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--- version:Edition 1+++ version:Filed@@ -1,19 +1,18 @@GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINASESSION 2025-H 1-HOUSE BILL 807+H D+HOUSE BILL DRH30338-MTa-71BShort Title: Strong Public Schools for a Strong NC. (Public)-Sponsors: Representatives von Haefen, Baker, Prather, and F. Jackson (Primary Sponsors).-For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.-Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House-April 8, 2025-*H807-v-1*+Sponsors: Representative von Haefen.+Referred to:++*DRH30338-MTa-71B*A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-AN ACT TO APPROPRIAT E FUNDS TO RAISE SAL ARIES FOR TEACHERS, TO 2+AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO RAISE SALARIES FOR TEACHER S, TO 2PROVIDE FUNDS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, TO PROVIDE BREAKFAST 3-AND LUNCH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT NO COST T O STUDENTS THROUGH A N 4-ALLOCATION BASED ON SCHOOL FOOD AUTHORIT Y EVALUATIONS, TO 5+AND LUNCH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT NO COST TO STUDENTS THROUGH AN 4+ALLOCATION BASED ON SCHOOL FOOD AUTHORITY EVALUATIONS , TO 5PROVIDE FOR A ONE -TO-ONE DEVICE REFRESH FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND 6TO REVISE THE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. 7The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8@@ -42,334 +41,337 @@15-24 $5,588 3125+ $5,795 32SECTION 1.(b) Salary Supplements for Teachers Paid on This Salary Schedule. – 33-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 2 House Bill 807-First Edition-(1) Licensed teachers who have NBPTS certification shall receive a salary 1-supplement each month of twelve percent (12%) of their monthly salary on 2-the "A" salary schedule. 3-(2) Licensed teachers who are classified as "M" teachers shall receive a salary 4-supplement each month of ten percent (10%) of their monthly salary on the 5-"A" salary schedule. 6-(3) Licensed teachers with licensure based on academic preparation at the 7-six-year degree level sha ll receive a salary supplement of one hundred 8-twenty-six dollars ($126.00) per month in addition to the supplement provided 9-to them as "M" teachers. 10-(4) Licensed teachers with licensure based on academic preparation at the 11-doctoral degree level shall recei ve a salary supplement of two hundred 12-fifty-three dollars ($253.00) per month in addition to the supplement provided 13-to them as "M" teachers. 14-(5) Certified school nurses shall receive a salary supplement each month of ten 15-percent (10%) of their monthly salary on the "A" salary schedule. 16-(6) School counselors who are licensed as counselors at the master's degree level 17-or higher shall receive a salary supplement of one hundred dollars ($100.00) 18-per month. 19-SECTION 1.(c) For school psychologists, school speech pathologists who are 20-licensed as speech pathologists at the master's degree level or higher, and school audiologists 21-who are licensed as audiologists at the master's degree level or higher, the following shall apply: 22-(1) The first step of the salary schedule shall be equivalent to the sixth step of the 23-"A" salary schedule. 24-(2) These employees shall receive the following salary supplements each month: 25-a. Ten percent (10%) of their monthly salary, excluding the supplement 26-provided pursuant to sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision. 27-b. Five hundred dollars ($500.00). 28-(3) These employees are eligible to receive salary supplements equivalent to those 29-of teachers for academic preparation at the six -year degree level or the 30-doctoral degree level. 31-(4) The twenty -sixth step of the salary schedule shall be seven and one -half 32-percent (7.5%) higher than the salary received by these same employees on 33-the twenty-fifth step of the salary schedule. 34-SECTION 1.(d) Beginning with the 2014 -2015 fiscal year, in lieu of providin g 35-annual longevity payments to teachers paid on the teacher salary schedule, the amounts of those 36-longevity payments are included in the monthly amounts under the teacher salary schedule. 37-SECTION 1.(e) A teacher compensated in accordance with this salary schedule for 38-the 2025-2026 school year shall receive an amount equal to the greater of the following: 39-(1) The applicable amount on the salary schedule for the applicable school year. 40-(2) For teachers who were eligible for longevity for the 2013 -2014 school year, 41-the sum of the following: 42-a. The salary the teacher received in the 2013-2014 school year pursuant 43-to Section 35.11 of S.L. 2013-360. 44-b. The longevity that the teacher would have received under the longevity 45-system in effect for the 2013 -2014 school year provided in Section 46-35.11 of S.L. 2013-360 based on the teacher's current years of service. 47-c. The annual bonus provided in Section 9.1(e) of S.L. 2014-100. 48-(3) For teachers who were not eligible for longevity for the 2013 -2014 school 49-year, the sum o f the salary and annual bonus the teacher received in the 50-2014-2015 school year pursuant to Section 9.1 of S.L. 2014-100. 51-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-House Bill 807-First Edition Page 3-SECTION 1.(f) As used in this section, the term "teacher" shall also include 1-instructional support personnel. 2-SECTION 1.(g) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 3-Public Instruction for the 2025-2026 fiscal year the sum of four hundred six million three hundred 4-thousand dollars ($406,300,000) in recurring funds to implement the teacher raises provided in 5-this section. 6- 7-PART II. FUNDS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES 8-SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-111.05 reads as rewritten: 9-"§ 115C-111.05. Funding for children with disabilities. 