North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H910 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 910
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH40457-MTa-111
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: DRIVE Recommendations/Teacher Diversity. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Hawkins, Baker, F. Jackson, and von Haefen (Primary
9		-	Sponsors).
10		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
11		-	Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
12		-	April 14, 2025
13		-	H910 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Hawkins.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH40457 -MTa-111
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND PROGRAM EXPANSIONS TO 2
16	15		PROMOTE TEACHER DIVERSITY AND INCREASE TEACHER REC RUITMENT, 3
17	16		INCLUDING AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR 'S DRIVE TASK FORCE 4
18	17		REPORT, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THESE PURPOSES . 5
19	18		Whereas, a diverse educator workforce improves student elementary, secondary, and 6
20	19		postsecondary outcomes and benefits every student; and 7
21	20		Whereas, developing a more representative educator workforce that mirrors the 8
22	21		diversity of the student body in North Carolina requires incremental progress over time; and 9
23	22		Whereas, the teacher shortage in North Carolina necessitates innovative and specific 10
24	23		programs, including 2+2 certification for educators, to put more teachers in the classroom, 11
25	24		especially in special education and rural areas; and 12
26	25		Whereas, to solve the recruitment and retention problems in North Carolina and to 13
27	26		provide every student with a well-trained and qualified educator, the State must promote teacher 14
28	27		diversity from recommendations outlined in the report of the DRIVE Task Force; and 15
29	28		Whereas, the DRIVE Network is governed by an entity that was approved by the 16
30	29		DRIVE Task Force that was established by the Governor after the scheduled end of the DRIVE 17
31	30		Task Force on December 31, 2023, to continue the work of the DRIVE Task Force; Now, 18
32	31		therefore, 19
33	32		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 20
34	33		21
35	34		PART I. ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS /TEACHER RECRUITMENT MODELS 22
36	35		SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 23
37	36		Public Instruction the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in recurring funds for the 24
38	37		2025-2026 fiscal year for research-based Grow-Your-Own and 2+2 programs in all regions of 25
39	38		the State, including high school-based career academy programs, the North Carolina Teacher 26
40	39		Cadet Program, Teaching as a Profession, and the TAs to Teachers and Troops to Teacher 27
41	40		programs. 28
42	41		29
43	42		PART II. DEVELOPING A REPRESENTATIVE AND INCLUSIVE VISION FOR THE 30
44	43		EDUCATION (DRIVE) GRANT PROGRAM 31
45	44		SECTION 2.(a) Purpose. – The State Board of Education, in consultation with the 32
46	45		Office of the Governor, The University of North Carolina System Office, and the Community 33
47		-	Colleges System Office, and the DRIVE Network shall establish a grant program to support 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 910-First Edition
49		-	strategic partnerships committed to increasing the pipeline of educators of color across the State. 1
50		-	As an extension of the recommendations and strategies presented by the Governor's DRIVE Task 2
51		-	Force on January 1, 2021, the grants shall be provided to local school administrative units, 3
52		-	institutions of higher education, and community organizations to implement innovative 4
53		-	initiatives that support the recruitment, preparation, support, and retention of racially, ethnically, 5
54		-	and linguistically diverse educators. The purpose of this program shall be to do at least the 6
55		-	following: 7
56		-	(1) Increase the diversity of the educator workforce across the State through novel 8
57		-	recruitment efforts. 9
58		-	(2) Strengthen the pipeline of aspiring teachers of color across the State through 10
59		-	traditional and alternative certification pathways. 11
60		-	(3) Provide mechanisms to support and retain educators of color currently serving 12
61		-	in elementary and secondary public schools. 13
62		-	(4) Promote collaboration between school systems, institutions of higher 14
63		-	education, and community and nonprofit organizations to diversify the 15
64		-	educator workforce. 16
65		-	SECTION 2.(b) Applications. – Applicants for grants shall demonstrate at least the 17
66		-	following for grant award consideration: 18
67		-	(1) A partnership between at least two of the following entities: local school 19
68		-	administrative units, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 20
69		-	Historically Minority-Serving Institutions, educator preparation programs, 21
70		-	alternative certification programs, public and private colleges and universities, 22
71		-	community colleges, and community or nonprofit organizations. 23
72		-	(2) Proposals for strategies that address one or more of the following components 24
73		-	of the educator development continuum as highlighted by the DRIVE Task 25
74		-	Force's 2021 Report to the Governor: recruitment, placement and induction, 26
75		-	and support and retention of educators of color. 27
76		-	SECTION 2.(c) Use of Funds. – Grant funds may be used for the following 28
77		-	activities: 29
78		-	(1) Strengthening existing high school dual enrollment programs to offer 30
79		-	education-based college credit or honors courses as streamlined pathways for 31
80		-	future careers in education. 32
81		-	(2) Implementing targeted school system-level and community-based recruitment 33
82		-	programs for aspiring educators of color interested in traditional and 34
83		-	alternative educator preparation programs. 35
84		-	(3) Utilizing and leveraging existing financial aid programs that include 36
85		-	scholarships, loan forgiveness, and tuition reimbursement that reduce the 37
86		-	disproportionate financial burden incurred by aspiring candidates of color. 38
87		-	(4) Increasing preparation and supporting preservice educators of color through 39
88		-	paid clinical learning experiences, with a commitment to teaching in North 40
89		-	Carolina public schools. 41
90		-	(5) Offering support for job placement and licensure for candidates of color after 42
91		-	completing their educator preparation program. 43
92		-	(6) Providing induction and mentoring programs that address the needs of 44
93		-	educators of color that include sustaining networking and professional 45
94		-	learning communities or affinity groups. 46
95		-	(7) Encouraging and financially supporting educators of color interested in 47
96		-	joining national professional organizations or attending national conferences. 48
97		-	SECTION 2.(d) Request for Proposal. – By October 1, 2025, the State Board of 49
98		-	Education shall issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the grant program. Applicants shall submit 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	House Bill 910-First Edition Page 3
100		-	their proposals by December 1, 2025. The RFP shall require that proposals include the following 1
101		-	information, at a minimum: 2
102		-	(1) Description of the proposal. 3
103		-	(2) Evidence-based research that supports the proposal. 4
104		-	(3) An implementation time line for the plan. 5
105		-	(4) Plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. 6
106		-	SECTION 2.(e) Selection. – By February 1, 2026, a selection committee shall select 7
107		-	up to five grantees, making the effort to ensure that there is representation across the State as 8
108		-	reflected by rural and urban districts, institutions of higher education, and community-based 9
109		-	partners. Any grants awarded may be spent over a five-year period from the initial award. Grants 10
110		-	may be awarded for new or existing projects. 11
111		-	SECTION 2.(f) Reporting Requirements. – No later than September 1 of each year, 12
112		-	grant recipients shall submit to the State Board of Education an annual report for the preceding 13
113		-	grant year that describes the implementation of the program. This report must include qualitative 14
114		-	and quantitative data to demonstrate program effectiveness. 15
115		-	SECTION 2.(g) Evaluation and Reporting. – Of the funds appropriated by this 16
116		-	section, the State Board of Education may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) 17
