program, school districts across the country are benefiting. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona summed up the initiative by saying, “Diversity is America’s superpower. When students learn alongside those from different backgrounds, their horizons broaden.” Here in North Carolina, Durham Public Schools received one of the MSAP grants to the tune of $5.2 million. The grants will support magnet schools and are designed to integrate innovative and academically challenging programs to attract students from various backgrounds. The magnet school model has long been a tool to address racial and economic segregation in schools, and this funding will enable more districts to expand these programs. Click here for a complete list of winners and a press release on the grants.

Click here to read more about these topics and others in the October 14th report.

The following links are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News
EdNC: A ‘survival, recovery, return’ plan of action is guiding Mitchell County Schools after Hurricane Helene
Asheville Citizen Times: Madison County Schools set for post-Helene return; to provide showers, laundry services
NC Newsline: NC 2023 teacher of the year Kimberly Jones on the education needs Helene helped expose
EdNC: Mapping the 2023-24 school report cards
EdNC: What’s it like to be principal for a day?
NC Newsline: Federal EPA to fund 38 new electric buses for Durham Public Schools
EdNC: EdExplainer | North Carolina’s teacher pipeline revisited
WFAE: Union County Schools’ $39 million bond package on the ballot
EdNC: How Hyde County Schools is trying to break the ‘vicious cycle’ of child care and housing crises
EdNC: This November’s school board elections, mapped
EdNC: PAGE uses an ecosystem of partnerships to support students in aftermath of storm
NC Health News: Post-Helene, mental health providers help kids cope
EdNC: Following Helene, some charter schools in western North Carolina face a long and uncertain recovery 
Associated Press: Many schools are still closed weeks after Hurricane Helene. Teachers worry about long-term impact
EdNC: Burke County elementary schools welcome two child care programs devastated by Helene

National News
The 74: Universal Pre-K Among the Most Effective Labor Market Policies, Study Finds
Chalkbeat: Rebuilding after Helene and Milton: Educators share experiences from previous disasters
K-12 Dive: FCC Releases Cybersecurity Resource Guide for Budget-Constrained Schools
KQED: Do Cellphone Bans In Middle School Work? It’s Complicated.

The legislature is expected to take up another Hurricane Helene disaster relief bill during the week of November 18 (as permitted by SJR 916).

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) noted during Thursday’s session that when the General Assembly returns next month they will likely vote to override Governor Cooper’s veto of HB 10, the bill which funds universal private school vouchers and school district growth.

This relief package, the first of several to come, addresses a breadth of financial and policy needs related to Hurricane Helene and Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 (PTC8), which severely impacted Brunswick and New Hanover Counties on September 16 of this year. It also extends the statewide declaration of emergency issued by the Governor until March 1, 2025.

Part 8 of the bill lays out the majority of education-related provisions, including school calendar flexibility and compensation for employees for missed days, as well as temporarily allowing retired employees to return to work in certain capacities.

The chambers also passed an amended version of a previously passed joint resolution, SJR 919, to allow them to return to Raleigh on October 24. Legislators are expected to address additional needs in Western NC and will also have the opportunity to take up HB 10 again, the vetoed bill establishing universal Opportunity Scholarships (private school vouchers) and funding for growing districts.

Following the General Election, the General Assembly’s next chance to convene is November 19, per the joint resolution originally passed at the end of the short session, SJR 916.

Bills Passed into Law:

S.L. 2024-51 / HB 149: Disaster Recovery Act of 2024, Conference Report

• $16 Million to DPI to supplement or replace lost compensation of school nutrition employees due to school closures resulting from Hurricane Helene.
• Section 8.1(a): School calendar flexibility: Schools closed as a result of Hurricane Helene or PTC8 are granted calendar flexibility for missed instructional time during September and October 2024. Public School Units (PSUs) may choose to make up any number of the instructional days or hours missed, deem as completed any number of the instructional days or hours missed up to a total of 20 days, or implement a combination of both.
• Section 8.1(b): Additional remote instruction: PSUs impacted by Hurricane Helene may use additional remote instruction days or hours towards the required instructional hours for the school year, up to a total of 30 remote instruction days. For those impacted by PTC8, 10 remote instruction days will be allowed.
• Section 8.1(c): School employees and contractors impacted by Helene will receive compensation for missed workdays that have been deemed completed in September and October.
• Sectio 8.1(d): Reporting requirements: Requires PSUs impacted by Hurricane Helene or PTC8 to report on missed days, days deemed completed, makeup days, and compensation outlined in Section 8.1(c) by February 15, 2025.
• Section 8.2: Extends the deadline for bonuses for principals employed in impacted PSUs through November 30, 2024.
• Section 8.3: Allows disaster-impacted students enrolled in an educator preparation program (EPP) to have the clinical internship requirement deemed completed if that student meets certain conditions.
• Section 12.1: Temporarily removes barriers to allow retirees of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) to return to work on a part-time, temporary, or interim basis. Individuals must have retired on or after April 1, 2024, but before October 1, 2024.
• Includes $5 million to the State Board of Elections for new technology, communications, temporary staff, and leases for temporary sites to manage potential impacts on voting in affected counties.

