Public Ed. Still Not Funded: What Legislation Did Pass?

As the year ends with no 2025-26 budget in place and months of little legislative action, we’re left to wonder what education-related legislation did pass into law this year. The list is fairly short.

HB 231 “Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact" makes North Carolina a member of a mulit-state compact that facilitates social work licensure across state lines. The bill makes it easier for social workers licensed in a compact-partner state to practice in North Carolina. North Carolina has a huge shortage of school social workers, with a social worker - student ratio of 1:920, far higher than the 1:250 national recommendation. Hopefully this bill will reduce shortages. Note - in 2013 lawmakers passed legislation to stop paying social workers on the master’s pay scale even when they have a master’s degree (commonly required for employment). A bill to reinstate master’s pay (HB 523 "School Social Workers/Master's Pay") was introduced this year but did not make it through the House, leaving the state’s public schools at a huge disadvantage in attracting and retaining social workers.

HB 193 (S.L. 2025-81), "Firearms Law Revisions" allows volunteers or employees to carry a concealed handgun at a private school or church if authorized by an administrator as described in the law. Governor Stein vetoed the legislation, stating that the well-trained law enforcement personnel and school resource officers should be the only people allowed to carry firearms in schools. His veto was overridden by both the House and Senate.

SB 429 "2025 Public Safety Law" makes it a Class H felony to knowingly expose someone under age 16 to a controlled substance or analogue (e.g., marijuana, narcotic, opiate, opioid) except when the person is prescribed the substance by a licensed medical professional.

HB 805 (S.L. 2025-84) "Prevent Exploitation/Women and Minors" started out focusing only on protections for women and minors by requiring adult-content websites to verify users are 18 or older and requiring written consent from all people in the images. It received strong bipartisan (and the Governor’s) support until provisions defining biological sex and other culture war elements were added. Governor Stein's veto was overridden by the House and Senate.

See the full list of laws with effective dates July 1, 2025 through January 1, 2026.

Governor Stein vetoed four more education-related bills that had been ratified by the House and Senate. These bills will not become law unless both the House and Senate override his veto.

HB 87 “Educational Choice for Children Act” (Federal Voucher Program)
SB 50 Freedom to Carry NC (removes restrictions on purchasing handguns and lowers purchase age to 18)
SB 227 Eliminating Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Public Education
SB 558 Eliminating Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Public Higher Education

See summaries of all ratified legislation. In North Carolina, a "ratified" bill is one that has passed both the House and Senate in identical form and been signed by both the Speaker of the House & President Pro Tempore of the Senate. After ratification, the bill is then sent to the Governor. If the Governor does not sign (or veto) the bill within 10 days, the bill becomes law without their signature. If the bill is signed by the Governor, or if the Governor takes no action (during session), or if a Governor’s veto is overridden, it becomes law. After becoming law, it's called an "enrolled act" or "Session Law".

There were too many terrific bills introduced and left languishing to include in a newsletter, but one stands out because it would address so many challenges faced by North Carolina’s public schools. House Bill 420 "Sound Basic Education for Every Child" adopts recommendations from the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial plan. It introduces policy changes with funding requirements that would help bring the state to a level of support for public schools that would comply with the requirements of our state constitution and multiple rulings by the North Carolina Supreme Court.

The failure of our legislative leaders to comply with the 2022 North Carolina Supreme Court ruling to fund provisions of the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan is a stain on the state.

Stop NC Tax Cuts for Corporations and the Wealthy!

from the North Carolina Budget & Tax Center

North Carolina is nearing a fiscal breaking point, raising the stakes of the NC General Assembly’s lack of budget action and decisions about taxes higher than ever.

Yet Senate leaders and budget writers, in particular, continue to pursue tax breaks that primarily benefit corporations and the wealthiest in our state, even amid an affordability crisis. This year, they have held up the state budget to push through additional tax cuts for the richest 1 percent. Since 2013, tax cuts primarily benefiting corporations and the wealthy have left our state with $18 billion less each year to fund people’s priorities.

We need you to help send a message to the NC Senate that they must return to Raleigh and stop the tax cuts scheduled for Jan. 1 that will mean $1 billion less in public money for North Carolina.