117		-	to contract with the DRIVE Network, housed at the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Inc., 18
118		-	to evaluate the impact of this grant program. The DRIVE Network shall report the results of this 19
119		-	evaluation to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, 20
120		-	and the Office of State Budget and Management by September 1, 2027. The State Board of 21
121		-	Education shall report annually on the implementation of this grant program beginning January 22
122		-	1, 2027. 23
123		-	SECTION 2.(h) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 24
124		-	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in recurring 25
125		-	funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program in accordance with this 26
126		-	section. 27
127		-	SECTION 2.(i) Carryforward. – Any unexpended funds at the end of each fiscal 28
128		-	year from the funds appropriated for the grant program under this section shall not revert to the 29
129		-	General Fund but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes set forth in this section. 30
130		-	31
131		-	PART III. RECRUITMEN T BONUS PILOT PROGRA M FOR TEACHERS IN 32
132		-	LOW-WEALTH, LOW-PERFORMING, OR HIGH-NEEDS SCHOOLS 33
133		-	SECTION 3.(a) Purpose. – The State Board of Education shall establish a grant 34
134		-	program to assist local school administrative units in providing multiyear recruitment bonuses to 35
135		-	certified teachers who commit to teach multiple years in a low-performing or high-needs school. 36
136		-	Bonuses awarded as part of this grant program shall include, but are not limited to, the following 37
137		-	components: 38
138		-	(1) Awards over multiple years with a requirement that teachers remain in the 39
139		-	school over multiple years to receive the bonus. 40
140		-	(2) Awards to licensed teachers who commit to teach in a school identified as 41
141		-	low-performing, as defined in G.S. 115C-105.37, a school identified as 42
142		-	continually low-performing as defined in G.S. 115C-105.37A, or a school 43
143		-	with an identified student percentage (ISP) of seventy-five percent (75%) or 44
144		-	greater as used in the National School Lunch Program for qualification for the 45
145		-	Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program. 46
146		-	SECTION 3.(b) Request for Proposal. – By September 1, 2025, and annually 47
147		-	thereafter, the State Board of Education shall issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the grant 48
148		-	program. Local boards of education shall submit their proposals by December 1, 2025. The RFP 49
149		-	shall require that proposals include the following information, at a minimum: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 House Bill 910-First Edition
151		-	(1) Description of the proposal, including details on targeted schools for the 1
152		-	bonuses and how the bonus program will be structured. 2
153		-	(2) Evidence-based research that supports the proposal. 3
154		-	(3) Implementation time line for the plan. 4
155		-	(4) Plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. 5
156		-	SECTION 3.(c) Grant Awards. – By February 15, 2026, the State Board of 6
157		-	Education shall review the proposals submitted by local boards of education and shall select up 7
158		-	to 10 local school administrative units for grant awards. The State Board of Education may make 8
159		-	grant awards for up to three years. A local school administrative unit may not receive more than 9
160		-	five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in a single fiscal year from the grant program. 10
161		-	SECTION 3.(d) Evaluation and Reporting. – Of the funds appropriated by this 11
162		-	section, the State Board of Education may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) 12
163		-	to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant 13
164		-	program. The independent research organization shall report the results of this evaluation to the 14
165		-	Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office 15
166		-	of State Budget and Management by September 1, 2028. The Department of Public Instruction 16
167		-	shall report annually on the implementation of this grant program beginning March 1, 2026. 17
168		-	SECTION 3.(e) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 18
169		-	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in recurring 19
170		-	funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program in accordance with this 20
171		-	section. 21
172		-	SECTION 3.(f) Carryforward. – Any unexpended funds appropriated under this 22
173		-	section at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund but shall 23
174		-	remain available for the purposes set forth in this section. 24
175		-	25
176		-	PART IV. TEACHER PREPARATION RESIDENCY P ILOT GRANT PROGRAM 26
177		-	SECTION 4.(a) Purpose. – The State Board of Education shall establish a grant 27
178		-	program to assist local school administrative units in the development of teacher preparation 28
179		-	residency pilot programs. Teacher preparation residency programs provide the necessary 29
180		-	preparation and induction supports to teacher preparation candidates pursuing a continuing 30
181		-	professional license. Teacher preparation residency programs eligible to receive grant funding 31
182		-	through this program shall include, at a minimum, the following components: 32
183		-	(1) Coursework in the candidate's area of licensure. 33
184		-	(2) Tuition and stipends. 34
185		-	(3) Faculty advising. 35
186		-	(4) Clinical training experiences. 36
187		-	(5) Ongoing induction support. 37
188		-	Residency programs eligible for this grant program may include partnerships between 38
189		-	local school administrative units, educator preparation programs, local community colleges or 39
190		-	universities, and other community organizations. Grant funds awarded to local school 40
191		-	administrative units under this program shall be matched by the local school administrative unit 41
192		-	on the basis of one dollar ($1.00) in nongrant funds for every one dollar ($1.00) in grant funds. 42
193		-	SECTION 4.(b) Request for Proposal. – By October 1, 2025, the State Board of 43
194		-	Education shall issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the grant program. Local boards of 44
195		-	education shall submit their proposals by January 15, 2026. The RFP shall require that proposals 45
196		-	include the following information, at a minimum: 46
197		-	(1) Description of the proposal, including the number of teacher preparation 47
198		-	candidates to be served. 48
199		-	(2) Evidence-based research that supports the proposal. 49
200		-	(3) Implementation time line for the plan. 50
201		-	(4) Plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
202		-	House Bill 910-First Edition Page 5
203		-	SECTION 4.(c) Grant Awards. – By April 15, 2026, the State Board of Education 1
204		-	shall review the proposals submitted by local boards of education and shall select up to 10 local 2
205		-	school administrative units for grant awards. The State Board of Education may make grant 3
206		-	awards for up to three years. A local school administrative unit may not receive more than five 4
207		-	hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in a single fiscal year from this grant program. 5
208		-	SECTION 4.(d) Evaluation and Reporting. – Of the funds appropriated by this 6
209		-	section, the State Board of Education may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) 7
210		-	to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant 8
211		-	program. The independent research organization shall report the results of this evaluation to the 9
212		-	Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office 10
213		-	of State Budget and Management by September 1, 2029. The Department of Public Instruction 11
214		-	shall report annually on the implementation of this grant program beginning March 1, 2027. 12
215		-	SECTION 4.(e) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 13
216		-	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in recurring 14
217		-	funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program in accordance with this 15
218		-	section. 16
219		-	SECTION 4.(f) Carryforward. – Any unexpended funds appropriated under this 17
220		-	section at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund but shall 18
221		-	remain available for the purposes set forth in this section. 19
222		-	20
223		-	PART V. EXPANSION OF FELS PROGRAM/ENCOUR AGE DIVERSITY 21
224		-	SECTION 5.1. G.S. 116-209.45(e) reads as rewritten: 22
