North Carolina HB 1197: National MS Society Registration Plate.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1197

Short Title: Revise NC Teaching Fellows Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Ball, von Haefen, Prather, and Johnson-Hostler (Primary
Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
May 5, 2026
*H1197-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REVISE THE NORTH CAROLINA TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM AND 2
TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR A STUDY OF PARTICIPATION IN THE TEACHING 3
FELLOWS PROGRAM BY THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLABORATORY. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
6
PART I. INCREASE TEACHING FELLOWS AWARDS 7
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 116-209.62(g) reads as rewritten: 8
"(g) Awards of Forgivable Loans. – The Program shall provide forgivable loans to selected 9
students to be used at up to 10 selected institutions for completion of a program leading to initial 10
teacher licensure as follows: 11
(1) North Carolina high school seniors. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand 12
dollars ($5,000) per semester for up to eight semesters. 13
(2) Students applying for transfer to a selected educator preparation program at 14
an institution of higher education. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand 15
dollars ($5,000) per semester for up to six semesters. 16
(3) Individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for 17
teacher licensure. – Forgivable loans of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) 18
per semester for up to four semesters. 19
(4) Students matriculating at institutions of higher education who are changing to 20
an approved program of study at a selected educator preparation program. – 21
Forgivable loans of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per semester for up 22
to four semesters. 23
licensure. For individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for 24
teacher licensure, the Program shall provide forgivable loans of up to ten thousand dollars 25
($10,000) per academic year for up to two academic years. For all other students, the Program 26
shall provide forgivable loans of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per academic year for up 27
to four academic years. Forgivable loans may be used for tuition, fees, the cost of books, and 28
expenses related to obtaining licensure.all expenses related to enrollment in an approved educator 29
preparation program and obtaining licensure, including tuition, fees, and the cost of books." 30
SECTION 1.(b) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026, and applies beginning 31
in the 2026-2027 academic year to all students enrolled in an educator preparation program 32
participating in the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. 33
34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1197-First Edition
PART II. PRIOR TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM REVISIONS APPLY 1
RETROACTIVELY TO ALL TEACHING FELLOWS 2
SECTION 2.(a) Subsection (c) of Section 8A.4 of S.L. 2023-134 reads as rewritten: 3
"SECTION 8A.4.(c) This section applies to applications for the award of funds beginning 4
in the 2024-2025 academic year.year for all persons participating in the Program, including 5
teachers who are continuing or entering service repayment beginning in the 2024-2025 academic 6
year." 7
SECTION 2.(b) Section 2.14(b) of S.L. 2024-1 reads as rewritten: 8
"SECTION 2.14.(b) This section is effective July 1, 2023, and applies to applications for 9
the award of funds beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.year for all persons participating 10
in the Program, including teachers who are continuing or entering service repayment beginning 11
in the 2024-2025 academic year." 12
13
PART III. REVISE PROCESS FOR SELECTING INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS 14
SECTION 3. G.S. 116-209.62 reads as rewritten: 15
"§ 116-209.62. North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program established; administration. 16
... 17
(f) Program Selection Criteria. – The Authority shall administer the Program in 18
cooperation with up to 10 institutions of higher education with approved educator preparation 19
programs selected by the Commission that represent a diverse selection of both postsecondary 20
constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina and private postsecondary 21
institutions operating in the State. The Commission shall adopt stringent standards for selection 22
of the most effective educator preparation programs, including the following: 23
(1) Demonstrates high rates of educator effectiveness on value-added models and 24
teacher evaluations, including using performance-based, subject-specific 25
assessment and support systems, such as edTPA or other metrics of evaluating 26
candidate effectiveness that have predictive validity. 27
(2) Demonstrates measurable impact of prior graduates on student learning, 28
including impact of graduates teaching in qualifying licensure areas. 29
(3) Demonstrates high rates of graduates passing exams required for teacher 30
licensure. 31
(4) Pr