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PANC Legislative Update

Elizabeth Yelverton, Legal Affairs & Policy Manager�eyelverton@ncasa.net | 919-828-1426

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Session Overview

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    • Review: 2023 Budget & 2024 Planned Changes
    • 2024 Short Session Legislative Priorities
    • Legislative and Policy Hot Topics For 2024
  • Questions & Resources

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Review: 2023 Budget & 2024 Planned Changes

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Review: 2023-2025 Salaries & Benefits

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Personnel

House

Senate

9/18 Conference Budget�(all retroactive to 7/1/23)

Teachers �& ISPs

Step increase + 4.25% in FY 23-24 and 3.25% in FY 24-25; range of increases including step: $2,210 to $4,300 = 4.3% to 8.3%); reinstates advanced degree supplements ($126 Adv., $253 Doc.)

Average raise of 4.5% over biennium w/ highest for beginning teachers (increases starting pay from $37K to $39K in FY 23-24 and to $41K in FY 24-25 for 10.8% increase).

Average raise of 7% over biennium w/ highest raises for beginning teachers (increases starting pay from $37K to $39K in FY 23-24 and to $41K in FY 24-25); adv. degree supplements NOT reinstated.

Principals & APs

Principals: Increases all steps 4.25% in 23-24 and 3.25% in 24-25; growth based on best of 2 years; adds Pre-K headcount for ADM placement; keeps bonus structure.

  • AP increases tied to teacher schedule.

Principals: Increases 2.5% each year; growth based on best of 2 years; adds Pre-K headcount for ADM placement; keeps bonus structure.

  • AP increases tied to teacher schedule.

Principals: Increases 4% in 23-24 and 3% in 24-25; growth based on best of 2 years; adds Pre-K headcount for ADM placement in 24-25; keeps bonus structure.

  • AP increases tied to teacher schedule

Non-Cert. & Central Office

4.25% increase in 23-24 and 3.25% in 24-25;

  • Bus Drivers — Add’l 2% in 23-24.

2.5% increase each year

4% increase in 23-24 and 3% in 24-25;

  • Bus Drivers — Add’l 2% in 23-24.

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Retirement Rates

23.94% in FY 23-34 and 24.46% in 24-25.

24.12% in FY 23-24 and 24.34% in 24-25.

25.02% in FY 23-24 and 24.04% in 24-25.

Health Benefits

$7,654 in FY 23-24 and $8,493 in 24-25.

$7,557 in FY 23-24 and $8,095 in 24-25.

$7,557 in FY 23-24 and $8,095 in 24-25.

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NEW For 2024: $1.4 Billion Surplus

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  • Early budget talks predicted a “flat budget” for 2024 short session.
  • BUT 4/17 Consensus General Fund Revenue Forecast predicts one-time $1.4 billion surplus in state revenues through FY 2025.
    • Estimated $413 million in current fiscal year + ~$1 billion in additional revenue for FY 2024-25.
    • Total revised forecast for FY 2024-2025 is $34.37 billion (3% increase from certified revenue)

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2024 Short Session Legislative Priorities

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                  • Recruiting & Retaining the Best Public School Employees
                  • Enhance public school employee pay and benefits
    • Raise principal and teacher pay to highest in Southeast by 2026
    • Reform principal pay plan
                  • K-12 Accountability System Reform
                  • Modify calculation of School Performance Grades
    • Modify new Early Graduate Program
                  • Adequate and Equitable Resources for Schools & Districts
    • Revise and enhance state funding for children with disabilities.
    • Revise state funding for APs to provide at least 1 per school by 2026 w/ add’l AP for schools w/ greater than 500
    • Increase accountability and transparency of the recently-expanded Opportunity Scholarship Program
    • Provide all PSUs w/ flexibility like that of “Restart Schools” and Charter Schools
    • Defensive Priority – Ensure adequate base level of support, retain current process for dual enrollment program funding, and continue LEA authority to retain supplemental funding

2024 Short Session Priorities

Click on image to access NCASA’s full slate of 2023-2025 legislative priorities!

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Acknowledging School Complexity

(ADM)

School Size

Economically Disadvantaged Students

Exceptional Children

Academically or Intellectually Gifted

Multi Language Learners

Homeless

Complexity factor currently impacting principal pay

This proposal adds the following complexity factors:

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Features Of The Proposed Pay Plan

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Establishes a complexity model that considers more than just school size.

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Links all school employees to one salary scale while ensuring that the principal is the highest paid employee in the building, with career progression from teacher to AP to Principal.