10-To the extent funds are made available for this purpose, the State Board shall allocate funds 11-for children with disabilities to each local school administrative unit on a per child basis. Each 12-local school administrative unit shall receive funds for the le sser of (i) all children who are 13-identified as children with disabilities or (ii) thirteen percent (13%) of its allocated average daily 14-membership in the local school administrative unit for the current school year.year on the basis 15-of the reported cost of the services provided." 16-SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 17-Public Instruction the sum of eighty -nine million four hundred thousand dollars ($89,400,000) 18-in recurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year and one hundred nine million two hundred 19-thousand dollars ($109,200,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year to 20-implement the plan for weighted funding for children with disabilities on the basis of the reported 21-cost of services provided developed by the Department of Public Instruction pursuant to Section 22-7.7 of S.L. 2023-134. The Department shall begin distributing funds for children with disabilities 23-based on this model beginning with the 2025 -2026 school year. The nonrecurring funds 24-appropriated to the Department by this section shall not revert but shall remain available until the 25-end of the 2027-2028 fiscal year. 26+(1) Licensed teachers who have NBPTS certification shall receive a salary 34+supplement each month of twelve percent (12%) of their monthly salary on 35+the "A" salary schedule. 36+H.B. 807+Apr 7, 2025+HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+Page 2 DRH30338-MTa-71B+(2) Licensed teachers who are classified as "M" teachers shall receive a salary 1+supplement each month of ten percent (10%) of their monthly salary on the 2+"A" salary schedule. 3+(3) Licensed teachers with licensure based on academic preparation at the 4+six-year degree level shall receive a salary supplement of one hundred 5+twenty-six dollars ($126.00) per month in addition to the supplement provided 6+to them as "M" teachers. 7+(4) Licensed teachers with licensure based on academic preparation at the 8+doctoral degree level shall receive a salary supplement of two hundred 9+fifty-three dollars ($253.00) per month in addition to the supplement provided 10+to them as "M" teachers. 11+(5) Certified school nurses shall receive a salary supplement each month of ten 12+percent (10%) of their monthly salary on the "A" salary schedule. 13+(6) School counselors who are licensed as counselors at the master's degree level 14+or higher shall receive a salary supplement of one hundred dollars ($100.00) 15+per month. 16+SECTION 1.(c) For school psychologists, school speech pathologists who are 17+licensed as speech pathologists at the master 's degree level or higher, and school audiologists 18+who are licensed as audiologists at the master's degree level or higher, the following shall apply: 19+(1) The first step of the salary schedule shall be equivalent to the sixth step of the 20+"A" salary schedule. 21+(2) These employees shall receive the following salary supplements each month: 22+a. Ten percent (10%) of their monthly salary, excluding the supplement 23+provided pursuant to sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision. 24+b. Five hundred dollars ($500.00). 25+(3) These employees are eligible to receive salary supplements equivalent to those 26+of teachers for academic preparation at the six -year degree level or the 27+doctoral degree level. 28+(4) The twenty -sixth step of the salary schedule shall be seven and one -half 29+percent (7.5%) higher than the salary received by these same employees on 30+the twenty-fifth step of the salary schedule. 31+SECTION 1.(d) Beginning with the 2014 -2015 fiscal year, in lieu of providing 32+annual longevity payments to teachers paid on the teacher salary schedule, the amounts of those 33+longevity payments are included in the monthly amounts under the teacher salary schedule. 34+SECTION 1.(e) A teacher compensated in accordance with this salary schedule for 35+the 2025-2026 school year shall receive an amount equal to the greater of the following: 36+(1) The applicable amount on the salary schedule for the applicable school year. 37+(2) For teachers who were eligible for longevity for the 2013 -2014 school year, 38+the sum of the following: 39+a. The salary the teacher received in the 2013-2014 school year pursuant 40+to Section 35.11 of S.L. 2013-360. 41+b. The longevity that the teacher would have received under the longevity 42+system in effect for the 2013 -2014 school year provided in Section 43+35.11 of S.L. 2013-360 based on the teacher's current years of service. 44+c. The annual bonus provided in Section 9.1(e) of S.L. 2014-100. 45+(3) For teachers who were not eligible for longevity for the 2013 -2014 school 46+year, the sum of the salary and annual bonus the teacher received in the 47+2014-2015 school year pursuant to Section 9.1 of S.L. 2014-100. 48+SECTION 1.(f) As used in this section, the term "teacher" shall also include 49+instructional support personnel. 50+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+DRH30338-MTa-71B Page 3+SECTION 1.(g) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 1+Public Instruction for the 2025-2026 fiscal year the sum of four hundred six million three hundred 2+thousand dollars ($406,300,000) in recurring funds to implement the teacher raises provided in 3+this section. 4+ 5+PART II. FUNDS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES 6+SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 115C-111.05 reads as rewritten: 7+"§ 115C-111.05. Funding for children with disabilities. 