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HB 855

Residency Licenses for Nonpublic Exceptional Children Teachers.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Brian Biggs and 10 co-sponsors

HB 855 lets qualifying nonpublic schools sponsor a one-year residency license for teacher candidates (renewable twice), expanding pathways into teaching.

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Bill Summary · HB 855

Summary — HB 855: Residency Licenses for Nonpublic Exceptional Children (EC) Teachers (NC, 2025)

Status: Introduced (First Edition); referred to Education - K‑12 (House). Primary sponsor: Rep. Blackwell. Effective date: upon enactment; applies to residency license applications on or after that date.

Purpose / Intent

HB 855 expands which schools may request a North Carolina teacher Residency License (RL). The bill is intended to allow certain nonpublic schools—including private schools that serve students with exceptional needs—to sponsor teacher candidates for one‑year residency licenses, increasing pathways into the teaching workforce for candidates who are enrolled in educator preparation programs.

Key changes / provisions

  • Modifies G.S. 115C‑270.20(a)(5) (Residency License):
    • Maintains the RL as a one‑year license renewable up to two times.
    • Expands the entities that may request a residency license and provide the required supervision certification to include:
    • A nonpublic school that meets the requirements of Part 1 or Part 2 of Article 39 of Chapter 115C (statutory provisions governing certain nonpublic schools), and
    • A nonpublic school approved and monitored by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) that provides services for students with extraordinary costs (defined in the bill as costs directly attributable to providing the special education services on the student’s IEP).
    • Retains the prior pathway: the governing body of a public school unit may request an RL.
  • Candidate eligibility requirements (as restated/confirmed):
    • Holds at least a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree.
    • Has completed coursework relevant to the licensure area or passed an approved content examination for that area.
    • Is enrolled in a recognized educator preparation program.
    • Meets any other State Board of Education requirements (including completion of preservice requirements prior to teaching).

Who is affected

  • Nonpublic schools that meet Article 39 criteria or DPI‑approved nonpublic special education providers: newly able to sponsor residency license candidates.
  • Teacher candidates (especially those in educator preparation programs who seek experience in nonpublic or special‑needs settings).
  • DPI and educator preparation programs: responsible for monitoring supervision certifications and program enrollment status.
  • Public school units: no removal of existing authority; public units retain current ability to request RLs.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The bill takes effect upon becoming law and applies to residency license applications filed on or after that date.
  • At introduction (First Edition), the bill is in the House education referral process; further committee actions and final disposition will determine enactment.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Expands placement and supervised teaching options for teacher candidates, potentially improving staffing capacity for nonpublic schools serving students with significant special education needs.
  • May increase collaboration needs between DPI, educator preparation programs, and nonpublic school supervisors to ensure compliance with supervision and preservice standards.
  • Fiscal impacts are not specified in the bill text; administrative workload for DPI or EPPs could increase marginally to process and monitor additional RL requests.

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

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