225		-	"(e) Eligibility for Loans. – The Authority shall establish the criteria for initial and 23
226		-	continuing eligibility to participate in the Program. All loan recipients shall be residents of North 24
227		-	Carolina and shall attend an eligible institution. 25
228		-	The Authority shall adopt standards deemed appropriate by the Authority to ensure that only 26
229		-	qualified, potential recipients receive a loan under the Program. The standards may include 27
230		-	minimum grade point average and satisfactory academic progress. The Authority shall include 28
231		-	individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for teacher licensure as 29
232		-	potential recipients to receive a loan under the Program." 30
233		-	SECTION 5.2. G.S. 116-209.45(g) reads as rewritten: 31
234		-	"(g) Advisory Group. – The Authority shall appoint an advisory group composed of, at 32
235		-	minimum, appropriate representatives from higher education institutions and health and labor 33
236		-	departments, agencies, or commissions to make recommendations to the Authority regarding the 34
237		-	Authority's future apportionment and distribution of Program loans based on projected labor 35
238		-	market shortages, higher education enrollment projections, and other relevant information. The 36
239		-	Advisory Group shall also make recommendations to the Authority regarding strategies to 37
240		-	encourage participation in the Program for potential recipients of color, specifically among 38
241		-	individuals pursuing teacher licensure." 39
242		-	40
243		-	PART VI. EXPAND NC TEACHING FELLOWS PROG RAM 41
244		-	SECTION 6.(a) Part 3 of Article 23 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes reads as 42
245		-	rewritten: 43
246		-	"Part 3. North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 44
247		-	"§ 116-209.60. Definitions. 45
248		-	The following definitions apply in this Part: 46
249		-	(1) Commission. – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission. 47
250		-	(2) Director. – The Director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 48
251		-	(3) Forgivable loan. – A forgivable loan made under the Program. 49
252		-	(4) Program. – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
253		-	Page 6 House Bill 910-First Edition
254		-	(5) Public school. – An elementary or secondary school located in North Carolina 1
255		-	that is governed by a local board of education, charter school board of 2
256		-	directors, regional school board of directors, or University of North Carolina 3
257		-	laboratory school board of trustees. 4
258		-	(5a) Qualifying licensure area. – A teacher licensure area in one of the following 5
259		-	subjects: 6
260		-	a. Either of the following, as identified pursuant to G.S. 116-209.62(h): 7
261		-	1. Special education. 8
262		-	2. STEM. 9
263		-	b. Elementary education (K-6). 10
264		-	(5b) Qualifying teacher. – A teacher in a North Carolina public school who meets 11
265		-	the following criteria: 12
266		-	a. Received a forgivable loan under the Program. 13
267		-	b. Graduated within 10 years from an educator preparation program 14
268		-	leading to teacher licensure, excluding any authorized deferment for 15
269		-	extenuating circumstances. 16
270		-	c. Serves as a teacher in a qualifying licensure area. 17
271		-	(6) STEM. – Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 18
272		-	(7) Trust Fund. – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund. 19
273		-	… 20
274		-	"§ 116-209.62. North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program established; administration. 21
275		-	(a) Program. – There is established the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program to be 22
276		-	administered by the System Office of The University of North Carolina, in conjunction with the 23
277		-	Authority and the Commission. The purpose of the Program is to recruit, prepare, and support 24
278		-	students residing in or attending institutions of higher education located in North Carolina for 25
279		-	preparation as highly effective teachers in qualifying licensure areas in the State's public schools. 26
280		-	The Program shall be used to provide a forgivable loan to individuals interested in preparing to 27
281		-	teach in the public schools of the State in qualifying licensure areas.State. 28
282		-	(b) Trust Fund. – There is established the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program 29
283		-	Trust Fund to be administered by the Authority, in conjunction with the System Office of The 30
284		-	University of North Carolina. All funds (i) appropriated to, or otherwise received by, the Program 31
285		-	for forgivable loans and other Program purposes, (ii) received as repayment of forgivable loans, 32
286		-	and (iii) earned as interest on these funds shall be placed in the Trust Fund. The purpose of the 33
287		-	Trust Fund is to provide financial assistance to qualified students for completion of teacher 34
288		-	education and licensure programs to fill qualifying licensure areas teach in the public schools of 35
289		-	the State. 36
290		-	… 37
291		-	(d) Director of the Program. – The Board of Governors of The University of North 38
292		-	Carolina shall appoint a Director of the Program. The Director shall appoint staff to the 39
293		-	Commission and shall be responsible for recruitment and coordination of the Program, including 40
294		-	proactive, aggressive, and strategic recruitment of potential recipients. Efforts shall include 41
295		-	identifying and encouraging students of color and students who may not otherwise consider a 42
296		-	career in teaching to enter the Program. Recruitment activities shall include a broad-based 43
297		-	strategy (i) targeting regions of the State with the highest teacher attrition rates and teacher 44
298		-	recruitment challenges, challenges and (ii) actively engaging with educators, business leaders, 45
299		-	experts in human resources, elected officials, and other community leaders throughout the State, 46
300		-	and (iii) attracting candidates in qualifying licensure areas to the Program. State to attract a 47
301		-	diverse pool of applicants. The Director shall report to the President of The University of North 48
302		-	Carolina. The Authority shall provide office space and clerical support staff, as necessary, to the 49
303		-	Director for the Program. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
304		-	House Bill 910-First Edition Page 7
305		-	(e) Student Selection Criteria for Forgivable Loans. – The Commission shall adopt 1
306		-	stringent standards for awarding forgivable loans based on multiple measures to ensure that only 2
307		-	the strongest applicants receive them, including the following: 3
308		-	(1) Grade point averages. 4
309		-	(2) Performance on relevant career and college readiness assessments. 5
310		-	(3) Experience, accomplishments, and other criteria demonstrating qualities 6
311		-	positively correlated with highly effective teachers, including excellent verbal 7
312		-	and communication skills. 8
313		-	(4) Demonstrated commitment to serve in a qualifying licensure area in North 9
314		-	Carolina public schools. 10
315		-	(f) Program Selection Criteria. – The Authority shall administer the Program in 11
316		-	cooperation with up to 10 any institutions of higher education with approved a State Board of 12
317		-	Education-approved educator preparation programs program selected by the Commission that 13
318		-	represent a diverse selection of both postsecondary constituent institutions of The University of 14
319		-	North Carolina and private postsecondary institutions operating in the State. The Commission 15
320		-	shall adopt stringent standards for selection of the most effective educator preparation programs, 16
321		-	including the following: 17
322		-	(1) Demonstrates high rates of educator effectiveness on value-added models and 18
323		-	teacher evaluations, including using performance-based, subject-specific 19
324		-	assessment and support systems, such as edTPA or other metrics of evaluating 20
325		-	candidate effectiveness that have predictive validity. 21
326		-	(2) Demonstrates measurable impact of prior graduates on student learning, 22
327		-	including impact of graduates teaching in qualifying licensure areas. 23
328		-	(3) Demonstrates high rates of graduates passing exams required for teacher 24
329		-	licensure. 25
330		-	(4) Provides curricular and co-curricular enhancements in leadership, facilitates 26
331		-	learning for diverse learners, and promotes community engagement, 27
332		-	classroom management, and reflection and assessment. 28
