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

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Session Year 2024

Overview: Section 8.5 of S.L. 2026‑41 (Senate Bill 257) requires the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission (Commission), in conjunction with the System Office of The University of North Carolina and the State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA), to develop a process to reevaluate all educator preparation programs (EPPs) participating in the Teaching Fellows Program (Program) at least every six years. The Commission can remove an EPP from the Program after a reevaluation.

The Commission must include information about the reevaluation of EPPs participating in the Program in its annual report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

Section 3.24 of S.L. 2026‑61 (House Bill 268) requires, if an EPP is removed from the Program, the Director of the Teaching Fellows Program (Director) to notify SEAA of the removal by February 1 of the academic year prior to removal. Selected students eligible to receive a forgivable loan from the Program for the next academic year who are enrolled in an EPP that will be removed in the next academic year can do either of the following:

  • Continue to receive forgivable loans to complete the Program leading to initial teacher licensure while enrolled in the EPP being removed.
  • Transfer to another participating EPP, upon the approval of the Director.

 

These sections became effective July 1, 2026. The Commission must conclude its initial reevaluation of all EPPs participating in the Program by no later than July 1, 2032.

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