S257 - 2026 Appropriations Act. (SL 2026-41)

Session Year 2024

Overview: Sections 7.13 and 8.15 of S.L. 2026-41 (Senate Bill 257) direct Mooresville Graded School District, Mitchell Community College, Wake Technical Community College, Wake County Public School System, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Wilkes Community College, and SparkNC to collaborate to create the Competency-Based Education and High School Redesign Strategic Network (Strategic Network). The president of SparkNC, or the president's designee, is the chair of the Strategic Network. The chair must coordinate the operations of the Strategic Network and provide administrative and technical support for the Strategic Network.

The Strategic Network will provide a forum for each entity to share what it has learned and developed regarding competency-based education and high school redesign with the goal to advance a competency-based approach to education across the State.

The Office of Learning Research (OLR) at the North Carolina Collaboratory must study and evaluate the Strategic Network. OLR must submit a report on the Strategic Network to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (JLEOC) by March 15, 2028, and annually thereafter, culminating in a final report by March 15, 2030. All reports to JLEOC must include (i) the total number of students engaging with the Strategic Network, (ii) the total amount of funds expended to implement, design, and operate the Strategic Network, and (iii) the effects of the Strategic Network on student achievement and learning outcomes.

These sections became effective July 1, 2026.

Additional Information: