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. House Bill 171 "Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI" and 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. House Bill 121” School Calendar Flex/Statewide/Open Calendar.” and its companion 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. House Bill 92 “NC Digital Assets Investments Act” included House Speaker Destin Hall as a co-sponsor, has 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. |
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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. 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 uncertain road ahead despite robust bipartisan support in the House. 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. 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. Senate Bill 58 “AG/Restrict Challenge to Presidential EOs” (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. 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. 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! |
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| On Monday, March 10 both chambers will meet again. Check the legislative calendar for meeting updates throughout the week. Read our Week in Review for a summary of legislative actions and the status of bills. |
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National News: U.S. Department of Education and a BAD Bill |
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| 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...READ MORE BAAAAD BILL in Congress, 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! Ted Budd (202)224-3154, (336)941-4470,(828)333-4130, (984)349-5061, and (910)218-7600 Thom Tillis (202)224-6342, (704)509-9087, (252)329-0371, (828)693-8750, (336)885-0685, and (919)856-4630 |
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Education Cuts Could Devastate Public Schools |
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| 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...READ MORE |
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Selling Out Our Public Schools |
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| 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. READ MORE |
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March 14 Fundraiser and Evening with Derek Black! |
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| 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, 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! REGISTER HERE |
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| 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: |
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Webinar: Everything to Know about Private Ed. Vouchers Now |
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| 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
REGISTER HERE |
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| 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 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 |
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| 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. REGISTER HERE |
All screenings are on Thursday and include time for discussion. |
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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 |
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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. |
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