Appropriates $180 million in recurring funds for 2020-21 from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (Division), for additional funds for all income-eligible, four-year-old children in this State to participate in the North Carolina Prekindergarten (NC Pre-K) program.

Appropriates $20 million in recurring funds for 2002-21 from the General Fund to the Division to incentivize higher pay for NC Pre-K teachers. Requires the Division by July 1, 2021, to develop and implement a program to incentivize higher teacher education and compensation levels for teachers teaching in the NC Pre-K program through subsidy payment enhancements to child care programs that use a salary scale and only employing lead teachers with a minimum of an associate's degree in child development or a related field. Requires the amount of the incentive to be differentiated based on the level of degree attained. Requires the Division to submit a progress report on the development and implementation of the program to the specified NCGA committee by March 1, 2022.

Effective July 1, 2020.