AN ACT to provide funds to increase the number of assistant principals in local school administrative units over time.

Whereas, assistant principals contribute to the safe operation of the public schools; and

Whereas, increasing the number of assistant principals in schools will increase the number of well‑prepared principals in public schools; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(70)    To Provide for Assistant Principals. – Local boards of education shall increase full‑time, permanent assistant principal positions employed in local school administrative units based on average daily membership for each fiscal year until the 2026‑2027 fiscal year. Beginning in the 2025‑2026 fiscal year, in order to increase assistant principal positions under this subdivision, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the following fiscal years the following amounts to the school building administration allotment to increase the ratios of funds allotted for months of employment for assistant principals to students, as follows:

                        Fiscal Year                 Assistant Principals         Appropriation

                        2025‑2026                   1 month:90 students         $23,560,043

                        2026‑2027

                        and each subsequent

                        fiscal year thereafter   1 month:80 students         $57,568,035.

SECTION 2.  Funds provided pursuant to this act shall supplement and not supplant any funds from any source already provided for assistant principals.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. Section 1 of this act applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.