333		-	(5) Requires at least a minor concentration of study in the subject area that the 29
334		-	candidate may teach. 30
335		-	(6) Provides early and frequent internship or practical experiences, including the 31
336		-	opportunity for participants to perform practicums in diverse school 32
337		-	environments. 33
338		-	(7) Is approved by the State Board of Education as an educator preparation 34
339		-	program. 35
340		-	(8) For an educator preparation program enrolling loan recipients in a program of 36
341		-	study leading to licensure in elementary education (K-6), provides training 37
342		-	that is aligned with the Science of Reading in accordance with 38
343		-	G.S. 115C-269.20. The Commission shall contract with a third-party entity to 39
344		-	biennially evaluate whether a program identified in this subdivision is 40
345		-	providing training that is aligned with the Science of Reading. 41
346		-	(g) Awards of Forgivable Loans. – The Program shall provide forgivable loans to selected 42
347		-	students to be used at up to 10 selected institutions for completion of a program leading to initial 43
348		-	teacher licensure as follows: 44
349		-	(1) North Carolina high school seniors. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand 45
350		-	dollars ($5,000) per semester for up to eight semesters.ten thousand dollars 46
351		-	($10,000) per academic year for up to four academic years. 47
352		-	(2) Students applying for transfer to a selected educator preparation program at 48
353		-	an institution of higher education. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand 49
354		-	dollars ($5,000) per semester for up to six semesters.ten thousand dollars 50
355		-	($10,000) per academic year for up to four academic years. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
356		-	Page 8 House Bill 910-First Edition
357		-	(3) Individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for 1
358		-	teacher licensure. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) 2
359		-	per semester for up to four semesters.ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per 3
360		-	academic year for up to two academic years. 4
361		-	(4) Students matriculating at institutions of higher education who are changing to 5
362		-	an approved program of study at a selected educator preparation program. – 6
363		-	Forgivable loans of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per semester for up 7
364		-	to four semesters.ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per academic year for up to 8
365		-	four academic years. 9
366		-	Forgivable loans may be used for tuition, fees, the cost of books, and expenses related to 10
367		-	obtaining licensure. 11
368		-	(h) Identification of STEM and Special Education Licensure Areas. – The Superintendent 12
369		-	of Public Instruction shall identify and provide to the Commission and the Authority a list of 13
370		-	STEM and special education licensure areas and shall annually provide to the Commission the 14
371		-	number of available positions in each qualifying licensure area relative to the number of current 15
372		-	and anticipated teachers in that area of licensure. The Commission shall make the list of STEM 16
373		-	and special education licensure areas readily available to applicants. 17
374		-	(i) Administration of Forgivable Loan Awards. – Upon the naming of recipients of the 18
375		-	forgivable loans by the Commission, the Commission shall transfer to the Authority its decisions. 19
376		-	The Authority, in coordination with the Director, shall perform all of the administrative functions 20
377		-	necessary to implement this Part, which functions shall include rule making, disseminating 21
378		-	information, acting as a liaison with participating institutions of higher education, implementing 22
379		-	forgivable loan agreements, loan monitoring, loan cancelling through service and collection, 23
380		-	determining the acceptability of service repayment agreements, enforcing the agreements, and 24
381		-	all other functions necessary for the execution, payment, and enforcement of promissory notes 25
382		-	required under this Part. 26
383		-	(j) Annual Report. – The Commission, in coordination with the Authority, the 27
384		-	Department of Public Instruction, and the selected educator education programs participating in 28
385		-	the Program shall report no later than January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, to the Joint 29
386		-	Legislative Education Oversight Committee regarding the following: 30
387		-	(1) Forgivable loans awarded from the Trust Fund, including the following: 31
388		-	a. Demographic information regarding recipients. 32
389		-	b. Number of recipients by institution of higher education and program. 33
390		-	c. Information on number of recipients by anticipated qualifying 34
391		-	licensure area. 35
392		-	(2) Placement and repayment rates, including the following: 36
393		-	a. Number of graduates who have been employed in a qualifying 37
394		-	licensure area within two years of program completion. 38
395		-	b. Number of graduates who accepted employment at a low-performing 39
396		-	school identified under G.S. 115C-105.37 as part of their years of 40
397		-	service. 41
398		-	c. Number of graduates who have elected to do loan repayment and their 42
399		-	years of service, if any, prior to beginning loan repayment. 43
400		-	d. Number of graduates employed in a qualifying licensure area who 44
401		-	have received an overall rating of at least accomplished and have met 45
402		-	expected growth on applicable standards of the teacher evaluation 46
403		-	instrument. 47
404		-	e. Aggregate information on student growth and proficiency in courses 48
405		-	taught by graduates who have fulfilled service requirements through 49
406		-	employment in a qualifying licensure area.employment. 50
407		-	…." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
408		-	House Bill 910-First Edition Page 9
409		-	SECTION 6.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina 1
410		-	Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund the sum of five million seven hundred thousand dollars 2
411		-	($5,700,000) in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support an additional 490 teacher 3
412		-	licensure candidates. 4
413		-	SECTION 6.(c) Subsection (a) of this section applies to applications for the award 5
414		-	of funds beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. 6
415		-	7
416		-	PART VII. PEPSC/EDUCATOR PREPARATION PRO GRAM REPORTING CHANG ES 8
417		-	SECTION 7.1. G.S. 115C-269.35(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to 9
418		-	read: 10
419		-	"(12a) The percentage of students of color enrolling in and completing the program. 11
420		-	For the purposes of this subsection, a student of color means a student 12
421		-	identifying as Hispanic, African American, Asian, American Indian, Native 13
422		-	Hawaiian, or of two or more races." 14
423		-	SECTION 7.2. G.S. 115C-269.50 reads as rewritten: 15
424		-	"§ 115C-269.50. EPP report cards.cards; report on diversity. 16
425		-	(a) EPP Report Card. – The State Board shall create an annual report card for each EPP 17
426		-	that, at a minimum, summarizes the information collected in the annual performance reports, as 18
427		-	set forth in G.S. 115C-269.35(b). The report cards shall provide user-friendly access to the 19
428		-	public, and shall provide the ability to easily compare annual report card information between 20
429		-	EPPs, including performance and other data reported by each EPP, as provided in 21
430		-	G.S. 115C-269.35(b). The State Board shall make the report cards available to the public through 22
431		-	the State Board's Internet Web site on an annual basis beginning December 15, 2019, and shall 23
432		-	submit the report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee annually by that date. 24
433		-	(b) Annual Report on Diversity. – Each educator preparation program shall report to the 25
434		-	State Board the following information on an annual basis regarding the diversity of identified 26
435		-	persons disaggregated by the following diversity categories: race, sex, ethnicity, age, and 27
436		-	disability status: 28
437		-	(1) Total number of identified persons. 29
438		-	(2) Retention rates of identified persons who are employees of the program. 30
439		-	(3) The number of students who complete the program, the number of graduates 31
440		-	licensed in North Carolina, and the number of graduates employed in a public 32
441		-	school unit. 33
442		-	(4) Qualitative data from identified persons on the diversity of the program, 34
