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HB 905

Public School Part-Time Enrollment.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Allen Chesser and 5 co-sponsors

The bill allows nonpublic students to enroll part‑time in public schools and outlines funding and policy requirements for districts and charters.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 905

HB 905 — Public School Part‑Time Enrollment (First Edition) — Summary

Status: Passed First Reading (April 14, 2025)
Introduced: November 12, 2024
Primary sponsors: Reps. Rob Leverett, Chuck Efstration, Stan Gunter, Gary Richardson, Brian Prince, James Burchett
Related/companion: SB 720

Purpose

Require North Carolina public school districts (local school administrative units, or LEAs) and charter schools to permit students who otherwise attend nonpublic schools (private schools or home schools) to enroll on a part‑time basis for access to courses, programs, or services offered by the public school system.

Key provisions

  • New statute § 115C‑364.1 — Admission for part‑time students:
    • LEAs and charter schools must allow part‑time enrollment for students who are otherwise eligible to attend public school under G.S. 115C‑5 and G.S. 115C‑364.
    • State Board of Education funding allocation rules for part‑time students:
    • If the student’s scheduled instructional time at the public school is one‑third (1/3) or more of the FTE instructional time used under G.S. 115C‑419, the enrolling LEA/charter receives 100% of the LEA’s average per‑pupil allocation (for average daily membership).
    • If the student’s scheduled instructional time is less than one‑third, the enrolling LEA/charter receives 50% of that average per‑pupil allocation.
  • Local board duties:
    • G.S. 115C‑47 amended to require each board of education to develop and publish a policy on part‑time enrollment for nonpublic students and post it on the board website.
  • Charter school duties:
    • G.S. 115C‑218.45 amended to require charter schools to post part‑time enrollment information on their websites.
    • Part‑time charter students do not count toward charter school enrollment growth under G.S. 115C‑218.7.
  • Effective date and application:
    • Act effective July 1, 2025, and applies to requests to begin part‑time enrollment in the 2025–2026 school year.

Funding & fiscal provisions

  • Appropriations:
    • $500,000 (nonrecurring) from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for 2025–26 for administrative implementation costs.
    • $270,000,000 (recurring) from the General Fund for 2025–26 to DPI to be allocated to LEAs and charter schools to fund part‑time students (per the allocation rules above).

Who is affected

  • Students who attend nonpublic schools (including homeschoolers) seeking to take one or more courses, programs, or services in public schools.
  • LEAs and charter schools (administrative workload, scheduling, and budgeting).
  • Department of Public Instruction (distribution of funds and oversight).
  • Public and private school interactions/competition may be affected by expanded access to public offerings.

Implementation & timeline

  • Boards must adopt and publish local policies; charter schools must post information online.
  • Funding intended to be available beginning FY 2025–26.
  • Applies to part‑time enrollment requests for the 2025–2026 school year.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Material recurring fiscal commitment ($270M) to support part‑time enrollments.
  • Administrative and scheduling adjustments at LEAs/charter schools to accommodate part‑time students.
  • May expand educational options for nonpublic students while shifting state funding to public providers on a proportional basis.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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