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Bill

HB 523

School Social Workers/Master's Pay.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 25 co-sponsors

HB 523 would adjust compensation for North Carolina school social workers with master's degrees to address workforce recruitment and retention challenges.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 523

Legislative bill overview

HB 523 would establish or modify compensation requirements for school social workers in North Carolina who hold master's degrees. The bill appears designed to address pay equity or retention issues for this specialized educational workforce. It is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having just passed first reading and been referred to multiple committees.

Why is this important

School social workers address critical student needs including mental health, family crises, and social-emotional development—areas increasingly recognized as essential to educational outcomes. Compensation levels directly affect recruitment and retention of qualified professionals in a field experiencing national workforce shortages. Adjusting master's-level pay could impact both school budgets and the availability of specialized support services for students.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact and budget constraints: Salary increases for school social workers require funding; unclear whether this comes from existing education budgets or new appropriations, potentially affecting other school priorities
  • Implementation scope: Unclear whether this applies statewide or to specific districts, and whether it creates mandatory or optional pay standards
  • Equity considerations: May raise questions about pay parity with other master's-degree holders in education (counselors, administrators) and whether the increase is sufficient to address workforce shortages

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

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