March 8, 2025

[1]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org
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Bills and More Bills—The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

In the first month of this year’s legislative session, a number of bills
have been filed that may affect education. They all have a long road ahead
before becoming law as they still have to pass through their respective
chambers. Then, they must be taken up by the other chamber and passed
through multiple committees and the full chamber. If the bill passes both
chambers, it is sent to the governor for a signature.

If Governor Stein signs the bill, it becomes law. If he vetoes the bill, it
either dies there or goes back to the House and Senate to face
veto-override votes. Only if override votes succeed in both chambers does
the bill become law.

In other words, there is still time to contact your legislators to weigh in
on the bills. But you should act quickly because some of these bills seem
to be on a fast track.

[7]House Bill 171 "Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI" and
[8]Senate Bill 227 “Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education are both
anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bills, though each has a
distinct scope.

HB 171 prohibits diversity, equity, or inclusion in hiring practices or
training, though it maintains the importance of adhering to provisions of
current state and federal antidiscrimination laws. A state employee who
violates HB 171 may be removed from office and charged with a Class 1
misdemeanor. The bill also prohibits use of state funds for any diversity,
equity, or inclusion programs. It requires state agencies to post on their
websites all efforts to comply with the bill and instructs the State
Auditor to conduct periodic audits. The bill specifically states that it
does not apply to academic course instruction.

Senate Bill 227 addresses K-12 instruction explicitly. It prohibits
“instruction to students on divisive concepts” and lists 12 “divisive
concepts.” The bill also provides a list of content that is not limited.
One example: “The impartial discussion of the historical oppression of a
particular group of people based on race, ethnicity, class, nationality,
religion, or geographic region.” It’s hard to imagine the benefit of
requiring an impartial (i.e., treating both sides as equally fair and just)
discussion of slavery, Japanese internment, the Holocaust, or many other
events in U.S. and world history.

Both bills are working their way through their respective chambers. Senate
Bill 227, with Senate leader Phil Berger as a sponsor, is moving quickly.

[9]House Bill 121” School Calendar Flex/Statewide/Open Calendar.” and its
companion [10]Senate Bill 103 “Make School Calendars Great Again,” would
return control of school calendars to local school districts statewide. As
in previous years, this effort has bipartisan support and is likely to sail
through the House but be met with resistance in the Senate, where a few
senators, especially Senator Less of New Hanover County, are staunch
supporters of the current calendar law. More than 20 other calendar
flexibility bills have been filed.

[11]House Bill 92 “NC Digital Assets Investments Act” included House
Speaker Destin Hall as a co-sponsor, has [12]advanced through the House
Commerce Committee. It would allow the State Treasurer to invest up to 10%
of the State Employees Pension Fund balance in qualifying digital
currencies. Financial experts cite the extreme volatility of cryptocurrency
markets and their lack of transparency as reasons for concern.

[13]House Bill 139 "Restore State Employment/Teacher Retiree Med Benefits"
restores retiree medical benefits to state employees and teachers who lost
the benefits as a result of previous legislation cutting these benefits
starting in January 2021.

[14]House Bill 192 "Raise Teacher Pay & Dollar Allot. Study" would increase
beginning teacher pay to $50,000. Salaries across the scale would increase
up to $12,000 per year making North Carolina salaries much more competitive
with surrounding states. The bill also returns salary supplements for
master's degrees, but fails to end the salary freeze for teachers in years
15-24. While this effort to increase salaries is welcome news, the
provisions still need to make it into the budget document and pass through
the Senate. In previous years, the Senate has refused to provide reasonable
pay raises, so this bill has an [15]uncertain road ahead despite robust
bipartisan support in the House.

[16]Senate Bill 48 “Access to Sports and Extracurriculars for All” permits
students who attend private or home schools to participate in sports and
other extracurricular programs at their local public school. In other
words, private schools that often refuse to admit students who are hard to
teach, adhere to the “wrong” religion, or are simply not the “right fit”
would be able to save money by trimming extracurricular activities and just
send their students to the local public school that accepts ALL students.
This bill highlights the fact that public schools usually offer more and
better programs than private schools.

[17]Senate Bill 55 “Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices” requires
public schools to prohibit the use of “wireless communication” devices
during instructional time except under conditions listed in the bill such
as when authorized by the teacher for education purposes or as part of an
IEP or 504 plan. This bill has passed through the Senate and is now being
considered by the House.

[18]Senate Bill 58 “AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs” ([19]HB 72)
extends the limits placed on the North Carolina attorney general (newly
elected Jeff Jackson) in December 2024. Responding to Jackson’s election,
the NCGA passed into law (over Gov. Cooper’s veto) legislation that
prohibited the attorney general from participating in any legal action that
would invalidate laws passed by the NCGA (S.L. 2024-57 § 114‑2.8). This new
bill prohibits the attorney general from filing an action or advancing an
argument that would invalidate an executive order issued by the U.S.
president. Recent federal education cuts and more in the pipeline, point to
the need for an strong, independent attorney general to fight for our
students and educators. This bill has passed through committee and will be
discussed by the Senate on March 11.