House Bills Filed:

HB 1077: Helene/Extend Certain Deadlines (Primary Sponsors: Representatives Caleb Rudow, D-Buncombe; Marcia Morey, D-Durham; Pricey Harrison, D-Guildford)

• Extends the voter registration deadline and absentee ballot return deadline for counties devastated by Hurricane Helene.

The following links are recent news articles, press releases, and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News
EdNC: General Assembly passes $273 million Helene relief bill
K-12 Dive: North Carolina schools mobilize after Hurricane Helene as Florida braces for Milton
High School OT: NCHSAA will extend fall sports season after Hurricane Helene
Cardinal & Pine: ‘There is progress’: Gov. Cooper, FEMA share update on Hurricane Helene response efforts in western NC
NC Newsline: Western North Carolina lawmakers weigh in on disaster relief bill
EdNC: Haywood Community College uses lessons learned from previous floods to help in Helene recovery
NC Newsline: Emergency election changes approved to help voters in 13 Helene-damaged NC counties
EdNC: ‘Our students stay together’: Old Fort Elementary School relocates after hurricane
NC DPI Press Release: $368 Million Awarded in Needs-Based School Construction Grants

National News
K-12 Dive: EPA final rule will require schools to replace all lead pipes over next decade
The 74: Report: Almost All Disabled Students Lack Access to College Readiness Programs

General Election Day is fast approaching and the deadline to register to vote is TODAY at 5 p.m. (excluding military and overseas citizens). If you haven’t already, visit the NC State Board of Elections site to register online before it closes: https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register. If you miss the official voter registration deadline, you may register in person during early voting (learn more here). In-person early voting begins on October 17 and ends on November 2. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5.

The General Assembly may convene next on October 24 and again on November 19.

Given the widespread devastation to the western part of the State, the NC General Assembly is preparing to convene next week for a 1-day previously scheduled session, now to vote on an initial disaster relief package, according to a joint statement from Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland). The NC Department of Public Instruction has compiled a list of asks for the legislature related to public school relief (continue to the State Board of Education section of this Update for more information). Senator Berger was quoted after the skies cleared saying, “North Carolina has a healthy savings account that will help us respond to the catastrophic nature of this storm.” The State’s “rainy day fund” is roughly $4.75 billion. Since the extent of the damage is not yet fully known, the legislature’s response next week will likely be just the first round of relief aid.

The House and Senate could also take up HB 10 next week – the bill establishing universal Opportunity Scholarships (private school vouchers). HB 10 was approved by the General Assembly on September 11 but vetoed by Governor Cooper nine days later. This will be the first time the legislature will have had a chance to try to override the Governor’s veto. Their next opportunity will be during a 4-day scheduled session between November 19-22.

As North Carolina and our public schools rise to respond to this disaster with strength and resilience, the darkness of this situation remains undeniable. To that end, we would like to offer a brief moment of light by raising up two major K-12 accomplishments that were announced towards the end of September.

NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS:

Five North Carolina public schools were named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. These NC winners are among 356 schools nationwide recognized this year as models of effective school practices, reflected in either their overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps. Congratulations to these schools and their respective districts!

• Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy – Buncombe County Schools
• Hope Middle School – Pitt County Schools
• McDowell Early College – McDowell County Schools
• Willow Springs Elementary School – Wake County Public School System
• Rock Ridge Elementary School – Wilson County Schools

To learn more, click here for the DPI press release.

ADVANCING TROUGH ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP):

North Carolina high school students are setting records! In AP courses during the 2023-24 school year, NC high schoolers reached the highest participation levels and final scores across the 10-year partnership between the NCDPI and the College Board, which administers the AP program and exams. During the last school year, 84,372 NC public school students took 155,935 AP exams and exceeded the national average for results of a proficient score of 3 or better. “APsolutely” amazing!