443		-	including applicable information on recruitment, educator preparation, 35
444		-	retention, mobility, and turnover. 36
445		-	(5) Recommendations from the program to improve diversity of identified 37
446		-	persons, including strategies to recruit and retain a diverse pool of identified 38
447		-	persons. 39
448		-	(c) Beginning June 15, 2026, and every June 15 thereafter, the State Board shall collect 40
449		-	the information from the annual report from the educator preparation programs under subsection 41
450		-	(b) of this section and report the results to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, 42
451		-	disaggregated by diversity category: 43
452		-	(1) Statewide data for each educator preparation program. 44
453		-	(2) Recommendations from the State Board to improve diversity among 45
454		-	identified persons in programs, including strategies to recruit and retain a 46
455		-	diverse pool of identified persons." 47
456		-	48
457		-	PART VIII. ELIMINATE MINIMUM TESTING REQ UIREMENTS FOR EDUCAT OR 49
458		-	PREPARATION PROGRAM ADMISSION 50
459		-	SECTION 8.(a) G.S. 115C-269.15(a) is repealed. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
460		-	Page 10 House Bill 910-First Edition
461		-	SECTION 8.(b) This section applies beginning with applications for admission to 1
462		-	an EPP in the 2025-2026 academic year. 2
	46	+	Colleges System Office, and the DRIVE Network shall establish a grant program to support 34
	47	+	strategic partnerships committed to increasing the pipeline of educators of color across the State. 35
	48	+	As an extension of the recommendations and strategies presented by the Governor's DRIVE Task 36
	49	+	H.B. 910
	50	+	Apr 10, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH40457-MTa-111
	53	+	Force on January 1, 2021, the grants shall be provided to local school administrative units, 1
	54	+	institutions of higher education, and community organizations to implement innovative 2
	55	+	initiatives that support the recruitment, preparation, support, and retention of racially, ethnically, 3
	56	+	and linguistically diverse educators. The purpose of this program shall be to do at least the 4
	57	+	following: 5
	58	+	(1) Increase the diversity of the educator workforce across the State through novel 6
	59	+	recruitment efforts. 7
	60	+	(2) Strengthen the pipeline of aspiring teachers of color across the State through 8
	61	+	traditional and alternative certification pathways. 9
	62	+	(3) Provide mechanisms to support and retain educators of color currently serving 10
	63	+	in elementary and secondary public schools. 11
	64	+	(4) Promote collaboration between school systems, institutions of higher 12
	65	+	education, and community and nonprofit organizations to diversify the 13
	66	+	educator workforce. 14
	67	+	SECTION 2.(b) Applications. – Applicants for grants shall demonstrate at least the 15
	68	+	following for grant award consideration: 16
	69	+	(1) A partnership between at least two of the following entities: local school 17
	70	+	administrative units, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 18
	71	+	Historically Minority-Serving Institutions, educator preparation programs, 19
	72	+	alternative certification programs, public and private colleges and universities, 20
	73	+	community colleges, and community or nonprofit organizations. 21
	74	+	(2) Proposals for strategies that address one or more of the following components 22
	75	+	of the educator development continuum as highlighted by the DRIVE Task 23
	76	+	Force's 2021 Report to the Governor: recruitment, placement and induction, 24
	77	+	and support and retention of educators of color. 25
	78	+	SECTION 2.(c) Use of Funds. – Grant funds may be used for the following 26
	79	+	activities: 27
	80	+	(1) Strengthening existing high school dual enrollment programs to offer 28
	81	+	education-based college credit or honors courses as streamlined pathways for 29
	82	+	future careers in education. 30
	83	+	(2) Implementing targeted school system-level and community-based recruitment 31
	84	+	programs for aspiring educators of color interested in traditional and 32
	85	+	alternative educator preparation programs. 33
	86	+	(3) Utilizing and leveraging existing financial aid programs that include 34
	87	+	scholarships, loan forgiveness, and tuition reimbursement that reduce the 35
	88	+	disproportionate financial burden incurred by aspiring candidates of color. 36
	89	+	(4) Increasing preparation and supporting preservice educators of color through 37
	90	+	paid clinical learning experiences, with a commitment to teaching in North 38
	91	+	Carolina public schools. 39
	92	+	(5) Offering support for job placement and licensure for candidates of color after 40
	93	+	completing their educator preparation program. 41
	94	+	(6) Providing induction and mentoring programs that address the needs of 42
	95	+	educators of color that include sustaining networking and professional 43
	96	+	learning communities or affinity groups. 44
	97	+	(7) Encouraging and financially supporting educators of color interested in 45
	98	+	joining national professional organizations or attending national conferences. 46
	99	+	SECTION 2.(d) Request for Proposal. – By October 1, 2025, the State Board of 47
	100	+	Education shall issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the grant program. Applicants shall submit 48
	101	+	their proposals by December 1, 2025. The RFP shall require that proposals include the following 49
	102	+	information, at a minimum: 50
	103	+	(1) Description of the proposal. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH40457-MTa-111 Page 3
	105	+	(2) Evidence-based research that supports the proposal. 1
	106	+	(3) An implementation time line for the plan. 2
	107	+	(4) Plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. 3
	108	+	SECTION 2.(e) Selection. – By February 1, 2026, a selection committee shall select 4
	109	+	up to five grantees, making the effort to ensure that there is representation across the State as 5
	110	+	reflected by rural and urban districts, institutions of higher education, and community-based 6
	111	+	partners. Any grants awarded may be spent over a five-year period from the initial award. Grants 7
	112	+	may be awarded for new or existing projects. 8
	113	+	SECTION 2.(f) Reporting Requirements. – No later than September 1 of each year, 9
	114	+	grant recipients shall submit to the State Board of Education an annual report for the preceding 10
	115	+	grant year that describes the implementation of the program. This report must include qualitative 11
	116	+	and quantitative data to demonstrate program effectiveness. 12
	117	+	SECTION 2.(g) Evaluation and Reporting. – Of the funds appropriated by this 13
	118	+	section, the State Board of Education may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) 14
	119	+	to contract with the DRIVE Network, housed at the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Inc., 15
	120	+	to evaluate the impact of this grant program. The DRIVE Network shall report the results of this 16
	121	+	evaluation to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, 17
	122	+	and the Office of State Budget and Management by September 1, 2027. The State Board of 18
	123	+	Education shall report annually on the implementation of this grant program beginning January 19
	124	+	1, 2027. 20
	125	+	SECTION 2.(h) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 21
	126	+	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in recurring 22
	127	+	funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program in accordance with this 23
	128	+	section. 24
	129	+	SECTION 2.(i) Carryforward. – Any unexpended funds at the end of each fiscal 25
	130	+	year from the funds appropriated for the grant program under this section shall not revert to the 26
	131	+	General Fund but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes set forth in this section. 27
	132	+	28
	133	+	PART III. RECRUITMENT BONUS PILOT PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS IN 29
	134	+	LOW-WEALTH, LOW-PERFORMING, OR HIGH-NEEDS SCHOOLS 30
	135	+	SECTION 3.(a) Purpose. – The State Board of Education shall establish a grant 31
	136	+	program to assist local school administrative units in providing multiyear recruitment bonuses to 32
	137	+	certified teachers who commit to teach multiple years in a low-performing or high-needs school. 33
	138	+	Bonuses awarded as part of this grant program shall include, but are not limited to, the following 34
	139	+	components: 35
	140	+	(1) Awards over multiple years with a requirement that teachers remain in the 36
	141	+	school over multiple years to receive the bonus. 37
