House Bill 905 would require local school administrative units and charter schools in North Carolina to allow students who attend nonpublic schools to enroll part time in public school courses, programs, or services, so long as they otherwise meet public school eligibility requirements. The bill creates a new statutory section establishing this right to part-time enrollment and directs local boards of education to adopt and publish policies implementing it. Charter schools would also have to post information about part-time enrollment on their websites.
The bill also sets out a funding formula for these part-time students. Depending on the amount of instructional time a student takes, the State Board of Education would allocate either 100% or 50% of the average per-pupil local allocation to the enrolling public school unit or charter school. In addition, the bill appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring funds for administrative implementation costs and $270 million in recurring funds to support part-time students beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The act would take effect July 1, 2025, and apply to requests for part-time enrollment for that school year.
HB905 would amend Chapter 115C of the General Statutes by adding a new part-time enrollment framework for nonpublic school students and by requiring local boards and charter schools to adopt policies and provide public notice of those policies. It would also modify charter school law to clarify that part-time students do not count toward charter enrollment growth calculations. The bill would create a new state funding obligation for the Department of Public Instruction and local education agencies/charter schools, with both administrative and ongoing recurring appropriations tied to serving part-time students.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be presented as an expansion of educational access with a significant funding component. Its structure suggests support for flexibility and parental choice for families using nonpublic schools, while also ensuring public schools and charter schools are compensated for serving those students. No formal vote history or transcripted discussion is available here to show broader legislative sentiment, but the bill’s referral to Education and Appropriations indicates it was treated as both a policy and budget measure.
The most likely points of contention are the fiscal impact and the policy implications of allowing nonpublic school students to access public school offerings part time. Supporters would likely emphasize expanded access to courses, programs, and services and greater flexibility for families, while critics may focus on the large recurring appropriation, the administrative burden on school units, and potential effects on enrollment accounting and school resources. Another possible issue is whether part-time access should be mandatory statewide for both traditional public schools and charter schools, rather than left to local discretion.