August 2, 2025

[1]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org
[2]Facebook [3]Instagram [4]YouTube [5]LinkedIn [6]TikTok

Lots of Summer Break...Little Time Taken for Lawmaking

After adjourning on June 26 without having completed their one main
job—passing a two-year budget—the NC General Assembly returned to Raleigh
July 29 to undertake substantive work for just a few days this week.

Now they are back on another summer break until August 26 without passing a
new two-year budget thus stalling pay raises, the hiring of needed staff,
and has created uncertainty in planning and operations which is impacting
the well-being of state employees and teachers.

Their few days in Raleigh were full of action.

FEDERAL VOUCHERS - More money for private school vouchers

First on the docket was hijacking House Bill 87 "[7]Cell Phone-Free
Education,“ a popular cell phone bill. Lawmakers removed the language that
had already passed the House and replaced it with language authorizing the
state to adopt the federal tax credit voucher program signed into law July
5 as part of the federal budget (see new bill). HB87l passed both chambers
with a new name "[8]Educational Choice for Children Act" and has been sent
to Governor Stein. The House and Senate votes fell mostly along party lines
with just two Democrats (Reps. Cunningham and Willingham) voting in favor.
The new bill allows even more taxpayer dollars to be used for private
school vouchers without adding any accountability. This tax shelter will
siphon more tax dollars away from public programs to allow wealthy families
to pay for private school tuition.

VETO OVERRIDES

The House and Senate held veto override votes on 8 of the 14 bills Governor
Stein has vetoed so far this session. Because the Senate has a veto-proof
majority in favor of Republican members, the Senate vote outcome is never
in question. In the House, Republicans needed at least one Democrat to join
them in an override vote and they got it for 8 bills. Two vetoed bills that
directly affect K-12 education had their vetoes overridden by both House
and Senate:

SB 254 "[9]Charter School Changes" further erodes the role of the NC State
Board of Education in charter school oversight by giving sole authority to
the Charter School Review Board appointed mostly by legislators.

HB 193 "[10]Firearm Law Revisions" makes it easier to have guns at private
schools by allowing employees or volunteers in private schools (including
those located in churches) to carry a firearm or stun gun.

Several bills have not yet been taken up by the House for an override vote.
The Senate has already overridden Governor Stein’s veto of these bills, but
there is still time to contact your House member and urge them to sustain
the veto:

SB 50 "[11]Freedom to Carry NC" allows those over 18 to carry a concealed
handgun without a permit.

SB 227 "[12]Eliminating DEI in Public Education" Defines and prohibits
instruction on “divisive issues” and bans diversity, equity, and inclusion
practices in K-12 education.

SB 558 "[13]Eliminating DEI in Public Higher Ed." also defines divisive
issues and prohibits diversity, equity, or inclusion practices in all UNC
system schools/universities and community colleges.

Read more about the bills and learn [14]which lawmakers voted to override
Governor Stein's vetoes.

MINI BUDGET

Instead of sticking around to hammer out a complete budget bill that
includes raises for educators and state employees, the NCGA kicked the can
down the road by passing a mini-budget, HB 125 "[15]Continuing Budget
Operations." This budget essentially keeps the spending levels in place
but does allow the [16]state salary step increases for teachers to take
effect and adjusts allocations for schools with either growing or shrinking
student populations.

It's not too late to [17]contact your legislators to urge them to create a
state budget that fully supports public schools!

Vouchers Increase Private School Tuition!

When NC made taxpayer-funded private school tuition vouchers universally
available starting in the 2024-25 school year, many private schools raised
tuition prices to take advantage of the state funding. Watch our short
video to learn more!

[18]video

Find out more in our fact sheet about how North Carolina's voucher program
has contributed to [19]private school tuition increases.

Legislative and SBE Updates

Both House and Senate have adjourned until August 26.

Check the [20]legislative calendar for updates.

The State Board of Education’s Charter Schools Appeals committee will meet
on August 4 at 4 p.m. VIRTUALLY in a called meeting - Appeal from Decision
of the Charter Schools Review Board Not to Renew the Charter of Agape
Achievement Academy. Those wishing to follow the appeal can access the
[21]livestream here.

[22]Meeting information can be found here.

The State Board of Education meets August 6 (10:00 a.m.) and 7 (9:00 a.m.).
You can [23]livestream the meetings here and find the [24]agendas here.

Good News! Congress Halts Proposed Cuts to Public Education!

Congress is pushing back forcefully on the massive cuts the federal
administration is making to education.

On July 31, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations rejected most of
the administration's proposed cuts to education funding, medical research
grants, health initiatives, and Ukraine security assistance.