	142	+	(2) Awards to licensed teachers who commit to teach in a school identified as 38
	143	+	low-performing, as defined in G.S. 115C-105.37, a school identified as 39
	144	+	continually low-performing as defined in G.S. 115C-105.37A, or a school 40
	145	+	with an identified student percentage (ISP) of seventy-five percent (75%) or 41
	146	+	greater as used in the National School Lunch Program for qualification for the 42
	147	+	Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Program. 43
	148	+	SECTION 3.(b) Request for Proposal. – By September 1, 2025, and annually 44
	149	+	thereafter, the State Board of Education shall issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the grant 45
	150	+	program. Local boards of education shall submit their proposals by December 1, 2025. The RFP 46
	151	+	shall require that proposals include the following information, at a minimum: 47
	152	+	(1) Description of the proposal, including details on targeted schools for the 48
	153	+	bonuses and how the bonus program will be structured. 49
	154	+	(2) Evidence-based research that supports the proposal. 50
	155	+	(3) Implementation time line for the plan. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	156	+	Page 4 DRH40457-MTa-111
	157	+	(4) Plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. 1
	158	+	SECTION 3.(c) Grant Awards. – By February 15, 2026, the State Board of 2
	159	+	Education shall review the proposals submitted by local boards of education and shall select up 3
	160	+	to 10 local school administrative units for grant awards. The State Board of Education may make 4
	161	+	grant awards for up to three years. A local school administrative unit may not receive more than 5
	162	+	five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in a single fiscal year from the grant program. 6
	163	+	SECTION 3.(d) Evaluation and Reporting. – Of the funds appropriated by this 7
	164	+	section, the State Board of Education may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) 8
	165	+	to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant 9
	166	+	program. The independent research organization shall report the results of this evaluation to the 10
	167	+	Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office 11
	168	+	of State Budget and Management by September 1, 2028. The Department of Public Instruction 12
	169	+	shall report annually on the implementation of this grant program beginning March 1, 2026. 13
	170	+	SECTION 3.(e) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 14
	171	+	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in recurring 15
	172	+	funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program in accordance with this 16
	173	+	section. 17
	174	+	SECTION 3.(f) Carryforward. – Any unexpended funds appropriated under this 18
	175	+	section at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund but shall 19
	176	+	remain available for the purposes set forth in this section. 20
	177	+	21
	178	+	PART IV. TEACHER PREPARATION RESIDENCY PILOT GRANT PROGRAM 22
	179	+	SECTION 4.(a) Purpose. – The State Board of Education shall establish a grant 23
	180	+	program to assist local school administrative units in the development of teacher preparation 24
	181	+	residency pilot programs. Teacher preparation residency programs provide the necessary 25
	182	+	preparation and induction supports to teacher preparation candidates pursuing a continuing 26
	183	+	professional license. Teacher preparation residency programs eligible to receive grant funding 27
	184	+	through this program shall include, at a minimum, the following components: 28
	185	+	(1) Coursework in the candidate's area of licensure. 29
	186	+	(2) Tuition and stipends. 30
	187	+	(3) Faculty advising. 31
	188	+	(4) Clinical training experiences. 32
	189	+	(5) Ongoing induction support. 33
	190	+	Residency programs eligible for this grant program may include partnerships between 34
	191	+	local school administrative units, educator preparation programs, local community colleges or 35
	192	+	universities, and other community organizations. Grant funds awarded to local school 36
	193	+	administrative units under this program shall be matched by the local school administrative unit 37
	194	+	on the basis of one dollar ($1.00) in nongrant funds for every one dollar ($1.00) in grant funds. 38
	195	+	SECTION 4.(b) Request for Proposal. – By October 1, 2025, the State Board of 39
	196	+	Education shall issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the grant program. Local boards of 40
	197	+	education shall submit their proposals by January 15, 2026. The RFP shall require that proposals 41
	198	+	include the following information, at a minimum: 42
	199	+	(1) Description of the proposal, including the number of teacher preparation 43
	200	+	candidates to be served. 44
	201	+	(2) Evidence-based research that supports the proposal. 45
	202	+	(3) Implementation time line for the plan. 46
	203	+	(4) Plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. 47
	204	+	SECTION 4.(c) Grant Awards. – By April 15, 2026, the State Board of Education 48
	205	+	shall review the proposals submitted by local boards of education and shall select up to 10 local 49
	206	+	school administrative units for grant awards. The State Board of Education may make grant 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	207	+	DRH40457-MTa-111 Page 5
	208	+	awards for up to three years. A local school administrative unit may not receive more than five 1
	209	+	hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in a single fiscal year from this grant program. 2
	210	+	SECTION 4.(d) Evaluation and Reporting. – Of the funds appropriated by this 3
	211	+	section, the State Board of Education may use up to three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) 4
	212	+	to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant 5
	213	+	program. The independent research organization shall report the results of this evaluation to the 6
	214	+	Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Fiscal Research Division, and the Office 7
	215	+	of State Budget and Management by September 1, 2029. The Department of Public Instruction 8
	216	+	shall report annually on the implementation of this grant program beginning March 1, 2027. 9
	217	+	SECTION 4.(e) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 10
	218	+	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in recurring 11
	219	+	funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program in accordance with this 12
	220	+	section. 13
	221	+	SECTION 4.(f) Carryforward. – Any unexpended funds appropriated under this 14
	222	+	section at the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund but shall 15
	223	+	remain available for the purposes set forth in this section. 16
	224	+	17
	225	+	PART V. EXPANSION OF FELS PROGRAM/ENCOURAGE DIVE RSITY 18
	226	+	SECTION 5.1. G.S. 116-209.45(e) reads as rewritten: 19
	227	+	"(e) Eligibility for Loans. – The Authority shall establish the criteria for initial and 20
	228	+	continuing eligibility to participate in the Program. All loan recipients shall be residents of North 21
	229	+	Carolina and shall attend an eligible institution. 22
	230	+	The Authority shall adopt standards deemed appropriate by the Authority to ensure that only 23
	231	+	qualified, potential recipients receive a loan under the Program. The standards may include 24
	232	+	minimum grade point average and satisfactory academic progress. The Authority shall include 25
	233	+	individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for teacher licensure as 26
	234	+	potential recipients to receive a loan under the Program." 27
	235	+	SECTION 5.2. G.S. 116-209.45(g) reads as rewritten: 28
	236	+	"(g) Advisory Group. – The Authority shall appoint an advisory group composed of, at 29
	237	+	minimum, appropriate representatives from higher education institutions and health and labor 30
	238	+	departments, agencies, or commissions to make recommendations to the Authority regarding the 31
	239	+	Authority's future apportionment and distribution of Program loans based on projected labor 32
	240	+	market shortages, higher education enrollment projections, and other relevant information. The 33
	241	+	Advisory Group shall also make recommendations to the Authority regarding strategies to 34
	242	+	encourage participation in the Program for potential recipients of color, specifically among 35
	243	+	individuals pursuing teacher licensure." 36
	244	+	37
	245	+	PART VI. EXPAND NC TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM 38
