NC H149

Eligible school districts (those with bond-levying authority and at least 5,000 students in 2023-2024) may submit a Financial and Hiring Flexibility Plan (FHFP) to the State Board of Education by January 15, 2026, for implementation starting July 1, 2026

Up to 50% of teachers in participating districts may be unlicensed, though core subject teachers (math, science, social studies, language arts) must be college graduates, and all unlicensed teachers must complete preservice training on disability education, behavior management, and student safety

Districts must meet specific goals by 2030-2031: 100% of students with career development plans by senior year, 90% teacher retention rate, average school growth index of 0.50 or higher, and improved growth rates for underperforming student subgroups

State funds allocated to participating districts become largely unrestricted in how they may be spent, subject only to federal law requirements and State Board rules for federal compliance

The State Board must review district performance after 2030-2031 and every three years thereafter, with authority to terminate plans for failure to meet academic goals, low-performing school designations, or fiscal mismanagement