The legislature was busy this week as lawmakers continued budget work and various committees met. On Tuesday, the House Education K-12 Committee advanced four bills impacting local public schools – H144 Elect SBE/Superintendent as Board Chair, H451 Diabetes Education for Parents, H1110 Early Intervention Attendance Pilot, and H1143 Principal Fellows and MSA Intern Stipends.
Elect SBE/Superintendent as Board Chair saw the most discussion, as bill sponsor Representative Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) explained the legislation is intended to “change the way we lead education in North Carolina.”
Notably, the bill proposes a constitutional amendment to shift the State Board of Education (SBE) members from appointed to elected positions. The elected members would serve staggered four-year terms, and vacancies would be filled in a manner established by enabling legislation.
When questioned about the issue the bill is attempting to address, Rep. Blackwell pointed to student achievement and the state’s ACT scores, explaining the legislation would not solve the problem outright, but is a step in the right direction.
The amendment would also make the Superintendent of Public Instruction a voting member and chair of the SBE, while serving as the board’s chief administrative officer. Rep. Blackwell stated the bill would make it clear that the Superintendent is setting policy, while giving parents and the public more input in education.
If approved by lawmakers, the constitutional amendment would go before voters in November 2026 and apply to board terms beginning in 2029.
The other three bills did not see as much discussion.
Principal Fellows & Administrative Internship Stipends allows the North Carolina Principal Fellows Commission to award developmental grants to school leader preparation programs that did not receive Principal Fellows grants. Rep. Blackwell, who is also the bill sponsor, explained these grants would help and encourage school leader preparation programs that were not selected, providing them with a better opportunity to compete in the future.
The bill also appropriates more funding to the Principal Fellows Trust Fund beginning in the 2026-2027 fiscal year to increase the number of candidates supported by the Principal Fellows Program.