	246	+	SECTION 6.(a) Part 3 of Article 23 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes reads as 39
	247	+	rewritten: 40
	248	+	"Part 3. North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 41
	249	+	"§ 116-209.60. Definitions. 42
	250	+	The following definitions apply in this Part: 43
	251	+	(1) Commission. – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission. 44
	252	+	(2) Director. – The Director of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 45
	253	+	(3) Forgivable loan. – A forgivable loan made under the Program. 46
	254	+	(4) Program. – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 47
	255	+	(5) Public school. – An elementary or secondary school located in North Carolina 48
	256	+	that is governed by a local board of education, charter school board of 49
	257	+	directors, regional school board of directors, or University of North Carolina 50
	258	+	laboratory school board of trustees. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	259	+	Page 6 DRH40457-MTa-111
	260	+	(5a) Qualifying licensure area. – A teacher licensure area in one of the following 1
	261	+	subjects: 2
	262	+	a. Either of the following, as identified pursuant to G.S. 116-209.62(h): 3
	263	+	1. Special education. 4
	264	+	2. STEM. 5
	265	+	b. Elementary education (K-6). 6
	266	+	(5b) Qualifying teacher. – A teacher in a North Carolina public school who meets 7
	267	+	the following criteria: 8
	268	+	a. Received a forgivable loan under the Program. 9
	269	+	b. Graduated within 10 years from an educator preparation program 10
	270	+	leading to teacher licensure, excluding any authorized deferment for 11
	271	+	extenuating circumstances. 12
	272	+	c. Serves as a teacher in a qualifying licensure area. 13
	273	+	(6) STEM. – Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 14
	274	+	(7) Trust Fund. – The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund. 15
	275	+	… 16
	276	+	"§ 116-209.62. North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program established; administration. 17
	277	+	(a) Program. – There is established the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program to be 18
	278	+	administered by the System Office of The University of North Carolina, in conjunction with the 19
	279	+	Authority and the Commission. The purpose of the Program is to recruit, prepare, and support 20
	280	+	students residing in or attending institutions of higher education located in North Carolina for 21
	281	+	preparation as highly effective teachers in qualifying licensure areas in the State's public schools. 22
	282	+	The Program shall be used to provide a forgivable loan to individuals interested in preparing to 23
	283	+	teach in the public schools of the State in qualifying licensure areas.State. 24
	284	+	(b) Trust Fund. – There is established the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program 25
	285	+	Trust Fund to be administered by the Authority, in conjunction with the System Office of The 26
	286	+	University of North Carolina. All funds (i) appropriated to, or otherwise received by, the Program 27
	287	+	for forgivable loans and other Program purposes, (ii) received as repayment of forgivable loans, 28
	288	+	and (iii) earned as interest on these funds shall be placed in the Trust Fund. The purpose of the 29
	289	+	Trust Fund is to provide financial assistance to qualified students for completion of teacher 30
	290	+	education and licensure programs to fill qualifying licensure areas teach in the public schools of 31
	291	+	the State. 32
	292	+	… 33
	293	+	(d) Director of the Program. – The Board of Governors of The University of North 34
	294	+	Carolina shall appoint a Director of the Program. The Director shall appoint staff to the 35
	295	+	Commission and shall be responsible for recruitment and coordination of the Program, including 36
	296	+	proactive, aggressive, and strategic recruitment of potential recipients. Efforts shall include 37
	297	+	identifying and encouraging students of color and students who may not otherwise consider a 38
	298	+	career in teaching to enter the Program. Recruitment activities shall include a broad-based 39
	299	+	strategy (i) targeting regions of the State with the highest teacher attrition rates and teacher 40
	300	+	recruitment challenges, challenges and (ii) actively engaging with educators, business leaders, 41
	301	+	experts in human resources, elected officials, and other community leaders throughout the State, 42
	302	+	and (iii) attracting candidates in qualifying licensure areas to the Program. State to attract a 43
	303	+	diverse pool of applicants. The Director shall report to the President of The University of North 44
	304	+	Carolina. The Authority shall provide office space and clerical support staff, as necessary, to the 45
	305	+	Director for the Program. 46
	306	+	(e) Student Selection Criteria for Forgivable Loans. – The Commission shall adopt 47
	307	+	stringent standards for awarding forgivable loans based on multiple measures to ensure that only 48
	308	+	the strongest applicants receive them, including the following: 49
	309	+	(1) Grade point averages. 50
	310	+	(2) Performance on relevant career and college readiness assessments. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	311	+	DRH40457-MTa-111 Page 7
	312	+	(3) Experience, accomplishments, and other criteria demonstrating qualities 1
	313	+	positively correlated with highly effective teachers, including excellent verbal 2
	314	+	and communication skills. 3
	315	+	(4) Demonstrated commitment to serve in a qualifying licensure area in North 4
	316	+	Carolina public schools. 5
	317	+	(f) Program Selection Criteria. – The Authority shall administer the Program in 6
	318	+	cooperation with up to 10 any institutions of higher education with approved a State Board of 7
	319	+	Education-approved educator preparation programs program selected by the Commission that 8
	320	+	represent a diverse selection of both postsecondary constituent institutions of The University of 9
	321	+	North Carolina and private postsecondary institutions operating in the State. The Commission 10
	322	+	shall adopt stringent standards for selection of the most effective educator preparation programs, 11
	323	+	including the following: 12
	324	+	(1) Demonstrates high rates of educator effectiveness on value-added models and 13
	325	+	teacher evaluations, including using performance-based, subject-specific 14
	326	+	assessment and support systems, such as edTPA or other metrics of evaluating 15
	327	+	candidate effectiveness that have predictive validity. 16
	328	+	(2) Demonstrates measurable impact of prior graduates on student learning, 17
	329	+	including impact of graduates teaching in qualifying licensure areas. 18
	330	+	(3) Demonstrates high rates of graduates passing exams required for teacher 19
	331	+	licensure. 20
	332	+	(4) Provides curricular and co-curricular enhancements in leadership, facilitates 21
	333	+	learning for diverse learners, and promotes community engagement, 22
	334	+	classroom management, and reflection and assessment. 23
	335	+	(5) Requires at least a minor concentration of study in the subject area that the 24
	336	+	candidate may teach. 25
	337	+	(6) Provides early and frequent internship or practical experiences, including the 26
	338	+	opportunity for participants to perform practicums in diverse school 27
	339	+	environments. 28
	340	+	(7) Is approved by the State Board of Education as an educator preparation 29
	341	+	program. 30
	342	+	(8) For an educator preparation program enrolling loan recipients in a program of 31
	343	+	study leading to licensure in elementary education (K-6), provides training 32
	344	+	that is aligned with the Science of Reading in accordance with 33
	345	+	G.S. 115C-269.20. The Commission shall contract with a third-party entity to 34
	346	+	biennially evaluate whether a program identified in this subdivision is 35
	347	+	providing training that is aligned with the Science of Reading. 36
	348	+	(g) Awards of Forgivable Loans. – The Program shall provide forgivable loans to selected 37
	349	+	students to be used at up to 10 selected institutions for completion of a program leading to initial 38
	350	+	teacher licensure as follows: 39
	351	+	(1) North Carolina high school seniors. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand 40
	352	+	dollars ($5,000) per semester for up to eight semesters.ten thousand dollars 41
	353	+	($10,000) per academic year for up to four academic years. 42
	354	+	(2) Students applying for transfer to a selected educator preparation program at 43
	355	+	an institution of higher education. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand 44