In bipartisan agreement, senators increased funding in the Labor, Health
and Human Services and Education spending bill for fiscal year 2026. The
bill also included language to require formula grant funding to be released
to states on time to prevent problems such as this summer's withholding of
nearly $7 billion in education funding from states.

The spending bill also holds the maximum annual Pell Grant award steady
instead of reducing it by $1,700 as proposed by the Trump administration.
Pell Grants help low-income students pay for college.

[25]READ MORE

New Report - Charter Schools in Decline

The National Center for Charter School Accountability (NCCSA) has just
released the first report in a three-part series: [26]Charter School
Reckoning: Decline, Disillusionment, and Cost.

Part 1: Decline, presents "sobering findings on the stagnation,
retrenchment, and accelerating closures plaguing the charter school sector
as it enters its fourth decade."

Despite clear evidence of decline, federal funding for charter schools has
increased to $500 million annually.

The report documents that in the first half of 2025 alone, 50 charter
schools announced closures, many without warning. Nearly half of these 50
schools had received a combined $102 million from the federal Charter
Schools Program (CSP).

[27]Our New Report is also shared on NPE's website!

TRIO Helped Me Get to College, Now it Needs Our Help

TRIO Helped Me Get to College, Now It Needs Our Help

By Citlalli Braulio-Madrid - Student at NC State University - Intern PSFNC

When someone asks who helped me get to college as a first-generation
college student, my answer is simple, “TRIO”. The follow-up question is
always, “What’s TRIO?” and that’s where the conversation usually begins,
because most people have never heard of it.

But now more than ever, we need to talk about TRIO. We need to advocate for
it. This program that has helped me and thousands of others is at risk of
being cut.

TRIO is a set of federally funded programs that are under the U.S.
Department of Education. Its mission is to support students from low-income
backgrounds, first-generation college students, and students with
disabilities as they move through their academic journey, from middle
school to postbaccalaureate programs.

There are eight TRIO programs, but I want to focus on three that directly
impact K-12 students in North Carolina.

[28]READ MORE

In Case You Missed It

[29]NC lawmakers reach deal on 'mini-budget' plan to fund some basic state
functions

[30]House budget is better for our teachers and kids

[31]Stuck on a pause: NC General Assembly budget impasse affects state's
public universities

[32]State Voucher Programs Signal Pitfalls for Trump's New Education Tax
Credits

[33]Colorado charter school closes just 2 weeks before start of school year

[34]New Hampshire Supreme Court Rules State Violated Constitution by
Underfunding Public Schools

Democracy Day September 15: Spotlight on Rodney D. Pierce

There's still time to get a great book, enjoy some summer reading, and help
support our work! Over the past few years we have partnered with some
incredible authors to share their work with you.

Our conversations with many of them can be viewed on our [35]YouTube
channel.

If you [36]donate, $50 or more, we will send you a book of your choice.
You will receive a great book and your donation is tax-deductible!

Request A Speaker!

Need a speaker for your next event or group meeting? PSFNC welcomes the
opportunity to speak to your group or organization on public
education-related topics.

We offer our programs virtually to improve accessibility and attendance and
therefore extend your reach. Our services are free of charge but may
require travel-related expenses if the program is in-person.

Email us at [email protected] for more information.

Words to Remember

We need... “an unflinching embrace of the value of public schools to kids,
families and communities, and a blunt calling out of the damage being done
to those schools by the reckless privatization schemes of recent years.”

— David Pepper, Lesson: [37]Public Schools Are a Winning Issue, Everywhere

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.

[38]DONATE HERE

[39]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]

References

1. [link removed]
2. [link removed]
3. [link removed]
4. [link removed]
5. [link removed]
6. [link removed]
7. [link removed]
8. [link removed]
9. [link removed]
10. [link removed]
11. [link removed]
12. [link removed]
13. [link removed]
14. [link removed]
15. [link removed]
16. [link removed]
17. [link removed]
18. [link removed]
19. [link removed]
20. [link removed]
21. [link removed]
22. [link removed]
23. [link removed]
24. [link removed]
25. [link removed]
26. [link removed]
27. [link removed]
28. [link removed]
29. [link removed]
30. [link removed]
31. [link removed]
32. [link removed]
33. [link removed]
34. [link removed]
35. [link removed]
36. [link removed]
37. [link removed]
38. [link removed]
39. [link removed]
Unsubscribe:
[link removed]
This message was sent to [email protected] from [email protected]

Public Schools First NC
PO Box 37832
Raleigh, NC 27627
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

iContact - Engage, WOW, and grow your audience: [link removed]