8+To the extent funds are made available for this purpose, the State Board shall allocate funds 9+for children with disabilities to each local school administrative unit on a per child basis. Each 10+local school administrative unit shall receive funds for the lesser of (i) all children who are 11+identified as children with disabilities or (ii) thirteen percent (13%) of its allocated average daily 12+membership in the local school administrative unit for the current school year.year on the basis 13+of the reported cost of the services provided." 14+SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 15+Public Instruction the sum of eighty -nine million four hundred thousand dollars ($89,400,000) 16+in recurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year and one hundred nine million two hundred 17+thousand dollars ($109,200,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year to 18+implement the plan for weighted funding for children with disabilities on the basis of the reported 19+cost of services provided developed by the Department of Public Instruction pursuant to Section 20+7.7 of S.L. 2023-134. The Department shall begin distributing funds for children with disabilities 21+based on this model beginning with the 2025 -2026 school year. The nonrecurring funds 22+appropriated to the Department by this section shall not revert but shall remain available until the 23+end of the 2027-2028 fiscal year. 24+ 25+PART III. PROVIDE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT NO COST 26+TO STUDENTS THROUGH AN ALLOCATION BASED ON SCHOOL FOOD 27+AUTHORITY EVALUATIONS 28+SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 115C-263 reads as rewritten: 29+"§ 115C-263. School nutrition services. 30+(a) As a part of the function of the public school system, local boards of education public 31+school units shall have a school food authority to provide to the extent practicable school nutrition 32+services in the schools under their jurisdiction. The school food authority shall offer students two 33+meals per day, breakfast and lunch, at no cost to the student. All school nutrition services made 34+available under this authority shall be provided in accordance with federal guidelines established 35+by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. 36+(b) The To the extent that funds are made available for the purpose, the State Board of 37+Education shall allocate funds to school food authorities at public school units for the purpose of 38+providing healthy nutrition services at no cost to students . In issuing the allocation, the Board 39+shall do the following: 40+(1) Determine the amount to allocate to each school food authority based on an 41+evaluation of the authority's nutrition services. The Board shall develop the 42+method and criteria for the evaluation, which, at a minimum, shall account for 43+the following: 44+a. The size of the school s served by the school food authority as 45+determined by Average Daily Membership. 46+b. The number of students that are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch 47+and the estimated receipts from the National School Lunch Program. 48+c. The funds actually expended in the prior year, which may be waived 49+if the school food authority was not in operation in the year prior. 50+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+Page 4 DRH30338-MTa-71B+d. The extent to which the nutrition services promote health and wellness 1+by providing food that is of high quality and nutrient content. 2+e. The extent to which the school food authority uses locally sourced 3+food and products. 4+f. Any other information t he Board deems relevant to the cost and 5+operation of the nutrition services. 6+(2) Ensure the funds are distributed on a fair and equitable basis. 7+(3) Issue the allocation at the beginning of each fiscal year, except that the Board 8+may reserve for future allocation a reasonable amount, not to exceed ten 9+percent (10%) of the total funds available for providing nutrition services. 10+(c) The State Board of Education may adopt rules regulating the provision of school 11+nutrition that impose additional restrictions that are not inconsistent with the federal guidelines. 12+(d) Funds allocated pursuant to this section shall supplement and not supplant funds from 13+any other source provided for the same purpose." 14+SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 115C-264(a) reads as rewritten: 15+"(a) Local boards of education operating school nutrition programs shall participate in the 16+federal National School Lunch Program established by the federal government. and, if eligible, 17+the Community Eligibility Provision Program. School nutrition programs shall be under the 18+jurisdiction of the Division of School Nutrition of the Department of Public Instruction." 19+SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 115C-150.14 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20+"(a1) A school governed by this Article shall provide school nutrition services in 21+accordance with G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264." 22+SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 23+"(p) A charter school shall provide school nutrition services in accordance with 24+G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264." 25+SECTION 3.(e) G.S. 115C-238.72(b) reads as rewritten: 26+"(b) Food Nutrition Service. – The local school administrative unit identified by resolution 27+shall provide, to the extent practicable, school food provide school nutrition services to the 28+regional school. school in accordance with G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264. For purposes of 29+federal funding through the National School Lunch Program or other federally supported food 30+nutrition service programs, the local school administrative unit identified by resolution shall be 31+permitted to include eligible students enrolled in the regional school. Other participating units 32+shall not include students enrolled in the regional school for purposes of federally supported food 33+nutrition service programs." 34+SECTION 3.