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Reduces the up to $18,000 swings in performance pay to stabilize salaries, while maintaining the structure currently in place.

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Adds a system of retention based on years as a school principal to keep leaders in schools, where stability is important for student success.

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                  • Expanding the Teacher Apprenticeship Grant Program criteria.
                  • Strengthening Career Development through amendments to the Career Development Plans and increasing opportunities to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test.
                  • Eliminating Student Copay for Reduced Price Meals.
                  • Expanding on the Excellent Public Schools Act to support students in Grades 4-8.
                  • Preparing all students for Math 1 by 9th grade through math coaches and teacher professional development.

NCDPI Short Session Priorities

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2024 Legislative & Policy Hot Topics

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School Performance Grades Redesign

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  • NCDPI unveiled SPG redesign proposal 2/26/24 to House Select Comm. on Education Reform
  • Replaces current single letter grade (80% student proficiency, 20% student growth) with “multi-indicator model” providing individual letter grades in academics, progress, readiness, and opportunity
  • Additional factors added in each letter grade based on school type – elementary, middle, or high school
    • NEXT STEPS: NCASA will continue to advocate for changes to the state’s school performance grade model and will adjust requests as necessary based on NCDPI advocacy and implementation.

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Early Graduate Program

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H259 (S.L. 2023-134), Section 8A.6, … Require A Sequence Of Courses For Early High School Graduation & Establish The Early Graduate Scholarship Program

  • Part II, Early Graduate Program:
    • Required SBE to develop sequence of courses for high school graduation that shall be available in all PSUs and can be completed within three years; must be noted on transcript
    • Prohibits PSUs from requiring any additional credits for high school graduation, �(currently, 22 credits).
    • Requires PSUs to provide information about early graduation to students in 2023-24; first who are eligible to participate are 10th graders in 2023-24 who could graduate early following their junior year in 2024-25.
    • Requires PSU governing bodies to report to NCDPI on students projected to complete high school within three years in 2025 and 2026; requires DPI to report that information to Fiscal Research Division.
    • Part III, Early Graduate Scholarships: Creates new scholarship for students who graduate from high school within three years that could be used at community colleges, UNC constituent institutions, and private colleges and universities located in NC, with first scholarships for use in the 2025- 2026 school year for qualifying students who graduate from high school in 2025.

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Early Graduate Program (continued)

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H259 (S.L. 2023-134), Section 8A.6, … Require A Sequence Of Courses For Early High School Graduation & Establish The Early Graduate Scholarship Program

  • Recent Action & Next Steps:
  • State Board of Education adopted new policies & administrative rules based on budget language:
  • GRAD-001: Process for Early Graduation – Requires student to be at least 16; student must submit request form signed by parent/legal guardian; administrator must meet with student and parent/legal guardian to discuss implications of early graduation; requires local supt. to approve request upon student’s eligibility and compliance with procedures, no later than 45 days from request.
  • GRAD-006: Accelerated Pathway for Early Graduation – Includes recommended course sequence; clarifies accelerated option will not be available for CIHS students; optional for charter & regional schools
    • DPI/SBE and NCASA will continue to advocate during 2024 short session for legislative technical correction clarifying “waiver” process in legislation and allowing local districts to continue add’l requirements for 4-year graduates.

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Exceptional Children Funding Reform

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  • 2023 state budget (S.L. 2023-134) required NCDPI to develop a model for funding children with disabilities services “on the basis of the reported cost of the services provided.”
  • New model adds Weighted factors for:
  • Environment – Items from Homebound, to Resource, Separate Classroom and School, Regular and the various PreK settings
  • Intensity of Service — Standard Course of Study, Occupational Course of Study, Future Course of Study, and Extended Course�of Study
  • New model uses factors then groups by Service Level 1, 2 and 3 (with 3 being most intensive services required); uses staffing ratio as primary weighting:
  • Level 1: 1:30 Ratio for Teachers and Related Services (RS) staff
  • Level 2: 1:20 Ratio for Teachers, RS, Paraprofessionals
  • Level 3: 1:9 Ratio for Teachers, RS, and Paraprofessionals
  • Proposed model estimated to require $223,048,143 in additional state funding.

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Parents’ Bill Of Rights Changes

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S49 (S.L. 2023-106), Parents’ Bill of Rights – New law passed in August 2023 enumerating parental rights, requiring new parental guides and notifications, and creating new “remedies” for parents, including option for parental concern hearing through State Board of Education (SBE).