To learn more, click here for the DPI press release.

The State Board of Education dedicated time during this month’s meeting to express an outpouring of love and support for those communities, schools, and families impacted by Hurricane Helene. The 28 school districts directly impacted include those in: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties, along with Asheville, Newton-Conover, Hickory City Schools, and the Qualla Boundary.

The State Board and NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) reported on a variety of steps being taken to address basic demands, such as transportation and internet accessibility, as well as academic and extracurricular needs, including impacts to school attendance and athletics. A LISTSERV has also been established for local superintendents to communicate with each other, which they are able to access now or when connectivity is restored to their area. DPI and stakeholders will continue tracking who’s back online, while the Department of Insurance has begun reaching out to school leaders to begin the process of making claims.

Instead of presenting her scheduled topics, Superintendent Truitt used the time dedicated for her monthly report to present DPI’s Hurricane Helene Relief Asks (pictured below). The legislature has already received this document, which is still in progress until the extent of damage is fully assessed. Truitt made it clear that the number one concern other than safety is keeping teachers and staff financially whole during this time. The second biggest concern is providing school calendar flexibility and ensuring that impacted counties will have the choice to either make up days, mark up to 20 days as completed, and/or provide remote instruction. Necessary class size waivers and similar flexibilities will also be sought. The NC High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) will be looking at rescheduling games.

To view the full October State Board agenda, click here. To learn about specific items that may impact or be of interest to local school boards, please read on.

(APPROVED) Corrections and Further Discussion on 2023–24 Student Performance Data: DPI officials provided updated information based on corrections submitted by PSUs following the Board’s approval of the Student Performance Data Report at the September meeting. Chair Eric Davis noted that standardized testing and graduation rates are not necessarily connected, and that our schools clearly require a more robust and comprehensive measure of success. The Board will take a deep dive into these measures during their December work session to better understand their relationship and learn from experts to make improvements. Board Member Catty Moore noted that work has already been done on school performance grade redesign, and while movement has stalled, that doesn’t mean the work has stalled. Superintendent Truitt added that this work was never meant to supersede achievement and growth, but to satisfy a request to look at multiple measures and examine them alongside what exists. Click here to see the data corrections, here to see the updated presentation, and here to see low-performing districts from 2018–19 through 2023–24.

(APPROVED) NC Public School Employees Benefit and Employment Policies: The Board reviewed final changes to align the manual with recently approved permanent rules on Professional Educator Discipline and Paid Parental Leave, including provisions for miscarriage and related medical exigencies, some of the first of their kind in the US. Click here for the full updated manual or here for the changes only.

(APPROVED) Annual Report from The Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children: This council was established under IDEA and NC General Statues to advise the State Board on the unmet needs of children with special needs and recommend polices related to coordinating services and developing corrective action. This year’s recommendations include providing funding and support for students who will study education in postsecondary school and salary increases for Exceptional Children (EC) teachers. See the presentation here and the annual report here.

(APPROVED) Robotics Program Final Grant Review Report: The Competitive After-School Robotics Program was created to help schools increase the number of their students interested in pursuing education and career opportunities in STEM. Interest in the program was greater than what could be funded, with DPI reporting a total of $3.7 million in funding but $8.2 million in requests. Awarded participants in the program came from PSUs across all 8 State Board regions, including both LEAs and charter schools, and all grade levels. For a summary, see the presentation here. For the report, click here.

(APPROVED) Approval of Contracts Over $500,000: The Board approved 4 contracts, including one for Student Tracker, a central repository of information on the enrollment status and educational achievements of postsecondary students. Board members noted the potential of using this resource to inform and craft school life to shape student success after graduation. Click here to view more information about all the contracts.

(APPROVED) CTE Grade Expansion Program Grant Recommendations: The Board approved the recommended applicants for the 2024-2025 cycle for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Grade Expansion Program Grant. Click here to view the presentation of recommendations and here for the grant cycle.

(APPROVED) Waivers of State Laws or Rules Granted to LEAs Report: The Board received a report on schools that received class size waivers in 2023-24 and the counties where calendar waivers were granted for the 2024-25 school year. See the full report here. Please note that these waivers only reflect requests that were approved prior to Hurricane Helene.

(APPROVED) Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs): Both programs, “Want More? Do More!” and “iteach,” were presented during a previous State Board session (view that presentation here). They received final approval.