(f) G.S. 116-239.8(b)(4)c. reads as rewritten: 35+"c. Food Nutrition services. – The laboratory school shall strive to ensure 36+that one hundred percent (100%) muscadine grape juice is made 37+available to students as a part of the school 's nutrition program or 38+through the operation of the school 's vending facilities. Laboratory 39+schools shall provide school nutrition services in accordance with 40+G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264. Upon request, the local school 41+administrative unit in which the laboratory school is located shall 42+administer the National School Lunch Program for the laboratory 43+school in accordance with G.S. 115C-264.school." 44+SECTION 3.(g) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 45+Public Instruction the sum of one hundred forty-four million dollars ($144,000,000) in recurring 46+funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide nutrition services to students in public school units 47+at no cost to the students in accordance with this section. Should this appropriation not be 48+sufficient to fulfill the provisions of this section for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the State Board of 49+Education may use funds appropriated to State Aid for Public Schools for this purpose. 50+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+DRH30338-MTa-71B Page 5+SECTION 3.(h) The State Board of Education has authority to adopt temporary rules 1+to enact the provisions of this section until such a time as permanent rules can be adopted. 2+SECTION 3.(i) This section becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning 3+with the 2025-2026 school year. 4+ 5+PART IV. PROVIDE FOR A ONE-TO-ONE DEVICE REFRESH 6+SECTION 4.(a) Part 3A of Article 8 of Chapter 115C is amended by adding a new 7+section to read: 8+"§ 115C-102.10. Device refresh and replacement program. 9+(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule standards for a one-to-one electronic 10+device refresh and replacement program. The purpose of this program shall be to provide schools 11+funds to update or replace electronic devices used directly by students and teachers for 12+instruction. At a minimum, the standards shall include: 13+(1) A statewide schedule for routine replacement of electronic devices, based on 14+the average operating lifecycle of the devices most commonly used. 15+(2) A description of the lack or impairment of functionality a device must have in 16+order to be eligible for replacement , including how functionality will be 17+verified. 18+(3) Instructions on how to dispose of devices no longer in use, including whether 19+those devices should be sold or recycled. 20+(b) Local school administrative units shall administer the one-to-one electronic device 21+refresh and replacement program in accordance with the standards set by the State Board." 22+SECTION 4.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 23+Public Instruction the sum of one hundred fifty-two million six hundred twenty thousand dollars 24+($152,620,000) in recurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year for the Department to est ablish 25+the one-to-one device refresh program, as enacted by this act. 2627-PART III. PROVIDE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT NO COST 28-TO STUDENTS THROUGH AN ALLOCATION BASED ON SCHOOL FOOD 29-AUTHORITY EVALUATIONS 30-SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 115C-263 reads as rewritten: 31-"§ 115C-263. School nutrition services. 32-(a) As a part of the function of the public school system, local boards of education public 33-school units shall have a school food authority to provide to the extent practicable school nutrition 34-services in the schools under their jurisdiction. The school food authority shall offer students two 35-meals per day, breakfast and lunch, at no cost to the student. All school nutrition services made 36-available under this authority shall be provided in accordance with federal guidelines established 37-by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. 38-(b) The To the extent that funds are made available for the purpose, the State Board of 39-Education shall allocate funds to school food authorities at public school units for the purpose of 40-providing healthy nutrition services at no cost to students . In issuing the allocation, the Board 41-shall do the following: 42-(1) Determine the amount to allocate to each school food authority based on an 43-evaluation of the authority's nutrition services. The Board shall develop the 44-method and criteria for the evaluation, which, at a minimum, shall account for 45-the following: 46-a. The size of the school s served by the school food authority as 47-determined by Average Daily Membership. 48-b. The number of students that are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch 49-and the estimated receipts from the National School Lunch Program. 50-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 4 House Bill 807-First Edition-c. The funds actually expended in the prior year, which may be waived 1-if the school food authority was not in operation in the year prior. 2-d. The extent to which the nutrition services promote health and wellness 3-by providing food that is of high quality and nutrient content. 4-e. The extent to which the school food authority uses locally sourced 5-food and products. 6-f. Any other information t he Board deems relevant to the cost and 7-operation of the nutrition services. 8-(2) Ensure the funds are distributed on a fair and equitable basis. 9-(3) Issue the allocation at the beginning of each fiscal year, except that the Board 10-may reserve for future allocation a reasonable amount, not to exceed ten 11-percent (10%) of the total funds available for providing nutrition services. 12-(c) The State Board of Education may adopt rules regulating the provision of school 13-nutrition that impose additional restrictions that are not inconsistent with the federal guidelines. 