Members of the NCASA Board of Directors recently approved the organization’s 2025 Legislative & Policy Priorities, which will lay the foundation for NCASA’s advocacy efforts with the NC General Assembly and other policymaking entities in 2025 and beyond. Board members approved on December 3 the initial draft of the 2025 Legislative Priorities, with permission for the NCASA Advocacy Team to make final adjustments as needed ahead of the 2025 legislative long session beginning in January 2025.

As in past years, these latest legislative priorities reflect data gathered from NCASA’s recent legislative priorities survey shared with all members, as well as school administrator feedback shared directly with the NCASA Advocacy Team. Notably, these priorities are not inclusive of all current K-12 education needs in our state (such as ongoing efforts to provide additional hurricane relief), but rather, highlight the top education issues affecting a majority of school administrators and their students across our 12 affiliate organizations. Please see below for an overview of the Top 5 advocacy “focus areas” identified by NCASA members and click HERE to access NCASA’s complete 2025 Legislative Priorities document.
 

1. Funding and Financial Operations — Greater state support needed in: K-12 public school base funding, Exceptional Children funding, school facility repair and renovation, NC Education Lottery funding, and cybersecurity.
    
2. Talent Acquisition, Development, and Retention — Improvements in pay and benefits needed for all educators, administrators, and staff; targeted bonuses and/or pay increases in high-need areas; modifications to the principal salary structure; and increased state support for assistant principals.
    
3. Student Learning, Innovation, and Achievement — Improvements needed to state’s School Performance Grades system; and ongoing state support requested for continuation of student literacy investments.
    
4. Student Safety and Well-Being — Expand state support for addressing student mental health needs; enhance school safety funding; and streamline services and billing practices for Medicaid-eligible student programs.
    
5. School & District Leadership — Greater state support requested for Student Information System (SIS) Transition; school calendar flexibility; and K-3 class size waivers.