(APPROVED) Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate Report: The attached annual report on the Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate (view here) provides the state-level data and district-level data for the 2023–24 school year.

The next meeting of the SBE will be held on November 6-7.

NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities to participate in the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) Learning Collaborative to connect SHAC leaders and learn from peers across the state. Local school board members may participate in their LEA’s local SHAC to help plan, implement, and monitor the Healthy Active Children Policy in their district. These statewide collaborative meetings are held the last Monday of each month, unless scheduled otherwise. SHAC Learning Collaborative meetings are open to all SHAC members and those looking to start a SHAC. Upcoming meetings include October 28th at 3:30 pm and November 25th at 3:30 pm.

FCC Expands E-Rate to Off-Site Technology: In an effort to bridge the digital divide, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a bold step. On August 20, 2024, the FCC published a final rule modernizing the E-Rate program, a long-standing initiative designed to help schools and libraries get affordable telecommunications and internet access.

The new rule enables the distribution of Wi-Fi hotspots and services to students, school staff, and library patrons for off-premises use. Wi-Fi hotspots will allow students to study at home or in other spaces, giving them the flexibility to learn wherever they are.

Schools and libraries will now also be able to use E-Rate funding to loan out these Wi-Fi hotspots. This includes support for high-speed internet access for students and staff in both rural and urban areas, ensuring that students in areas with limited connectivity don’t fall behind. For more information, click here.

NC Universities Receive Teacher Workforce Grants: Two North Carolina universities, High Point University and UNC-Charlotte, have received grants as part of the US Department of Education’s Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program. The grants were awarded to recruit, prepare, develop, and retain a strong, effective, and diverse educator workforce for classrooms across the country. The TQP program funds teacher preparation programs in high-need communities at colleges and universities for the undergraduate, “fifth-year” level, and for teaching residency programs for individuals new to teaching with strong academic and professional backgrounds.

High Point University won a grant of $7.9 million over five years and UNC-Charlotte won a grant of $2.1 million over five years. To see the complete list of grant winners, click here. To read the Department of Education’s press release, click here.

Click here to read more about these topics and others in the September 16^th report.

Senate Hearing – Improve School Meal Programs: The US Senate is exploring ways to ensure students are receiving meals at school, including a recent Senate Nutrition Subcommittee hearing titled, “Keeping Kids Learning in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.” In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair John Fetterman (D-PA) said, “School lunch should always be free and definitely free of judgment.” “Honestly, it shouldn’t be a conversation — it would be like asking the kids to pay for the school bus every morning or to pay for their own textbooks at school,” Fetterman added. Fetterman introduced two bills in June to expand free or reduced-price meals access for kids. To watch the entire hearing, click here.

NC Central Wins Workforce Diversification Grant: NC Central University has won a $122k grant from the US Department of Education to help with educator prep and recruitment. These grants, specifically for HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), serve to increase the number of and retain well-prepared teachers from diverse backgrounds working in underserved elementary and secondary schools.

To read a press release and see the full list of winners, click here.

Click here to read more about these topics and others in the September 23^rd report.

Federal Government Stays Open – For Now: Congress was unable to pass its annual spending bills by the end of the federal government’s fiscal year on September 30, instead choosing to once again pass a continuing resolution. The measure passed the House by a vote of 341-82 and passed the Senate by a vote of 78-18. It was then signed by President Biden. The government is now funded until December 20^th. Lawmakers will not be back until after the election, with sessions scheduled for the week of November 12^th.

Click here to read more about these topics and others in the September 30th report.

The following links are recent news articles, press releases, and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News
EdNC: DPI presents Hurricane Helene relief request, includes pay for impacted school employees
WRAL: How to apply for FEMA assistance after Helene
NC Newsline: Biden approves more federal aid to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene
EdNC: In McDowell County, education leaders band together in the wake of Hurricane Helene
New York Times: Lost Lives and an Epic Crisis in North Carolina
EdNC: Cooper vetoes mini budget, centers rural educators’ concerns on private school voucher expansion
High School OT: Judge rules public school athletes in North Carolina high schools can profit off NIL
EdNC: North Carolina education leaders discuss cellphone use in schools
WRAL: Durham Public Schools approves supplement increase for some employees
EdNC: Robeson County homeless education program recognized by state
EdNC: ‘Lead, learn, win’ with Iredell-Statesville Schools
North State Journal: THOMPSON: NC’s economy depends on strong public schools
EdNC: The art of expanding Latine educational opportunity in North Carolina
The Daily Record: Schools take funding plea to DC
EdNC: Two rural NC school districts discuss how they responded to the pandemic
EdNC: Applications for a new NC State program for students with disabilities are open
WRAL: Wake school leaders take a stance against private school voucher expansion bill
Transylvania Times: Pattons donate $500,000 for affordable teacher housing