14-(d) Funds allocated pursuant to this section shall supplement and not supplant funds from 15-any other source provided for the same purpose." 16-SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 115C-264(a) reads as rewritten: 17-"(a) Local boards of education operating school nutrition programs shall participate in the 18-federal National School Lunch Program established by the federal government. and, if eligible, 19-the Community Eligibility Provision Program. School nutrition programs shall be under the 20-jurisdiction of the Division of School Nutrition of the Department of Public Instruction." 21-SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 115C-150.14 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 22-"(a1) A school governed by this Article shall provide school nutrition services in 23-accordance with G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264." 24-SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 115C-218.75 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 25-"(p) A charter school shall provide school nutrition services in accordance with 26-G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264." 27-SECTION 3.(e) G.S. 115C-238.72(b) reads as rewritten: 28-"(b) Food Nutrition Service. – The local school administrative unit identified by resolution 29-shall provide, to the extent practicable, school food provide school nutrition services to the 30-regional school. school in accordance with G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264. For purposes of 31-federal funding through the National School Lunch Program or other federally supported food 32-nutrition service programs, the local school administrative unit identified by resolution shall be 33-permitted to include eligible students enrolled i n the regional school. Other participating units 34-shall not include students enrolled in the regional school for purposes of federally supported food 35-nutrition service programs." 36-SECTION 3.(f) G.S. 116-239.8(b)(4)c. reads as rewritten: 37-"c. Food Nutrition services. – The laboratory school shall strive to ensure 38-that one hundred percent (100%) muscadine grape juice is made 39-available to students as a part of the school's nutrition program or 40-through the operation of the school's vending facilities. Laboratory 41-schools shall provide school nutrition services in accordance with 42-G.S. 115C-263 and G.S. 115C-264. Upon request, the local school 43-administrative unit in which the laboratory school is located shall 44-administer the National School Lunch Program for the laboratory 45-school in accordance with G.S. 115C-264.school." 46-SECTION 3.(g) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 47-Public Instruction the sum of one hundred forty-four million dollars ($144,000,000) in recurring 48-funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to provide nutrition services to students in public school units 49-at no cost to the stud ents in accordance with this section. Should this appropriation not be 50-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-House Bill 807-First Edition Page 5-sufficient to fulfill the provisions of this section for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the State Board of 1-Education may use funds appropriated to State Aid for Public Schools for this purpose. 2-SECTION 3.(h) The State Board of Education has authority to adopt temporary rules 3-to enact the provisions of this section until such a time as permanent rules can be adopted. 4-SECTION 3.(i) This section becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning 5-with the 2025-2026 school year. 6- 7-PART IV. PROVIDE FOR A ONE-TO-ONE DEVICE REFRESH 8-SECTION 4.(a) Part 3A of Article 8 of Chapter 115C is amended by adding a new 9-section to read: 10-"§ 115C-102.10. Device refresh and replacement program. 11-(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule standards for a one-to-one electronic 12-device refresh and replacement program. The purpose of this program shall be to provide schools 13-funds to update or replace electronic devices used directly by students and teachers for 14-instruction. At a minimum, the standards shall include: 15-(1) A statewide schedule for routine replacement of electronic devices, based on 16-the average operating lifecycle of the devices most commonly used. 17-(2) A description of the lack or impairment of functionality a device must have in 18-order to be eligible for replacement , including how functionality will be 19-verified. 20-(3) Instructions on how to dispose of devices no longer in use, including whether 21-those devices should be sold or recycled. 22-(b) Local school administrative units shall administer the one-to-one electronic device 23-refresh and replacement program in accordance with the standards set by the State Board." 24-SECTION 4.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 25-Public Instruction the sum of one hundred fifty-two million six hundred twenty thousand dollars 26-($152,620,000) in recurring funds for the 2025 -2026 fiscal year for the Department to est ablish 27-the one-to-one device refresh program, as enacted by this act. 28- 29-PART V. REVISE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 30-SECTION 5.(a) Beginning with the 2025 -2026 fiscal year, the State Education 31-Assistance Authority shall not award any scholarship grant funds under Part 2A of Article 39 of 32-Chapter 115C of the General Statutes to new persons who did not receive scholarship grant funds 33-in the prior school year. It is the intent of the General Assembly to eliminate the program for 34-awarding scholarship grants under Part 2A of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes 35-beginning in the 2036-2037 school year or once all current recipients become ineligible for the 36-receipt of scholarship grants. 37-SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 115C-562.1 reads as rewritten: 38-"§ 115C-562.1. Definitions. 