Bill > H709

This bill establishes the Additional Teacher Assistant Grant Program, a pilot program designed to increase teacher assistant support in early elementary classrooms across North Carolina. The program will provide funding to select public school units, specifically allocating one teacher assistant for every kindergarten, first, and second-grade class, and one teacher assistant for every three third-grade classes. The Department of Public Instruction will create an application process and select 16 participating schools—one local school administrative unit and one charter school from each of the state's eight educational districts. Participating schools will receive funding based on an estimated statewide average salary and benefits, calculated using an average class size of 21 students. The program is funded with $14.8 million in nonrecurring funds for each year of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, with applications due within 60 days of the application becoming available and selections made within 30 days after the application period closes. The program is set to become effective on July 1, 2025, with the goal of improving classroom support and potentially enhancing early literacy outcomes by providing additional instructional assistance in lower elementary grades.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H709