North Carolina HB 910: Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) Recommendations/Teacher Diversity.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 910

Short Title: DRIVE Recommendations/Teacher Diversity. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Hawkins, Baker, F. Jackson, and von Haefen (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
April 14, 2025
*H910-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND PROGRAM EXPANSIONS TO 2
PROMOTE TEACHER DIVERSITY AND INCREASE TEACHER RECRUITMENT, 3
INCLUDING AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR'S DRIVE TASK FORCE 4
REPORT, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THESE PURPOSES. 5
Whereas, a diverse educator workforce improves student elementary, secondary, and 6
postsecondary outcomes and benefits every student; and 7
Whereas, developing a more representative educator workforce that mirrors the 8
diversity of the student body in North Carolina requires incremental progress over time; and 9
Whereas, the teacher shortage in North Carolina necessitates innovative and specific 10
programs, including 2+2 certification for educators, to put more teachers in the classroom, 11
especially in special education and rural areas; and 12
Whereas, to solve the recruitment and retention problems in North Carolina and to 13
provide every student with a well-trained and qualified educator, the State must promote teacher 14
diversity from recommendations outlined in the report of the DRIVE Task Force; and 15
Whereas, the DRIVE Network is governed by an entity that was approved by the 16
DRIVE Task Force that was established by the Governor after the scheduled end of the DRIVE 17
Task Force on December 31, 2023, to continue the work of the DRIVE Task Force; Now, 18
therefore, 19
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 20
21
PART I. ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS/TEACHER RECRUITMENT MODELS 22
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 23
Public Instruction the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in recurring funds for the 24
2025-2026 fiscal year for research-based Grow-Your-Own and 2+2 programs in all regions of 25
the State, including high school-based career academy programs, the North Carolina Teacher 26
Cadet Program, Teaching as a Profession, and the TAs to Teachers and Troops to Teacher 27
programs. 28
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PART II. DEVELOPING A REPRESENTATIVE AND INCLUSIVE VISION FOR THE 30
EDUCATION (DRIVE) GRANT PROGRAM 31
SECTION 2.(a) Purpose. – The State Board of Education, in consultation with the 32
Office of the Governor, The University of North Carolina System Office, and the Community 33
Colleges System Office, and the DRIVE Network shall establish a grant program to support 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 910-First Edition
strategic partnerships committed to increasing the pipeline of educators of color across the State. 1
As an extension of the recommendations and strategies presented by the Governor's DRIVE Task 2
Force on January 1, 2021, the grants shall be provided to local school administrative units, 3
institutions of higher education, and community organizations to implement innovative 4
initiatives that support the recruitment, preparation, support, and retention of racially, ethnically, 5
and linguistically diverse educators. The purpose of this program shall be to do at least the 6
following: 7
(1) Increase the diversity of the educator workforce across the State through novel 8
recruitment efforts. 9
(2) Strengthen the pipeline of aspiring teachers of color across the State through 10
traditional and alternative certification pathways. 11
(3) Provide mechanisms to support and retain educators of color currently serving 12
in elementary and secondary public schools. 13
(4) Promote collaboration between school systems, institutions of higher 14
education, and community and nonprofit organizations to diversify the 15
educator workforce. 16
SECTION 2.(b) Applications. – Applicants for grants shall demonstrate at least the 17
following for grant award consideration: 18
(1) A partnership between at least two of the following entities: local school 19
administrative units, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 20
Historically Minority-Serving Institutions, educator preparation programs, 21
alternative certification programs, public and private colleges and universities, 22
community colleges, and community or nonprofit organizations. 23
(2) Proposals for strategies that address one or more of the following components 24
of the educator development continuum as highlighted by the DRIVE Task 25
Force's 2021 Report to the Governor: recruitment, placement and induction, 26
and support and retention of educators of color. 27
SECTION 2.(c) Use of Funds. – Grant funds may be used for the following 28
activities: 29
(1) Strengthening existing high school dual enrollment programs to offer 30
education-based college credit or honors courses as streamlined pathways for 31
future c