Senator Berger (919) 733-5708 [email protected] Twitter: @SenatorBerger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBerger/

Senator Hise (919) 733-3460 [email protected] Twitter: @ralphhise Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenRalphHise/

Senator Jackson (919) 733-5705 [email protected] Twitter: @SenBrentJackson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brentjacksonforsenate/

Senator Lee (919) 715-2525 [email protected]: @LeeForNC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leefornc/

Read more from the Budget & Tax Center

We join all North Carolinians in offering our condolences to Governor James B. Hunt's family as we mourn the passing of Governor Hunt. He served four-terms as Governor of NC and was recognized widely as the nation's first "Education Governor." Governor Hunt was one of our biggest fans, always sending us words of support for our advocacy on the behalf of public school educators!

Here is an interview with Governor Hunt from 10 years ago. He inspired us then and guides our public education advocacy work today.

Very little happened at the North Carolina General Assembly this week despite lawmakers' failure to pass a state budget. There were a few committee meetings. This clip from the House calendar for Thursday sums up the week.

Last week on Dec. 10, the House Select Committee on Oversight and Reform met to question leaders of Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools on whether they are complying with the "Parents Bill of Rights" law. District leaders affirmed that the district was following the law, but that hasn't kept lawmakers from sending the district a list of questions about bathroom policy, student name changes, etc. they must answer by Dec. 23. Lawmakers are also requiring monthly updates on how the district is complying with the law.

It is telling that lawmakers are prioritizing culture war issues over doing the hard work of actually negotiating and passing a budget. North Carolina needs a change!

Join Public Schools First NC and other public education supporters at the legislature in downtown Raleigh on the second Wednesday each month until the legislative short session starts in April.

We will meet in front of the State Legislative Building to advocate for public schools!

11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

State Legislative Building at 140 E Jones Street, Raleigh

January 14
February 11
March 11
April 8

Fill out this Google Form to let us know you're coming!

If you've had trouble accessing the comment portal for the federal voucher program you're not alone.

Here is the direct link. Click on Comment.

Here is the link to the request for comments with specific areas where comments are requested.

Even if you don’t have a specific recommendation, it is still worthwhile to express your concerns about the federal voucher program and vouchers as a whole. The more people object to the vouchers, the more likely officials are to delay implementing them. Cite specific examples if you have them.

Here is a template you can use for your comments provided by Public Funds Public Schools (customize it for more impact).

This is an important opportunity to let the federal government know that federal vouchers are a terrible idea!

More information on federal vouchers: The Federal Tax Credit Voucher Program: A Landscape of Risks for Public Schools and Students

Public Schools First NC has just released a new advocacy toolkit! Click through the slide deck to find information and tips on how to be an effective K-12 public education advocate. The toolkit is divided into three sections: Learn the Facts, Engage & Take Action, and Connect & Share. Each walk you through key steps on the advocacy journey.

Below the slide deck are two topic-specific toolkits:

Private School Voucher Toolkit
Stop the Attacks on Students with Disabilities Toolkit

Explore the Toolkits

By Amy Cockerham

Public schools are grappling with the negative effects of increasing segregation, and North Carolina’s expanded private school vouchers only aggravate the issue.

Dr. Corina De La Torre is the Manager of Policy, Research, and Community Engagement at the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED). A dissertation she published this year found evidence that North Carolina’s public education system is resegregating, so that schools are increasingly dominated by students of one race.

De La Torre’s research shows from 2002 to 2022, in urban areas the share of intensely segregated schools rose substantially in Charlotte-Mecklenburg (16% to 46%), Durham County (24% to 48%), and Guilford County (14% to 33%).

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. Invite a friend and contact us about setting up a private screening for your school staff, PTA, civic group, church, or synagogue.

January 22, 2026
February 26, 2026
March 26, 2026

Words to Remember

“Education is the great equalizer. It’s the ticket to opportunity for every child, regardless of their circumstances.”

— Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.

"When you push out the kids with disabilities. When you push out the kids with low scores. When you choose your students. This is not school choice for parents or children. It's school choice for schools."

— Diane Ravitch, PSFNC Webinar on An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else

Public Ed. Still Not Funded: What Legislation Did Pass?

Stop NC Tax Cuts for Corporations and the Wealthy!

Our Forever Governor

Legislature Update

Join Us in Raleigh on Second Wednesdays!

Federal Voucher Program Comments Due by Dec. 26

In Case You Missed It

Check Out Our Advocacy Toolkits

NC Private School Vouchers Help Fuel Resegregation

Did You Know?

Mark Your Calendar!

Words to Remember

Help us support public schools!