H960 - Sound Basic Education for Every Child

• Appropriates $872.6 million in recurring funds for 2024-2025 to implement a new teacher salary schedule with monthly salaries ranging from $4,600 (0 years experience) to $6,370 (29+ years experience) plus various supplements for certifications and degrees.

• Allocates $19.9 million to the NC Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund to support 428 additional teacher licensure candidates and $13.2 million to the NC Principal Fellows Program Trust Fund for 189 new principal candidates with forgivable loans.

• Appropriates $183.1 million to expand NC Prekindergarten program with goals of reaching 75% of eligible 4-year-olds by 2027-2028, gradually extending from 10 to 12 months, and paying 100% of actual costs by 2027-2028.

• Authorizes $2 billion in general obligation bonds for public school capital projects (construction, renovation, technology infrastructure, security equipment) subject to voter approval in 2024 election.

• Increases funding for instructional support (school health personnel, teacher assistants, instructional support staff) with graduated appropriations through 2028-2029 to achieve specific position-to-student ratios and provides $507.2 million for disadvantaged/at-risk student supplemental funding.