[20]Senate Bill 92 "Released Time Education Act" allows public school
students to be released during the instructional day to attend courses in
religious, moral instruction. The students may receive course credit for
the courses, but failure to earn credit will not be marked as a failing
grade on a student's transcript. Bill supporters may face tough questions
about why they are promoting less academic time in school when many
students are still working to regain pre-pandemic achievement levels.

[21]Senate Bill 207 "Remove Testing Requirement for Teacher Lisc." repeals
the standardized testing requirement for teacher licensure and prohibits
the State Board of Education from adopting any rules or policies
implementing a standardized testing requirement for getting a teaching
license.

Contact your legislators to share your thoughts on these bills while you
can!

Legislative Updates

On Monday, March 10 both chambers will meet again. Check the
[22]legislative calendar for meeting updates throughout the week.

Read our [23]Week in Review for a summary of legislative actions and the
status of bills.

National News: U.S. Department of Education and a BAD Bill

After taking the oath of office on March 3, Secretary of Education Linda
McMahon delivered a message outlining her vision for the department—a final
mission. In it she describes her rationale and plans for reducing the
federal role in education. This message comes as an executive order to
dismantle the U.S. Dept. of Ed. is said to be coming soon from the White
House.

When I took the oath of office as Secretary of Education, I accepted
responsibility for overseeing the U.S. Department of Education and those
who work here. But more importantly, I took responsibility for supporting
over 100 million American children and college students who are counting on
their education to create opportunity and prepare them for a rewarding
career. I want to do right by both.

As you are all aware, President Trump nominated me to take the lead on one
of his most momentous campaign promises to families. My vision is aligned
with the President’s: to send education back to the states...[24]READ MORE

BAAAAD BILL in Congress, [25]Senate Bill 292 "Educational Choice for
Children Act (ECCA), would drain from the federal government up to $10
BILLION annually through a tax credit for individuals and corporations who
make charitable contributions to organizations that give scholarships – or
vouchers – for students to attend private schools. Currently, vouchers
overwhelmingly support wealthy parents who are already sending their
children to private school. ECCA will, in effect, redirect federal funding
away from other, crucial government services, towards wealthy individuals
and families."

Tax credit vouchers are simply another way to drain resources from the
public and funnel them to private interests.

Contact our senators to urge them to remove their sponsorship of this
harmful bill!

[26]Ted Budd (202)224-3154, (336)941-4470,(828)333-4130, (984)349-5061, and
(910)218-7600

[27]Thom Tillis (202)224-6342, (704)509-9087, (252)329-0371, (828)693-8750,
(336)885-0685, and (919)856-4630

Education Cuts Could Devastate Public Schools

Trump’s education cuts could devastate local public schools. You should
care.

By, Keith Poston, President, WakeEd Partnership

Most Americans may not follow the daily political drama in Washington, but
one alarming proposal demands your attention: the push to slash federal
education funding and eliminate the U.S. Department of Education.

This plan, championed by President Trump and advanced through budget cuts
and layoffs led by Elon Musk and the Department on Government Efficiency
(DOGE), could have devastating consequences for students in the Wake County
Public School System.

Federal Funding: A Lifeline for Wake County Public Schools -- While North
Carolina’s public schools are primarily state and locally funded, federal
dollars play a crucial role. In Wake County, about 6% of the district’s
operating budget—roughly $141.2 million—comes from federal funds. These
dollars cannot be replaced locally. If the Department of Education and its
funding disappear, students and families will suffer. Here’s what’s at
risk:

Students with Disabilities -- More than 20,500 Wake County schools students
with disabilities rely on federally funded services...[28]READ MORE

In Case You Missed It

[29]NC superintendent: U.S. Department of Education 'critical' for schools

[30]Trump's cuts are already ravaging our public schools in the Triangle
and NC

[31]Teachers of the Year: Stop the pillaging of America's greatest
institution[32]—public schools

[33]This Charter School Superintendent Makes $870,000. He Leads a District
With 1,000 Students.

[34]Education Department sued over cuts to teacher training grants

Selling Out Our Public Schools

By Diane Ravitch, historian of American education

Donald Trump promised that he will make public funds available to private
as well as religious schools in every state, and this is what his party
wants, too. Over the past quarter-century, Republicans have assailed
America’s public schools by supporting vouchers, which divert money from
public education systems to subsidize tuition at private and religious
schools.

But most voters today do not favor vouchers. In fact, since 1967 no state
referendum on vouchers has ever passed. In 2024 three states had referenda
on the ballot, and vouchers were again defeated. Voters in two of those
three states, Kentucky and Nebraska, cast ballots overwhelmingly for
Trump—and in both states public funding for private schools was decisively
rejected. The story of how Republican politicians have twisted this
widespread popular opposition to vouchers into pervasive education policy
across the country is one that requires a deeper historical view.