39-The following definitions apply in this Part: 40-… 41-(3a) Eligible student. – A student residing in North Carolina who has not yet 42-received a high school diploma and who meets all of the following 43-requirements: 44-a. Is eligible to attend a North Carolina public school pursuant to Article 45-25 of this Chapter. A child who is the age of 4 on or before April 16 is 46-eligible to attend the following school year if the principal, or 47-equivalent, of the school in which the child seeks to enroll finds that 48-the s tudent meets the requirements established by the Authority 49-pursuant to G.S. 115C-562.2(d) and those findings are submitted to the 50-Authority. 51-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 6 House Bill 807-First Edition-b. Has not been enrolled in a postsecondary institution as a full -time 1-student taking at least 12 hours of academic credit. 2-c. Has not been placed in a nonpublic school or facility by a public 3-agency at public expense. 4-d. Received a scholarship grant for the school year prior to the school 5-year for which the student is applying. 6-e. Resides in a household with an income level between the amount 7-required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price 8-lunch program and not in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of 9-that amount. 10-…." 11-SECTION 5.(c) G.S. 115C-562.2 reads as rewritten: 12-"§ 115C-562.2. Scholarship grants. 13-(a) The Authority shall make available no later than February 1 annually applications to 14-eligible students for the award of scholarship grants to attend any nonpublic school on a full - or 15-part-time basis. Information about scholarship g rants and the application process shall be made 16-available on the Authority's Web site. website. Beginning March 15, the Authority shall begin 17-awarding scholarship grants to students who have applied by March 1 in the following 18-order:March 1. 19-(1) Eligible students who received a scholarship grant for the school year prior to 20-the school year for which the students are applying. 21-(2) Eligible students qualifying for a scholarship grant in the amount provided 22-under subdivision (1) of subsection (b2) of this section. 23-(3) Eligible students qualifying for a scholarship grant in the amount provided 24-under subdivision (2) of subsection (b2) of this section. 25-(4) Eligible students qualifying for a scholarship grant in the amount provided 26-under subdivision (3) of subsection (b2) of this section. 27-(5) All other students. 28-… 29-(b2) Scholarship grants shall be awarded to eligible students as follows: 30-(1) For students residing in households with an income level not in excess of the 31-amount required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price 32-lunch program, per year per eligible student, an amount of up to one hundred 33-percent (100%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily 34-membership in the prior fiscal year. 35-(2) For students residing in households with an income level between the amount 36-required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced -price lunch 37-program and not in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of that amount, per 38-year per eligible student, an amount of up to n inety percent (90%) of the 39-average State per pupil allocation for average daily membership in the prior 40-fiscal year. 41-(3) For students residing in households with an income level of between two 42-hundred percent (200%) of the amount required for the student t o qualify for 43-the federal free or reduced -price lunch program and not in excess of four 44-hundred fifty percent (450%) of that amount, per year per eligible student, an 45-amount of up to sixty percent (60%) of the average State per pupil allocation 46-for average daily membership in the prior fiscal year. 47-(4) For all students, per year per eligible student, an amount of up to forty -five 48-percent (45%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily 49-membership in the prior fiscal year, unless the student qualifies for a higher 50-amount under this subsection. 51-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-House Bill 807-First Edition Page 7-(b3) Tuition and fees for a nonpublic school may include tuition and fees for books, 1-transportation, equipment, or other items required by the nonpublic school. 2-(b4) No scholarship grant shall exceed, p er year per eligible student, an amount equal to 3-one hundred percent (100%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily 4-membership in the prior fiscal year, and no scholarship grant shall exceed the required tuition 5-and fees for the nonpublic school the eligible student will attend. 6-(b5) In addition to the amount of the scholarship grant, for any student receiving a 7-scholarship grant in grades three, eight, or 11, the Authority shall provide to the nonpublic school 8-an amount equal to the cost of the nationally standardized test required to be administered as 9-provided in G.S. 115C-562.5. 10-…." 11-SECTION 5.(d) G.S. 115C-562.8 reads as rewritten: 12-"§ 115C-562.8. The Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. 