AN ACT to require the department of public instruction to study methods of increasing teacher planning time.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Public Instruction shall study methods of increasing teacher planning time or decreasing teacher obligations that decrease existing planning time.

SECTION 1.(b)  The Department shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 15, 2026, on the results of the study. The report shall include at least the following:

(1)        Recommendations to increase teacher planning time.

(2)        Recommendations to decrease teacher obligations that decrease existing planning time.

(3)        Costs associated with any recommendations given in the report.

(4)        Any other information the Department deems relevant.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to conduct the study required by Section 1 of this act. The Department may use these funds to partner with a third party to conduct the study.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.