NC DPI Press

Nine Regional Principals of the Year Finalists Announced

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced nine public school principals as regional finalists for the 2026 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year award. One finalist will be named the statewide winner at a ceremony on May 15, 2026, at The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary. The regional finalists represent schools from Dare, Craven, Wake, and Cumberland County school systems.

Principal Retention Strong, Teacher Attrition Up 0.25%

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction presented the annual State of the Teaching Profession and School Administrator Report to the State Board of Education. The report shows principal retention remained strong at 92.4%, while the teacher attrition rate increased slightly to 10.11% for the 2024-25 school year, up from 9.88% in 2023-24. The teacher vacancy rate decreased to 7.4% under the legislatively broadened definition that includes temporarily licensed teachers and rehired retirees.

North Carolina Schools Awarded $11M for Mental Health Services

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) has received more than $11 million in federal funding through two grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant provides $4.8 million over four years for the NC School Psychology Internship Program (NC SPIn), supporting salary and housing stipends for interns in high-need rural districts. The School-Based Mental Health Services Grant awards $6.4 million over four years for the NC School Psychologists Supporting our Students (SoS) project to increase recruitment, retention, and training of school psychologists in underserved areas.

Over Half NC Public School Graduates Passed College-Level Courses in 2025

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announced that 54% of Class of 2025 graduates successfully completed at least one college-level course during high school, marking a historic high. The Career and College Promise program saw nearly 87,000 student participants in 2024-25, a 10% increase from the prior year.

2026 Instructional Innovation Grant, Up to $1.2M Available

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announces the 2026 Instructional Innovation Grant under the Digital Learning Initiative. Up to $1.2 million in total grant funding will support digital teaching and learning in North Carolina public schools during the 2026-27 school year. School districts may apply for up to $50,000, while charter, laboratory, and regional schools may apply for up to $20,000. Proposals must be submitted by June 18, 2026.