	356	+	dollars ($5,000) per semester for up to six semesters.ten thousand dollars 45
	357	+	($10,000) per academic year for up to four academic years. 46
	358	+	(3) Individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for 47
	359	+	teacher licensure. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) 48
	360	+	per semester for up to four semesters.ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per 49
	361	+	academic year for up to two academic years. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	362	+	Page 8 DRH40457-MTa-111
	363	+	(4) Students matriculating at institutions of higher education who are changing to 1
	364	+	an approved program of study at a selected educator preparation program. – 2
	365	+	Forgivable loans of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per semester for up 3
	366	+	to four semesters.ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per academic year for up to 4
	367	+	four academic years. 5
	368	+	Forgivable loans may be used for tuition, fees, the cost of books, and expenses related to 6
	369	+	obtaining licensure. 7
	370	+	(h) Identification of STEM and Special Education Licensure Areas. – The Superintendent 8
	371	+	of Public Instruction shall identify and provide to the Commission and the Authority a list of 9
	372	+	STEM and special education licensure areas and shall annually provide to the Commission the 10
	373	+	number of available positions in each qualifying licensure area relative to the number of current 11
	374	+	and anticipated teachers in that area of licensure. The Commission shall make the list of STEM 12
	375	+	and special education licensure areas readily available to applicants. 13
	376	+	(i) Administration of Forgivable Loan Awards. – Upon the naming of recipients of the 14
	377	+	forgivable loans by the Commission, the Commission shall transfer to the Authority its decisions. 15
	378	+	The Authority, in coordination with the Director, shall perform all of the administrative functions 16
	379	+	necessary to implement this Part, which functions shall include rule making, disseminating 17
	380	+	information, acting as a liaison with participating institutions of higher education, implementing 18
	381	+	forgivable loan agreements, loan monitoring, loan cancelling through service and collection, 19
	382	+	determining the acceptability of service repayment agreements, enforcing the agreements, and 20
	383	+	all other functions necessary for the execution, payment, and enforcement of promissory notes 21
	384	+	required under this Part. 22
	385	+	(j) Annual Report. – The Commission, in coordination with the Authority, the 23
	386	+	Department of Public Instruction, and the selected educator education programs participating in 24
	387	+	the Program shall report no later than January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, to the Joint 25
	388	+	Legislative Education Oversight Committee regarding the following: 26
	389	+	(1) Forgivable loans awarded from the Trust Fund, including the following: 27
	390	+	a. Demographic information regarding recipients. 28
	391	+	b. Number of recipients by institution of higher education and program. 29
	392	+	c. Information on number of recipients by anticipated qualifying 30
	393	+	licensure area. 31
	394	+	(2) Placement and repayment rates, including the following: 32
	395	+	a. Number of graduates who have been employed in a qualifying 33
	396	+	licensure area within two years of program completion. 34
	397	+	b. Number of graduates who accepted employment at a low-performing 35
	398	+	school identified under G.S. 115C-105.37 as part of their years of 36
	399	+	service. 37
	400	+	c. Number of graduates who have elected to do loan repayment and their 38
	401	+	years of service, if any, prior to beginning loan repayment. 39
	402	+	d. Number of graduates employed in a qualifying licensure area who 40
	403	+	have received an overall rating of at least accomplished and have met 41
	404	+	expected growth on applicable standards of the teacher evaluation 42
	405	+	instrument. 43
	406	+	e. Aggregate information on student growth and proficiency in courses 44
	407	+	taught by graduates who have fulfilled service requirements through 45
	408	+	employment in a qualifying licensure area.employment. 46
	409	+	…." 47
	410	+	SECTION 6.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina 48
	411	+	Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund the sum of five million seven hundred thousand dollars 49
	412	+	($5,700,000) in recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to support an additional 490 teacher 50
	413	+	licensure candidates. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	414	+	DRH40457-MTa-111 Page 9
	415	+	SECTION 6.(c) Subsection (a) of this section applies to applications for the award 1
	416	+	of funds beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. 2
463	417		3
464		-	PART IX. EFFECTIVE DATE 4
465		-	SECTION 9. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 5
	418	+	PART VII. PEPSC/EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM REPORTING CHANGES 4
	419	+	SECTION 7.1. G.S. 115C-269.35(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to 5
	420	+	read: 6
	421	+	"(12a) The percentage of students of color enrolling in and completing the program. 7
	422	+	For the purposes of this subsection, a student of color means a student 8
	423	+	identifying as Hispanic, African American, Asian, American Indian, Native 9
	424	+	Hawaiian, or of two or more races." 10
	425	+	SECTION 7.2. G.S. 115C-269.50 reads as rewritten: 11
	426	+	"§ 115C-269.50. EPP report cards.cards; report on diversity. 12
	427	+	(a) EPP Report Card. – The State Board shall create an annual report card for each EPP 13
	428	+	that, at a minimum, summarizes the information collected in the annual performance reports, as 14
	429	+	set forth in G.S. 115C-269.35(b). The report cards shall provide user-friendly access to the 15
	430	+	public, and shall provide the ability to easily compare annual report card information between 16
	431	+	EPPs, including performance and other data reported by each EPP, as provided in 17
	432	+	G.S. 115C-269.35(b). The State Board shall make the report cards available to the public through 18
	433	+	the State Board's Internet Web site on an annual basis beginning December 15, 2019, and shall 19
	434	+	submit the report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee annually by that date. 20
	435	+	(b) Annual Report on Diversity. – Each educator preparation program shall report to the 21
	436	+	State Board the following information on an annual basis regarding the diversity of identified 22
	437	+	persons disaggregated by the following diversity categories: race, sex, ethnicity, age, and 23
	438	+	disability status: 24
	439	+	(1) Total number of identified persons. 25
	440	+	(2) Retention rates of identified persons who are employees of the program. 26
	441	+	(3) The number of students who complete the program, the number of graduates 27
	442	+	licensed in North Carolina, and the number of graduates employed in a public 28
	443	+	school unit. 29
	444	+	(4) Qualitative data from identified persons on the diversity of the program, 30
	445	+	including applicable information on recruitment, educator preparation, 31
	446	+	retention, mobility, and turnover. 32
	447	+	(5) Recommendations from the program to improve diversity of identified 33
	448	+	persons, including strategies to recruit and retain a diverse pool of identified 34
	449	+	persons. 35
	450	+	(c) Beginning June 15, 2026, and every June 15 thereafter, the State Board shall collect 36
	451	+	the information from the annual report from the educator preparation programs under subsection 37
	452	+	(b) of this section and report the results to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, 38
	453	+	disaggregated by diversity category: 39
	454	+	(1) Statewide data for each educator preparation program. 40
	455	+	(2) Recommendations from the State Board to improve diversity among 41
	456	+	identified persons in programs, including strategies to recruit and retain a 42
	457	+	diverse pool of identified persons." 43
	458	+	44
	459	+	PART VIII. ELIMINATE MINIMUM TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATOR 45
	460	+	PREPARATION PROGRAM ADMISSION 46
	461	+	SECTION 8.(a) G.S. 115C-269.15(a) is repealed. 47
	462	+	SECTION 8.(b) This section applies beginning with applications for admission to 48
	463	+	an EPP in the 2025-2026 academic year. 49
	464	+	50
	465	+	PART IX. EFFECTIVE DATE 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	466	+	Page 10 DRH40457-MTa-111
	467	+	SECTION 9. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 1