National News
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Press Release: $965M Available to Fund Clean School Buses that Reduce Pollution, Save Money, and Protect Children’s Health (Applications for this year’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. EST on January 9, 2025)
The74: New Report: Special Ed Students, English Learners Face Greatest Setbacks
K-12 Dive: Parents push back on school cellphone bans
K-12 Dive: To keep CTE programs up to date, look to the community
Washington Times: Most K-12 Teachers Unhappy As Staffing Shortages Learning Losses Persist, Report Shows
New York Times: Bulletproofing America’s Classrooms

The budget adjustments portion of the bill addresses K-12 education, including providing $95 million for an ADM contingency reserve – a high priority item that the NCSBA Governmental Relations team has been working on. Starting in the 2024-25 fiscal year, local school districts receive ADM funding in arrears (per the 2023 State Budget). Meaning, instead of using projections, DPI now uses the previous year’s ADM as the baseline for funding. However, there is no mechanism in place to provide additional funding to growing districts. The contingency reserve in HB 10 fixes that problem.

HB 10 also expands the Opportunity Scholarship program to every student in the state regardless of household income. The bill provides an additional $463 million dollars for this school year. The cost to NC taxpayers will be more than $7 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

After passing both chambers, HB 10 was sent by special message to the Governor and received in the same day. Governor Cooper has 10 days to sign or veto the bill. If he doesn’t do either, the bill becomes law.

The next opportunity for state legislators to reconvene is for a one-day session on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, followed by a four-day session beginning on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. However, just because the General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on those dates does not necessarily mean that they will return as a full body – it simply provides the option for them to do so.

While there is no Federal Education Report to provide this week, NCSBA stayed busy by bringing the thrill to Capitol Hill.

Congress returned from its August recess on Tuesday and school board members from across North Carolina were there to greet lawmakers on their first day back. Our member-led delegation was attending the Consortium of State School Board Associations (COSSBA) Federal Advocacy Conference. COSSBA has 26 member state associations working to affect public education policy at the federal level.

“It’s important for members of Congress to hear directly from our local school board members across the state,” said NCSBA President Jennifer Thompson. “Congress controls hundreds of millions of dollars in education spending. As advocates for public education, we must ensure that those in power are aware of the greatest needs in our communities to allow those funds to be allocated appropriately.”

Just as NCSBA enacts a state agenda for the NC General Assembly on a biennial basis, COSSBA similarly enacts a federal agenda each year. This year’s federal agenda includes the following topic areas:

• Mental Health Supports for K-12 Education
• Increased Funding for K-12 Education
• Teacher and Principal Training and Recruitment: Title II, Part A
• Broadband, Connectivity, Cybersecurity and E-Rate
• Child Nutrition Programs
• Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

For more information on each topic area, click here.

NCSBA Executive Director Leanne Winner sits on the COSSBA Government Affairs Committee and serves as our representative voice. “One of President Thompson’s key areas of focus is mental health services for students. We were fortunate to add mental health supports to the federal agenda this year,” noted Winner.

North Carolina attendees to the Federal Advocacy Conference hailed from Cherokee Central Schools, Caldwell County Schools, Lexington City Schools, and Harnett County Schools. They attended meetings on Capitol Hill with members of Congress from their home districts, as well as Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5^th), Chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. School board members also met with the education staff for both US Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).

“These meetings with Congress enable us to provide local examples and data regarding the policy items on our federal agenda,” added President Thompson. “When they can hear about the local needs directly, it makes our advocacy even stronger. It is a vital part of our job as leaders in public education to lobby for the best interests of our local school districts and to ensure the best interest of North Carolina’s most precious resource, our children.”

If you have any interest in attending next year’s Federal Advocacy Conference, save the date for September 7-9, 2025!