  • Recent Action & Next Steps:
  • State Board of Education adopted new required policies and associated administrative rules for PSUs:
  • PRNT-001: Parental Concern Hearings Procedure – Outlines procedure for parental concern hearings; limits hearings to concerns on student physical and mental health provisions (Part 4)
  • PRNT-002: Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement – Outlines requirements for PSUs to develop and distribute to parents, students, and school personnel a “Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement” that includes information outlined in the law, ex. information on ways to access student’s instructional materials, information on child’s teacher’s licensure status, etc. (see optional template shared December 2023)
    • NCDPI to survey PSUs in May 2024 to collect required information for statewide reporting due 9/15/24.
    • NCASA will continue to advocate during 2024 short session for technical corrections allowing parental consent waiver/opt-out for student vision & dental screenings, suicide risk/threat assessment questions, and emergency grief counselors.

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New Student Information System (SIS)

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  • Phase 1- July 1, 2024
  • Trail sites available by May 15
  • Phase 2 - July 1, 2025 (Statewide)
  • All data transfers to the new system, current & historical
  • 1600 SIS Coordinators trained to date
  • Current SIS EOY dates June 28-July 1
  • No EOY with the new SIS Solution

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Other Legislative Hot Topics For 2024

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  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Pilot
  • Early Math Education Reform (Screener and PD)
  • Expanding Read to Achieve PD to Middle Grades Teachers
  • Grants to Support Low-Performing Schools and Districts
  • State Funding to Continue Office of Learning Recovery at NCDPI
  • Advanced Teaching Roles Program Expansion
  • Refreshing Technology Devices
  • Funding More School Counselors
  • Further Expansion of Opportunity Scholarships by ~ $300 M for 2024-25

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Key Bills To Watch In 2024 Session

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The following are just a few of the 2023 education-related bills still eligible for action in 2024:

  • SB90: Children’s Laws Omnibus – Creates “open enrollment” process for all school districts; sets new restrictions and regulations on library books and instructional materials; requires supt. contracts to allow for dismissal/significant reductions in salary if 5 parents obtain affidavits showing their “fundamental right to parent” was violated; and stipulates charter schools are not state actors, among other major changes.
  • SB411: Various Education Changes – Requires Medical Condition Action Plans and Medical Emergency Plans in all PSUs; allows home school students to take AP exams and the PSAT at local PSUs.
  • SB 670: Create New Weighted Student Funding Model – Would repeal ~30 existing school funding allotments and change the school funding model to a weighted student funding model.
  • HB 187: Equality in Education – Prohibits promoting 13 concepts (tied to Critical Race Theory)
  • HB 756: Standards Advisory Commission – Creates the Standard Course of Study Advisory Commission to recommend academic standards to the State Board of Education for approval.

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New: Bills Introduced In First Week

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Advocacy Schedule & Notable Dates

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  • October 2023 – March 2024: NCASA collects feedback on 2024 Leg. Priorities
  • Dec. 13, 2023: NCASA Executive Committee adopts 2024 Leg. Priorities
  • March 5, 2024: NC Primary Elections
  • April 15: Legislative drafting deadline for 2023 budget changes
  • April 24: Legislative Short Session convenes @ 12:00 PM
  • April-May: Committee & legislator meetings, bill filings
  • May 1: Principal Appreciation & Advocacy Day
  • May 7/8: Superintendent Advocacy Days
  • May: 2024-2025 State Budget released (hopefully)
  • June: Session END goal is 6/30 (rarely met)
  • July 1: New Fiscal Year begins
  • Nov. 5, 2024: General Election

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Questions & Discussion

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NCASA Member Resources

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  • Executive Director�Katherine Joyce�kjoyce@ncasa.net
  • Assistant Executive Director�Karen Owens�kowens@ncasa.net

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  • Legal Affairs & Policy Manager�Elizabeth Yelverton�eyelverton@ncasa.net
  • Communications Manager�Rick Scoggins�rscoggins@ncasa.net
  • Administrative Assistant�Alexis Hawk�ahawk@ncasa.net

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@NCASATweets

  • Member Services Coordinator�Wanda Thomas�membership@ncasa.net
  • Finance Manager�Lisa Walker�finance@ncasa.net

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NCASA OFFICE INFORMATION:

P.O. Box 26567

Raleigh, NC 27611

PHONE: 919-828-1426

EMAIL: info@ncasa.net

WEBSITE: www.ncasa.net

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNCASA

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