Until the mid-1950s most Americans believed that the government should not
underwrite the cost of private and religious schooling. Catholic
organizations had periodically sought public subsidies for their schools on
grounds of fairness; as taxpayers, they said their schools were entitled to
receive the same funds as public schools. But they were repeatedly rebuffed
by Congress, the courts, and state legislatures; most state constitutions
explicitly prohibited the use of public funds for religious school tuition.
[35]READ MORE

March 14 Fundraiser and Evening with Derek Black!

Please join Public Schools First NC on March 14 for an evening with
acclaimed author and constitutional law scholar Derek Black, celebrating
the release of his latest book,

[36]Dangerous Learning: The South’s Long War on Black Literacy.

His book describes the violent lengths to which Southern leaders went to
repress Black literacy, and the extraordinary courage it took black people
to resist. He connects the criminalization of Black literacy and freedom in
the nineteenth century to today’s attacks on racial equity, racial history,
and public education itself.

Your $100 ticket supports Public Schools First NC’s critical work and
includes a signed copy of his latest book.

During these unprecedented times, Public Schools First NC will continue to
advocate for NC’s public schools and keep community members informed on the
latest news and legislation impacting our students and teachers. Please
join us! Your donation is tax-deductible!

[37]REGISTER HERE

Mo Wants to Know

Superintendent Mo Green is launching his “Mo Wants to Know” Listening Tour
in March. These public sessions across the state enable parents, students,
educators, and community members to share their insights and help shape the
future of North Carolina’s public schools.

All sessions start at 6:00 p.m. Find a session near you and RSVP by
clicking the link:
* March 17: [38]Western Region, Waynesville
* March 18: [39]Northwest, Lenoir
* March 24: [40]Piedmont Triad, Winston-Salem
* March 26:[41] Southwest, Concord
* March 27: [42]Sandhills, Fayetteville
* March 31: [43]Southeast, Wilmington
* April 7: [44]North Central, Durham
* April 9: [45]Northeast, Elizabeth City

Webinar: Everything to Know about Private Ed. Vouchers Now

Join Public Funds Public Schools on Thursday, March 20, at 4 p.m. ET for a
webinar that will kick off with an update on Trump administration actions
to impose vouchers through executive or Congressional action, then dive
into how the insidious history of vouchers still resonates today, and
continue right up through the most recent voucher incarnations, including
large-scale tax credits that reimburse families directly for their private
education expenses. Discussion will include an overview of developments
during current state legislative sessions and the latest tips on how to
oppose new voucher threats.

The webinar will feature:
* Jessica Levin, Education Law Center (ELC) Litigation Director and
Director of PFPS
* Josh Cowen, ELC Senior Fellow and leading national expert on private
school vouchers
* Fred Jones, Senior Director of Public Policy & Advocacy at the Southern
Education Foundation
* Paige Duggins-Clay, Chief Legal Analyst at Intercultural Development
Research Association

[46]REGISTER HERE

Flyleaf Books!

March 13. If you aren't able to come to our March 14 fundraiser and book
talk, join Public Schools First at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill (752 MLK
Jr. Blvd.) for a book signing and talk.

Derek Black will talk about [47]Dangerous Learning: The South's Long War on
Black Literacy.

The parallels are striking between what's happening today and what has
happened to stifle Black learning in our nation's history.

Book signing begins at 5:30 and the talk begins at 6:00

Mark Your Calendar!

Multiple Dates, 7:00-8:30 pm: Resilience and ACES. Learn about Adverse
Childhood Experiences (ACES) and resilience. Join us for this
award-winning, 60-minute film, Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The
Science of Hope. This documentary examines how abuse, neglect, and other
adverse childhood experiences affect children’s development & health
outcomes in adulthood. This powerful movie is a conversation starter and a
perspective changer.

[48]REGISTER HERE

All screenings are on Thursday and include time for discussion.
* March 27
* April 24

Words to Remember

"As [voucher] programs have scaled up over the last ten years to the
statewide versions we’re talking about today the negative effects of
vouchers on test scores for the children who transfer from public to
private schools—I am not exaggerating when I tell you—they are on par with
what the COVID 19 pandemic did to test scores more recently, what Hurricane
Katrina did to test scores in Louisiana, in 2005. They’re so large that we
haven’t really seen anything else like it in the research record."

— Josh Cowen, NPE Conference 2023

Help us support public schools!

Public Schools First NC is a statewide nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit
focused solely

on pre-K to 12 public education issues. We collaborate with parents,
teachers, business and civic leaders, and communities across North Carolina
to advocate for one unified system of public education that prepares each
child for productive citizenship.

[49]DONATE HERE

[50]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]

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