State News
EdNC: General Assembly passes mini budget with funds for vouchers, K-12 and community college enrollment
WRAL: Cellphones in NC schools: Curbing distractions will require many solutions, experts say at forum
News & Observer: NC has fewer teacher vacancies this school year. But why are so many not licensed?
WRAL: Future Teachers Program seeks to attract more educators to the field
EdNC: New report outlines improvement plans for special education in North Carolina
WFAE: Politically connected charter school gets state review and is turned down to open

National News
Associated Press: Court won’t allow public money to be spent on private schools in South Carolina

The bill is titled “Requires ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments.” In addition to OS funding, the bill contains a high priority item that the NCSBA Governmental Relations team has been working diligently on.  As you may know, ADM is now funded in arrears, meaning instead of using projections, DPI will use last year’s ADM as a baseline for funding. The problem is that there is no mechanism currently in place to provide additional funding to growing districts. This bill fixes that by creating an ADM contingency reserve on the very bottom of page 4 through the top of page 5. The Opportunity Scholarship provision that provides the program with an additional $463 million in this school year can also be found on page 5. We will provide a rundown in next Friday’s Legislative Update of any education-related developments.

Though things are a bit hush-hush on Jones Street right now, schools across North Carolina are sounding off! The 2024-2025 school year is certainly underway, and we want to give a shout out to the two NC recipients of the 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize and Grant: Rockingham and Hoke! Congratulations to these districts. Click here to read more on WUNC about the districts’ plans for their grants.

We also want to give a BIG thank you to those local board members who chose to fill out the 2024 NCSBA Legislative Survey! The Legislative Committee will now review the overall results and data trends to identify the top priority issues for the Draft 2025-26 NCSBA Legislative Agenda. The Governmental Relations Team will present the Draft Agenda at the Fall Law Conference, as well as provide a webinar ahead of the Annual Conference so that Delegates are not seeing the Draft Agenda for the first time minutes before it’s presented to the Delegate Assembly.

Approved Items: (All items that were put to a vote passed)

NIL in Interscholastic Athletics: In line with the SBE rule making timeline, the Board voted to adopt the Proposed Permanent Rules on Interscholastic Athletics (16 NCAC 06E, Section .0200) and submit them for public notice, comment, and hearing (November 8) before the final proposed recommendation comes before the SBE in January 2025. Once approved, the rules are slated to take effect on July 1, 2025. Keep in mind that NIL practices are still currently prohibited under temporary rules, but the SBE is taking steps to allow for permitted NIL deals. The current proposal would require students to provide a copy of their deal to school personnel and it must fall within the guidelines of permitted activity. Local athletic directors will be expected to monitor their students with NIL deals, so members of the SBE expressed concern that additional support may be needed for school officials. Since the SBE discussed adding further requirements moving forward, it remains unclear where exactly this leaves local boards and their administrators. Click here for the presentation and here for the redline comparison showing changes to the temporary rules, including the new rule on NIL, 16 NCAC 06E .0211 (p. 18 of the document). You can also read more about the presentation and discussion here on NC Newsline.

Student and School Performance Results (23-24 School Year): NCDPI presented the 2023–24 School Performance Results (including student test scores and school grades) for approval, and while they passed the vote, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, other members of the SBE, and educators around the state question if the right things are being measured. Data showed that students are scoring higher than last year across a large majority of grades and subjects, but test scores are still below pre-pandemic reporting. The number of low-performing schools decreased from 804 in 2022-23 to 736 and the number of low-performing districts decreased from 25 to 23, but Truitt explained that school performance grades are not necessarily accurate indicators of a school’s quality or a student’s success. Truitt specifically noted discrepancies in scores across math and reading for minority students and encouraged everyone to continue to advocate for updating school performance models. These challenges are not new and serve to repeat the decades-long cycle of low income students in low-performing schools. Chair Davis said the conversation needs to continue and will be added to the October agenda. Note that districts may request data corrections from September 4 to 13, 2024. Any corrections that result in a designation or identification change will be presented for approval at the October SBE meeting. Click here to view the full presentation and here for a statistical summary of the results. For further reading, view an EdNC article here and WRAL articles here and here.

Cohort Graduation Rates (23-24 School Year): The 2023–24 Cohort Graduation Rates were presented for approval to serve a federal requirement. While 86.9% of students graduated in Spring 2024, in line with rates over the past several years, the SBE highlighted the figure in contrast to lower percentages of students passing certain standardized exams in high school. Truitt questioned what this comparison says about who can graduate from an NC school and encouraged fellow board members to continue to advocate for improvements. View the report here.