13-… 14-(b) The General Assembly finds tha t, due to the critical need in this State to provide 15-opportunity for school choice for North Carolina students, it is imperative that the State provide 16-an increase of funds for 15 years to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. Therefore, 17-there There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve the following amounts for each 18-fiscal year to be used for the purposes set forth in this section: 19-Fiscal Year Appropriation 20-… 21-2027-2028 $700,000,000$193,664,793 22-2028-2029 $725,000,000$168,730,451 23-2029-2030 $750,000,000$147,006,405 24-2030-2031 $775,000,000$128,079,330 25-2031-2032 $800,000,000$111,589,117 26-2032-2033 $97,222,018 27-2033-2034 $84,704,683 28-2034-2035 $73,798,955 29-2035-2036 $64,297,340 30-For the 2032-2033 2036-2037 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, there is appropriated 31-from the General Fund to the Reserve the sum of eight hundred twenty -five million dollars 32-($825,000,000) to be used for the purposes set forth in this section. no funds shall be appropriated 33-from the General Fund to the Reserve, and it is the intention of the General Assembly to sunset 34-this award of scholarship funds pursuant to this Part. When developing the base budget, as 35-defined by G.S. 143C-1-1, for each fiscal year specified in this subsection, subsection until the 36-2036-2037 fiscal year, the Director of the Budget shall include the appropriated amount specified 37-in this subsection for that fiscal year. 38-…." 39-SECTION 5.(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, funds 40-appropriated for the award of opportunity scholarship grants pursuant to Part 2A of Article 39 of 41-Chapter 115C of the General Statutes are reduced as follows: 42-(1) Of the recurring funds appropriated to the Board of Governors of The 43-University of North Carolina for the opportunity scholarship program 44-pursuant to S.L. 2021-180, by the sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) 45-for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. 46-(2) Of the funds appropriated to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve 47-for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and allocated from the Reserve for the award of 48-scholarship grants in the 2025 -2026 fiscal year, by the sum of two hundred 49-seventy-seven million one hundred sixty -five thousand four hundred 50-General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025-Page 8 House Bill 807-First Edition-fifty-nine dollars ($277,165,459) in nonre curring funds for the 2025 -2026 1-fiscal year. 2-(3) Of the funds appropriated to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve, 3-as follows: 4-a. By the sum of three hundred sixty -nine million eight hundred 5-sixty-seven thousand nine hundred six dollars ($369,86 7,906) in 6-recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. 7-b. By the sum of an additional eighty -two million eight hundred 8-forty-eight thousand two hundred fifty-seven dollars ($82,848,257) in 9-recurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. 10-SECTION 5.(f) This section applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. 11- 12-PART VI. EFFECTIVE DATE 13-SECTION 6. Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 14+PART V. REVISE OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 28+SECTION 5.(a) Beginning with the 2025 -2026 fiscal year, the State Education 29+Assistance Authority shall not award any scholarship grant funds under Part 2A of Article 39 of 30+Chapter 115C of the General Statutes to new persons who did not receive scholarship grant funds 31+in the prior school year. It is the intent of the General Assembly to eliminate the program for 32+awarding scholarship grants under Part 2A of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes 33+beginning in the 2036-2037 school year or once all current recipients become ineligible for the 34+receipt of scholarship grants. 35+SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 115C-562.1 reads as rewritten: 36+"§ 115C-562.1. Definitions. 37+The following definitions apply in this Part: 38+… 39+(3a) Eligible student. – A student residing in North Carolina who has not yet 40+received a high school diploma and who meets all of the following 41+requirements: 42+a. Is eligible to attend a North Carolina public school pursuant to Article 43+25 of this Chapter. A child who is the age of 4 on or before April 16 is 44+eligible to attend the following school year if the principal, or 45+equivalent, of the school in which the child seeks to enroll finds that 46+the student meets the requirements established by the Authority 47+pursuant to G.S. 115C-562.2(d) and those findings are submitted to the 48+Authority. 49+b. Has not been enrolled in a postsecondary institution as a full -time 50+student taking at least 12 hours of academic credit. 51+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+Page 6 DRH30338-MTa-71B+c. Has not been placed in a nonpublic school or facility by a public 1+agency at public expense. 2+d. Received a scholarship grant for the school year prior to the school 3+year for which the student is applying. 4+e. Resides in a household with an income level between the amount 5+required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price 6+lunch program and not in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of 7+that amount. 8+…." 9+SECTION 5.(c) G.S. 115C-562.2 reads as rewritten: 10+"§ 115C-562.2. Scholarship grants. 11+(a) The Authority shall make available no later than February 1 annually applications to 12+eligible students for the award of scholarship grants to attend any nonpublic school on a full- or 13+part-time basis. Information about scholarship grants and the application process shall be made 14+available on the Authority 's Web site. website. Beginning March 15, the Authority shall begin 15+awarding scholarship grants to students who have applied by March 1 in the following 16+order:March 1. 17+(1) Eligible students who received a scholarship grant for the school year prior to 18+the school year for which the students are applying. 19+(2) Eligible students qualifying for a scholarship grant in the amount provided 20+under subdivision (1) of subsection (b2) of this section. 21+(3) Eligible students qualifying for a scholarship grant in the amount provided 22+under subdivision (2) of subsection (b2) of this section. 23+(4) Eligible students qualifying for a scholarship grant in the amount provided 24+under subdivision (3) of subsection (b2) of this section. 25+(5) All other students. 