This week’s May 8th deadline for policy bills to cross from one chamber at the N.C. General Assembly to the other led to a flurry of activity on legislation affecting public schools. Still, state lawmakers completed their work a day earlier and completed their business Wednesday evening. House leaders plan to turn their attention next to adopting that chamber’s state budget proposal before Memorial Day.

NCASA Bills of Interest Weekly Activity
 
The House approved H121: ShCalFlex/Statewide/Open Cal. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba), provides local boards of education with additional flexibility in adopting school calendars by removing the specified opening and closing dates. The Senate chamber approved S754: School Calendar Flexibility: A New Alternative in April. We will work with leaders in both chambers to find a compromise bill that provides additional calendar flexibility.
 
The House also approved H981: Local Schools Open Enrollment Study, a bill that directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to study district open enrollment policies and processe. The bill in its original form would have required local boards of education to adopt an open enrollment plan that allows students to attend any school within the local school administrative unit in which the student is domiciled.
 
The study must include, at a minimum, a review of existing voluntary open enrollment and choice plans and considerations for implementing mandatory open enrollment plans. DPI must report its findings, including any recommended legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, by April 15, 2026.
 
The House also decided to not move forward with H878: Increased Academic Transparency. The bill would have required governing bodies of public schools to ensure that certain information is clearly displayed on the school website at all times, including: 1) All lesson plans (no later than 10 days after the lesson was given); 2) Procedures for the approval of lesson plans; 3) Procedures for requesting an in-person review of course materials not made available to the public, and 4) A list of teacher and staff training materials and activities used at each school.
 
NCASA thanks all member school leaders who reached out to legislators over the past couple of weeks about challenges this bill would pose for teachers and schools. Your feedback helped the sponsors and other legislators understand the logistical and cost concerns with the proposed legislation.
 
Several K-12 Bills passed one of the chambers and met the crossover deadline this week.
 
HOUSE BILLS PASSED THIS WEEK
 
H414: 1:1 Credit for Career and College Promise - Requires the State Board of Community Colleges and the State Board of Education to develop a series of courses to be offered at community colleges that would fulfill high school graduation requirements. Requires the SBE to remove the Math III high school graduation requirement. Requires each student to complete mathematics courses for graduation that are aligned with the student's career development plan.
 
H433: Registered Nurses in Schools - Provides that a licensed registered nurse with at least two years of experience in a hospital or health clinic would be required to be paid on the certified school nurse pay scale. Clarifies that the State Board of Education (State Board) would not be authorized to require a four-year degree to be hired or contracted for as a school nurse.
 
H602: Coach Safely Act - Requires coaches and athletics personnel engaged in or serving youth athletic activities on State property or property of the State's political subdivisions to annually complete youth sports injury education training. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) would be required to approve courses that meet the annual training requirement.
 
H615: Enrollment Stability for Military Students - Provides students of military families with additional time to provide proof of residency for public school enrollment.
 
H674: Firearms Liberty Act - Authorizes non-lethal defensive devices in any public school unit if those devices are stored in a locked container securely affixed to the premises and accessible by a biometric lock limiting access to only authorized employees with training for the classification of device stored in the container or to law enforcement officers. Defensive devices authorized would include, but not be limited to, a disabling chemical spray, an electronic incapacitation device, or any other non-lethal device.
 
H772: North Carolina Student Lifeline Act - Directs local boards of education to adopt a policy ensuring all schools in the local school administrative unit provide students with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Number and the NC Peer Warmline.
 
H854: Requires Licensure of Educational Interpreters - Makes educational interpreters and educational transliterators subject to licensure by the North Carolina Interpreter and Transliterator Licensing Board by removing their exemption under G.S. 90D-4(b)(5). Modifies requirements for provisional licensure.
 
H886: AEDs and CPR in Public Schools - Requires the placement of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in all schools in public school units and would require public school units to provide training for school personnel on the use of AEDs and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
 
H918: Standardized Testing Choice - Directs the North Carolina Collaboratory, seeking input from UNC and the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, to study the viability of including Classical Learning Test (CLT) scores as part of an application for college admission or award of scholarship.
 
H928: Allow PTs in School Concussion Protocol - Allows physical therapists to perform the evaluation of middle and high school student athletes who have exhibited signs of a concussion before the students return to play or practice.
 
H959: Social Media Literacy Schools  - Requires local boards of education to adopt an internet safety policy and to provide instruction regarding social media and its effects on health.
 
SENATE BILLS PASSED THIS WEEK
 
S408: No High Risk Apps/Gov’t Networks & Devices - Prohibits employees of and persons contracting with the State or local political subdivisions of the State from using TikTok and WeChat on government devices.
 
S493: Land Use Clarification and Changes - Allows by right or special permit the building of schools in areas zoned for commercial use.