Approval of School-Based Management Accountability Rules: The SBE approved four School-Based Management Accountability rules (16 NCAC 06G .0304, .0307, .0308, and .0317) governing district and regional support that are part of the decennial rules review and must be re-adopted by June 30, 2026. These rules address issues including due process for employees of low performing schools and the dispute resolution process for school improvement plans. Click the links to view the rules with changes: SIP Dispute Resolution Process (.0304), Due Process Protections for Employees of Low Performing Schools (.0308), and Local Board Cooperation (.0307). Click here to read the new statutorily required rule on School Reform Models (.0317).

Rules on Professional Educator Discipline: The SBE voted to advance proposed changes to the rules on professional educator discipline. One of the changes for administrators requires that when a PSU terminates the employment of an educator, does not renew the educator’s contract, or accepts the educator’s resignation for any reason that may require a report under this Rule (refer to the linked document), an administrator for the PSU shall notify the educator of the reporting requirement upon separation from employment. Ryan Collins, an attorney for the SBE, confirmed that the rule does not impact non-licensed employees, which he says is a local employment matter. See the presentation summarizing proposed rule changes here. For the rule, see here. 

ESSER III Budget Flexibility: The SBE authorized the NCDPI Financial and Business Services to manage Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief III (ESSER III) funds, of which North Carolina received approximately $3.6 billion. If the funds are not obligated by September 30, 2024, NC risks them reverting to the federal government.

Micro-Credential Standards: Last month, the SBE received information on micro-credentials, which are often confused with digital badges, and verify that an educator is proficient in a job-embedded discrete “skill” or “competency” via defined evaluation criteria. The SBE voted to adopt tools for assessing micro-credential quality to advance educator effectiveness. View the tools here and the presentation here.

Reports to the NC General Assembly:

• Children with Disabilities – Educational Performance and Improvement Activities: View the presentation (here) and report (here) on the educational performance of children with disabilities and activities to improve outcomes.
• Fifth Grade Career Awareness Program: Each local board of education is encouraged to implement a career awareness program for students in fifth grade to educate students on the CTE programs offered in the PSU. View the program report here. Note that local boards that adopt a career awareness program for fifth grade students are required to report on program activities and student outcomes from the prior school year to the SBE by October 1 of each year. The SBE must then submit a consolidated report on outcomes and any legislative recommendations to the General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by November 15 of each year.

Discussion Items:

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt’s Report: Superintendent Truitt presented on multiple initiatives around the state, including the NC Practitioner Network and NC College Connect. The NC Practitioner Network seeks to bridge research and practice to address post-pandemic challenges for educators. To read more, click here (slides 2-7). NC College Connect is a new pilot program that launched this week. The program is intendent to provide a simpler application process for students with a weighted GPA of at least 2.8 to access higher education. All 58 NC Community Colleges and a number of universities are participating. DPI staff indicated that over 70,000 students will be eligible to “claim” their spot (or spots!) at the institution(s) of their choice. To read more, click here (slides 15-17) and check out this News & Observer article.

Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs): The SBE received presentations on two EPPs seeking approval: Want More? Do More! (WMDM) and iteach. View the WMDM application here and the iteach presentation here.

The next meeting of the SBE will be held on October 2 and 3.

North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby is inviting our North Carolina Public Schools to join in celebrating Constitution Day on September 17 – the anniversary of the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution. To view Constitution Day resources to help lead the celebration in your area, click here.

Senate Committee Approves AI (Artificial Intelligence) Education Proposal: The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee met and discussed the bipartisan National Science Foundation AI Education Act. Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said, “[the Act] will open doors to AI for students at all levels, and upskill our workforce to drive American tech innovation, entrepreneurship and progress in solving the toughest global challenges.” The bill would expand educational opportunities to study artificial intelligence with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), who would work with educators to create guidance to bring AI skills and education to K-12 classrooms. Legislature broke for recess earlier than expected, so the Act has not been taken up any further. The House Committee will most likely consider a similar measure later this year.

Click here to read more about these topics and others in the report.