26+… 27+(b2) Scholarship grants shall be awarded to eligible students as follows: 28+(1) For students residing in households with an income level not in excess of the 29+amount required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced-price 30+lunch program, per year per eligible student, an amount of up to one hundred 31+percent (100%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily 32+membership in the prior fiscal year. 33+(2) For students residing in households with an income level between the amount 34+required for the student to qualify for the federal free or reduced -price lunch 35+program and not in excess of two hundred percent (200%) of that amount, per 36+year per eligible student, an amount of up to ninety percent (90%) of the 37+average State per pupil allocation for average daily membership in the prior 38+fiscal year. 39+(3) For students residing in households with an income level of between two 40+hundred percent (200%) of the amount required for the student to qualify for 41+the federal free or reduced -price lunch program and not in excess of four 42+hundred fifty percent (450%) of that amount, per year per eligible student, an 43+amount of up to sixty percent (60%) of the average State per pupil allocation 44+for average daily membership in the prior fiscal year. 45+(4) For all students, per year per eligible student, an amount of up to forty -five 46+percent (45%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily 47+membership in the prior fiscal year, unless the student qualifies for a higher 48+amount under this subsection. 49+(b3) Tuition and fees for a nonpublic school may include tuition and fees for books, 50+transportation, equipment, or other items required by the nonpublic school. 51+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+DRH30338-MTa-71B Page 7+(b4) No scholarship grant shall exceed, per year per eligible student, an amount equal to 1+one hundred percent (100%) of the average State per pupil allocation for average daily 2+membership in the prior fiscal year, and no scholarship grant shall exceed the required tuition 3+and fees for the nonpublic school the eligible student will attend. 4+(b5) In addition to the amount of the scholarship grant, for any student receiving a 5+scholarship grant in grades three, eight, or 11, the Authority shall provide to the nonpublic school 6+an amount equal to the cost of the nationally standardized test required to be administered as 7+provided in G.S. 115C-562.5. 8+…." 9+SECTION 5.(d) G.S. 115C-562.8 reads as rewritten: 10+"§ 115C-562.8. The Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. 11+… 12+(b) The General Assembly finds that, due to the critical need in this State to provide 13+opportunity for school choice for North Carolina students, it is imperative that the State provide 14+an increase of funds for 15 years to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. Therefore, 15+there There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve the following amounts for each 16+fiscal year to be used for the purposes set forth in this section: 17+Fiscal Year Appropriation 18+… 19+2027-2028 $700,000,000$193,664,793 20+2028-2029 $725,000,000$168,730,451 21+2029-2030 $750,000,000$147,006,405 22+2030-2031 $775,000,000$128,079,330 23+2031-2032 $800,000,000$111,589,117 24+2032-2033 $97,222,018 25+2033-2034 $84,704,683 26+2034-2035 $73,798,955 27+2035-2036 $64,297,340 28+For the 2032-2033 2036-2037 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, there is appropriated 29+from the General Fund to the Reserve the sum of eight hundred twenty -five million dollars 30+($825,000,000) to be used for the purposes set forth in this section. no funds shall be appropriated 31+from the General Fund to the Reserve, and it is the intention of the General Assembly to sunset 32+this award of scholarship funds pursuant to this Part. When developing the base budget, as 33+defined by G.S. 143C-1-1, for each fiscal year specified in this subsection, subsection until the 34+2036-2037 fiscal year, the Director of the Budget shall include the appropriated amount specified 35+in this subsection for that fiscal year. 36+…." 37+SECTION 5.(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, funds 38+appropriated for the award of opportunity scholarship grants pursuant to Part 2A of Article 39 of 39+Chapter 115C of the General Statutes are reduced as follows: 40+(1) Of the recurring funds appropriated to the Board of Governors of The 41+University of North Carolina for the opportunity scholarship program 42+pursuant to S.L. 2021-180, by the sum of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) 43+for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. 44+(2) Of the funds appropriated to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve 45+for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and allocated from the Reserve for the award of 46+scholarship grants in the 2025 -2026 fiscal year, by the sum of two hundred 47+seventy-seven million one hundred sixty -five thousand four hundred 48+fifty-nine dollars ($ 277,165,459) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025 -2026 49+fiscal year. 50+General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025+Page 8 DRH30338-MTa-71B+(3) Of the funds appropriated to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve, 1+as follows: 2+a. By the sum of three hundred sixty -nine million eight hundred 3+sixty-seven thousand nine hundred six dollars ($369,867,906) in 4+recurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. 5+b. By the sum of an additional eighty-two million eight hundred 6+forty-eight thousand two hundred fifty-seven dollars ($82,848,257) in 7+recurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. 8+SECTION 5.(f) This section applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. 9+ 10+PART VI. EFFECTIVE DATE 11+SECTION 6. Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 12
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