H.B. 946: Sound Basic Education for Every Child

• Appropriates $318 million to increase teacher salaries and $12 million to increase principal salaries for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with additional funding in subsequent years.

• Establishes new educator support programs including the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program ($1-4.7 million), teacher recruitment bonuses ($3-6 million), and teacher preparation residency programs ($5 million).

• Creates the Office of Equity Affairs within the Department of Public Instruction with a Deputy Superintendent position to oversee compliance with sound basic education standards and educator diversity goals.

• Increases funding for instructional support personnel, teacher assistants, and students with disabilities; expands NC Pre-K program to eventually serve 75% of eligible 4-year-olds and fund 100% of actual costs by 2028.

• Appropriates funds for early childhood education expansion ($26.5-45.4 million for NC Pre-K, $10-26 million for child care subsidies), college access programs (including $2.4-2.6 million for College Advising Corps), and career and technical education credentialing ($6.5 million).