North Carolina SB 954: Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 954

Short Title: Learning & Enrichment in Afterschool Programs. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Chitlik, Mohammed, and Chaudhuri (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S954-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT IN AFTERSCHOOL 2
PROGRAMS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND GRANT PROGRAM. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1.(a) There is established in Article 3 of Chapter 115C of the General 5
Statutes the following Parts: 6
"Part 1. Department Administration. 7
"Part 2. Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP)." 8
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-18 through G.S. 115C-22 shall be located in Part 1 of 9
Article 3 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, as established in subsection (a) of this section. 10
SECTION 2. Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes, as 11
established in Section 1 of this act, is amended by adding the following new sections to read: 12
"§ 115C-23.1. Definitions. 13
As used in this Part, the following definitions apply: 14
(1) Children and youth. – School-age children up to age 18. 15
(2) Eligible organizations. – Community-based organizations, statewide 16
youth-serving organizations, cities and counties delivering youth programs, 17
and schools delivering youth programs outside of school hours. 18
(3) Positive youth development programming. – Structured programs or activities 19
with engaged adult mentors and evidence-based or evidence-informed 20
practices provided to children and youth before school, after school, or during 21
summer. It does not include basic education programming provided during 22
school hours. 23
"§ 115C-23.2. Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP) Advisory 24
Council. 25
(a) The Department of Public Instruction (Department) shall establish the Learning and 26
Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP) Advisory Council to provide assistance in 27
implementing the LEAP Grant Program, as authorized under G.S. 115C-23.3. The Advisory 28
Council shall serve in an advisory capacity only and shall not have authority over final grant 29
award decisions, which shall remain with the Department. 30
(b) The Advisory Council shall include, at a minimum, the following members: 31
(1) A representative of the Department, who shall serve as chair. 32
(2) A representative of the Division of Child Development and Early Education 33
of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. 34
(3) A representative of the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 954-First Edition
(4) A representative of a community-based organization providing afterschool or 1
summer programming, appointed by the Advisory Board of the North 2
Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs. 3
(c) The Department shall convene the Advisory Council on a regular basis, as determined 4
necessary, to carry out its duties. The Department shall provide administrative support to the 5
Advisory Council. 6
(d) The Advisory Council shall advise the Department on the following: 7
(1) Grant application materials, scoring criteria, and selection processes. 8
(2) Strategies to prioritize rural and underserved communities and strengthen 9
partnerships between schools and community-based organizations. 10
(3) Program quality standards, technical assistance, and professional 11
development supports. 12
(4) Evaluation findings and improvements to program design and 13
implementation. 14
(5) Identifying opportunities to align this program with other State and local 15
initiatives, including early childhood, workforce development, and student 16
support services. 17
"§ 115C-23.3. Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP) Grant Program. 18
(a) There is established under the control and direction of the State Board of Education 19
the Learning and Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP) Fund. This fund shall be a 20
nonreverting special revenue fund consisting of any monies appropriated to it by the General 21
Assembly, eligible federal funds, eligible grant funds, and private donations. Any funds received 22
by the State pursuant to litigation against social media companies for harm caused to children 23
and youth, whether the result of a settlement or court award, shall be directed to the LEAP Fund. 24
LEAP Funds shall be distributed through a grant program in accordance with this section. 25
(b) The Department of Public Instruction (Department) shall establish the Learning and 26
Enrichment in Afterschool Programs (LEAP) Grant Program (Program) to assist eligible 27
organizations in providing high-quality positive youth development programming across the 28
State. To the extent funds are made available for this purpose, the Department shall administer 29
the Program in accordance with this section. 30
(c) The Department, in consultation with th