The Cumberland County Board of Education unanimously approved its 2025-2026 Legislative Agenda during its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
The Board incorporated the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA) Legislative Agenda into its 2025-2026 priorities, adding a key request for a legislative adjustment to the state-funded teacher supplement formula specific to Cumberland County Schools (CCS). The current formula does not account for Average Daily Membership (ADM) when calculating state-funded teacher supplements, which disproportionately affects larger, high-poverty districts such as Cumberland, a Tier 1 county. This addition underscores the Board of Education’s commitment to improving student outcomes by recruiting and retaining premier professionals through competitive teacher supplements.
The NCSBA Legislative Agenda, which includes several priorities aligned with the needs of CCS, will guide advocacy efforts during the legislative biennium. Some of the key priorities include:
School Calendar: Allowing flexibility in local school calendars to better align with community needs and academic goals.
School Accountability: Revising accountability models to include more comprehensive and equitable measures of student success.
Retention & Recruitment: Addressing teacher shortages by improving compensation and providing stronger support systems for educators.
Students with Disabilities: Increasing resources and funding for special education programs to meet the needs of all learners.
School Capital: Advocating for funding to address critical facility needs, including new construction, repairs, and renovations.
Pre-K Students: Expanding access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs to better prepare students for academic success.
School Safety: Supporting initiatives that enhance campus safety and student well-being.
Opportunity Scholarships: Advocating for stronger oversight and accountability to ensure equitable access and responsible use of resources.
To foster collaboration and dialogue, the Board of Education will host a Legislative Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Tony Rand Center’s Multipurpose Room at Fayetteville Technical Community College (2220 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, NC). Members of the Cumberland County Local Delegation and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners are invited to join the Board of Education to discuss these priorities and explore ways to strengthen public education in Cumberland County.
For more information and to view the full Legislative Agenda, click here.