State News
EdNC: Ask & Answer | U.S. Supreme Court allows injunctions to stand in Title IX cases for now
WRAL: Back to school: NC ranks low on public school spending, but sent $180 million to private schools
EdNC: New report explores role of race and socioeconomics in achievement gaps
EdNC: School Boards and advocates urge legislature to invest in public schools
WRAL: There’s no money to replace most of NC students’ laptops. What are schools doing about it?
NC Governor Press Release: North Carolina School Boards Urge General Assembly to Prioritize Public School Funding and Teacher Pay
EdNC: Amid voucher expansion, new data on private schools allows first look at impact on marketshare
WUNC: Crayons, glue, headphones…and snacks for the whole class? NC school supply lists grow longer
WRAL: WRAL Investigates wide disparities in school funding across NC counties
News & Observer: NC teachers spend 4th most in US on supplies. Why $1,300 is coming out of their wallets
NC Governor Press Release: Governor Cooper Opens 2024-2025 RISE Award Competition
WFAE: Mooresville launches NC back-to-school season, claiming local control
EdNC: Cherokee Central School works to preserve language and culture
EdNC: Building momentum, trust, and achievement in Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools
WUNC: Guilford County Schools aims to attract homeschoolers to high schools
News & Observer: School board chair: ‘Thriving public schools are good for all of us’ in NC | Opinion
EdNC: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools asks General Assembly for at least 5% teacher raises
EdNC: Hertford County Public Schools starts the new year as a family
WHQR: NHC school board gets New Hanover High update, presentation on pornographic images on cell phones
The State Port Pilot: Policy bans cellphone use during school hours
WRAL: Durham school board approves controversial redistricting plan that aims for educational equity
EdNC: After legislative changes, here’s a look at North Carolina’s charter school application process
EdNC: State agencies break down the budget process, and what the lack of a state budget for this year means
EdNC: Red state? Blue state? An update on the race for superintendent as the school year begins
WFAE: Truitt reflects on reading, innovation and politics in her NC superintendent term
North State Journal: NC K-3 students excel in reading for 3rd straight year
WFAE: North Carolina grades its schools. But is it improving them?
NC Newsline: NC legislators continue to ignore teacher vacancy crisis
WRAL: AI use in schools: How districts are making sure it’s used as a study aid
WRAL: Top North Carolina high school quarterback sues over state’s NIL restrictions
EdNC: NC retrains 44,000 teachers on how to teach reading, ahead of 2024-25 school year
News & Observer: NC school health screenings plummeted in some local districts after Parents’ Bill of Rights
EdNC: LENS-NC showcases progress toward outcomes for students with learning differences
NC DPI Press Release: Eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals in the National School Lunch Program
WHQR: NC Center for Safer Schools says bullying is a top concern
WRAL: More than 240 local schools may contain PCBs, WRAL investigation finds
EdNC: Homeschooling in North Carolina, district by district

National News
New York Times: Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones
EducationWeek: School Attendance Suffers as Parent Attitudes Shift
K-12 Dive: Socioeconomic factors partially at play in racial achievement gaps
Education Next: Should the Wealthy Benefit from Private-School Choice Programs?
K-12 Dive: Moving from ‘pockets of excellence’ to ‘systems of excellence’ for students with disabilities
U.S. Department of Education: Book Bans Are Not Just Bad Policy; They Can Raise Civil Rights Issues
EducationWeek: Project 2025 and GOP Aim for Universal School Choice. What Would That Look Like?
CNN: All-black outfits, hoodies, Crocs, cell phones and mirrors. Some students are returning to school with new bans in effect
K-12 Dive: California law shuns ‘emotional disturbance’ term in special education
Business Insider: A former teacher who spent at least $4,000 on her students details what she bought and why educators ‘feel a lot of pressure to spend their own money’
Education Week: Why It’s So Hard to Kill the Education Department—and Why Some Keep Trying
K-12 Dive: Nearly 50% of special education directors say school-parent conflict is increasing
EducationWeek: How Much Does Special Education Truly Cost? Finally, an Answer Is on the Horizon
EducationWeek: Most Americans Oppose Book Restrictions, Trust Local Schools’ Judgment
K-12 Dive: Schools, colleges faced record-breaking year of ransomware attacks in 2023
Hechinger Report: America’s schools and colleges are operating under two totally different sets of rules for sex discrimination
New York Times: Why Are Free School Lunches Becoming a Campaign Issue?
K-12 Dive: Texas lawmaker says new curriculum’s Bible references are ‘preaching’ rather than teaching
The Hill: Teacher shortages improve, but not everywhere
EducationWeek: School Boards Are Struggling. Could a New Research Effort Help?
K-12 Dive: Dual language immersion programs associated with more reading growth for ELs
K-12 Dive: What does Universal Service Fund ruling mean for E-rate?
New York Times: How Extreme Heat Is Threatening Education Progress Worldwide