Part I.

Appropriates $2 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to support the Grow-Your-Own and 2+2 teacher recruitment education programs, including the specified programs.

Part II.

Requires the State Board of Education (State Board), in consultation with the Office of the Governor, The University of North Carolina System Office, and the Community College System Office, to establish a grant program to support strategic partnerships committed to increasing the pipeline of educators of color across the State. Requires the grants to be provided to local school administrative units, institutions of higher education, and community organizations to implement innovative initiatives that support the recruitment, preparation, support, and retention of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse educators. Sets out the purpose of the program. Requires grant applicants to demonstrate at least: (1) a partnership between at least two of the following: local school administrative units, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Historically Minority-Serving Institutions, educator preparation programs, alternative certification programs, public and private colleges and universities, community colleges, and community or nonprofit organizations and (2) proposals for strategies that address one or more of the specified components of the educator development continuum as highlighted by the DRIVE Task Force's 2021 Report to the Governor. Allows grant funds to be used for: (1) strengthening existing high school dual enrollment programs to offer education-based college credit or honors courses as streamlined pathways for future careers in education; (2) implementing targeted school system–level and community-based recruitment programs for aspiring educators of color interested in traditional and alternative educator preparation programs; (3) using and leveraging existing financial aid programs that reduce the disproportionate financial burden incurred by aspiring candidates of color; (4) increasing preparation and supporting preservice educators of color through paid clinical learning experiences, with a commitment to teaching in North Carolina public schools; (5) offering support for job placement and licensure for candidates of color after completing their educator preparation program; (6) providing induction and mentoring programs that address the needs of educators of color that include sustaining networking and professional learning communities or affinity groups; and (7) encouraging and financially supporting educators of color interested in joining national professional organizations or attending national conferences. Requires the State Board, by October 1, 2024, to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the grant program and for applicants to submit proposals by December 1, 2024. Requires that the RFP require proposals to include specified information, including plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. Requires a selection committee, by February 1, 2025, to select up to five grantees. Allows grants to be spent over a five-year period. Requires grant recipients to report annually to the State Board on the implementation of the program. Allows the State Board to use up to $300,000 to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant program and then report to the specified NCGA committee and division and the OSBM by September 1, 2026. Requires DPI to report annually on program implementation, beginning January 1, 2026. Appropriates $2 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to DPI to implement the grant program. Allows unexpended funds to remain available instead of reverting to the General Fund.

Part III.

Requires the State Board to establish a grant program to assist local school administrative units in providing multiyear recruitment bonuses to certified teachers who commit to teach multiple years in a low-performing or high-needs school. Requires bonuses to include at least: (1) awards over multiple years with a requirement that teachers remain in the school over multiple years to receive the bonus and (2) awards to licensed teachers who commit to teach in a school identified as low-performing, a school identified as continually low-performing, or a school where 75% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Requires the State Board annually, by September 1, 2024, to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the grant program. Requires local boards of education to submit their proposals by December 1, 2024. Requires that the RFP require proposals to include specified information, including plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. Requires the State Board, by February 15, 2025, to review the proposal and select up to 10 local school administrative units for grants. Allows making grant awards for up to three years. Caps the grant amount to a local school administrative unit at $500,000 in a single fiscal year. Allows the State Board to use up to $300,000 to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant program and then report to the specified NCGA committee and division and the OSBM by September 1, 2027. Requires DPI to report annually on program implementation, beginning March 1, 2025. Appropriates $15 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to DPI for the grant program; allows unexpended funds to remain available for these purposes instead of reverting back to the General Fund.

Part IV.

Requires the State Board to establish a grant program to assist local school administrative units in the development of teacher preparation residency pilot programs. Requires teacher preparation residency programs eligible to receive grant funding through this program to include at least: (1) coursework in the candidate's area of licensure, (2) tuition and stipends, (3) faculty advising, (4) clinical training experiences, and (5) ongoing induction support. Allows programs to include partnerships between local school administrative units, educator preparation programs, local community colleges or universities, and other community organizations. Requires grant funds to be matched by the local school administrative units on the basis of $1 in nongrant funds for every $1 in grant funds. Requires the State Board, by October 1, 2024, to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the grant program and requires local boards of education to submit their proposals by January 15, 2025. Requires the RFP to require that proposals include specified information, including plans for financial sustainability once grant money is no longer available. Requires the State board to review proposals and select up 10 local school administrative units as grant recipients by April 15, 2025. Allows making grant awards for up to three years. Caps the grant amount to a local school administrative unit at $500,000 in a single fiscal year. Allows the State Board to use up to $300,000 to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the impact of this grant program and then report to the specified NCGA committee and division and the OSBM by September 1, 2028. Requires DPI to report annually on program implementation, beginning March 1, 2026. Appropriates $15 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to DPI to implement the grant program; allows unexpended funds to remain available for these purposes instead of reverting back to the General Fund.

Part V.

Amends GS 116-209.45 by expanding upon eligible loan recipients for the Forgivable Education Loans for Service Program to include individuals with a bachelor’s degree who are seeking preparation for teacher licensure. Amends the duties of the Loan Program’s Advisory Group by requiring it to make recommendations on strategies to encourage participation in the Loan Program for potential recipients of color, specifically among individuals pursuing teacher licensure.

Part VI.

Removes the terms qualifying licensure area and STEM from the definitions under GS 116-209.60, which defines terms for use in Part 3 of Article 23 of GS Chapter 116, which governs the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program (Program). No longer limits the Program to providing loans to individuals interested in preparing to teach in the State's public schools in those previously specified qualifying licensure areas, instead opening it more broadly to those preparing to teach in the State's public schools. Makes changes throughout the Part by removing references to "STEM" and "qualifying licensure area." Requires Program recruitment efforts to include identifying and encouraging students of color and students who may not otherwise consider a teaching career to enter the program. Requires the recruitment activities to include a strategy that attracts a diverse pool of applicants. Removes the cap on the number of participating institutions and specifies that the diverse selection of participating programs is to include minority-serving institutions. Applies beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. Appropriates $5.7 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program Trust Fund to support an additional 490 teacher licensure candidates.

Part VII.

Amends GS 115C-26.35 by expanding upon the items that must be included in an educator preparation program’s (EPP) annual performance report to the State Board by also requiring the percentage of students of color (as defined) enrolling in and completing the program.

Amends GS 115C-269.50 by adding the requirement that each EPP annually report to the State Board the five specified items regarding the diversity of identified persons disaggregated by race, sex, ethnicity, age, and disability status. Require that the State Board annually, beginning June 15, 2022, collect the information from those EPP annual reports and report those results to the specified NCGA committee.

Part VIII.

Effective July 1, 2024.