New NC bill would allow public schools to hire unlicensed teachers
North Carolina public schools may soon be able to hire unlicensed teachers.
The Raleigh News & Observer reports it's part House Bill 806, which was filed Monday and sponsored by local Republican state representative Tricia Cotham.
Under the bill, only 50 percent of teachers would have to have a license at each school. Right now, that number is 100 percent, the Raleigh News & Observer says.
ALSO READ: NC State Board of Education appeals $17M funding halt for school upgrades
The 'Public School Operational Relief' bill would also drop Kindergarten through third grade class-size limits, changing them instead to class-size 'recommendations.'
The Raleigh News & Observer says a state report released last week showed the teacher turnover rate was nearly 10 percent.
That means nearly one out of every 10 teachers left the profession between March 2023 and March 2024, The Raleigh News & Observer reports. Read more here.
WATCH BELOW: Both sides weigh in on statewide concealed carry legislation
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Indicted Charlotte councilwoman Tiawana Brown picks up 2 challengers in election
Tiawana Brown, a Charlotte City Council member indicted on wire fraud charges, will face at least two challengers with political experience if she runs for reelection this year. The first-term Democrat was indicted alongside her two adult daughters in May on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud. They're accused by Charlotte's U.S. attorney of filing false applications for federal pandemic relief loans and spending loan money on personal expenses, including a lavish birthday party for Brown. The crimes allegedly occurred before Brown joined the council. All three pleaded not guilty in their first court appearance. Brown, who represents west Charlotte's District 3, has pledged to stay in office and run for reelection. She's eligible to run 'until convicted of a felony,' Mecklenburg County Board of Elections spokeswoman Kristin Mavromatis previously told The Charlotte Observer. An indictment is not proof of guilt, and Brown has not yet received a trial. But weeks before candidate filing officially opens, a pair of notable candidates have already declared their intentions to run: former Elizabeth City Councilman Montravias King and community activist Joi Mayo. Charlotte's primaries are scheduled for Sept. 9. In the heavily Democratic District 3, the winner of that primary will carry a significant advantage into November's general election. Mayo confirmed to the Observer she will run in the Democratic primary for District 3. She's also launched a campaign website and social media. While it will be her first time campaigning for public office, she's been an active organizer in southwest Charlotte for years. A Virginia native, Mayo moved to Charlotte in 2012 for a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teaching job after earning degrees from Elon University and the College of Charleston. She became a homeowners association president in the Nations Ford area and was elected president of the Southwest Area Neighborhood Coalition in 2019. Mayo left teaching in 2022 to work full-time for nonprofits. She founded Transforming Nations Ford in 2024 to work on neighborhood beautification and historic preservation. The group also advocates for responsible growth and investments in parks and recreation, transit and public safety. Her platform includes supporting public safety initiatives such as SAFE Charlotte and Alternatives to Violence; increasing permanent affordable housing; and funding workforce development. Despite the high-profile nature of Brown's indictment, Mayo said the news was 'not necessarily' the driving force behind her decision to run for the District 3 seat. She was mainly spurred, she said, by a desire to increase community engagement within city government. 'I'm just excited to get out there,' she told the Observer. King's statement announcing his campaign for the district also didn't directly reference Brown's indictment. The announcement said he 'enters the race with a deep commitment to smart growth, public safety and government transparency in one of the city's fastest-growing districts.' King is best known for his 2013 for the Elizabeth City City Council while a student at Elizabeth City State University. He made national news when his eligibility for the race was challenged due to his on-campus address. King ultimately was ruled eligible and won a council seat. He currently works as a nonprofit executive and renewable energy consultant, and he previously worked as a teacher and legislative assistant for Democrats in the North Carolina legislature. On his campaign website, King lists a platform focused on equitable growth, public safety, sustainability and transparent government. 'District 3 is changing fast. We need to make sure that development doesn't outpace infrastructure, that public safety keeps up with growth, and that residents have a voice in the decisions shaping their neighborhoods,' he said in his campaign announcement. The official candidate filing window for the 2025 municipal elections runs from July 7 to July 18. Brown won an open three-person Democratic primary in 2023 before defeating Republican James Harrison Bowers by a margin of 78.6% to 21.2% in the general election to secure her first term.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee County Judge Dugan case, prosecutors urge court not to dismiss
The Brief The Trump administration is opposing the dismissal of charges against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan. Dugan is accused of helping a man evade immigration agents in her courthouse. DOJ attorneys argue dropping the charges would set a dangerous precedent, implying judges are above the law. MILWAUKEE - A federal motion has been filed in response to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan's request to dismiss the case against her. And after reading through the 25-page motion, federal prosecutors say Dugan is not above the law. The indictment against Dugan alleges she helped an undocumented man who was wanted on a federal warrant avoid arrest by I.C.E. agents. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Click to open this PDF in a new window. In Dugan's motion for dismissal, she asked the court to dismiss the indictment based on judicial immunity. But today (June 9), federal prosecutors came back saying her request was unprecedented and quote "would, in essence, say that judges are above the law." Dugan faces a July 21 trial in the case that escalated a clash between Trump's administration and opponents over the Republican president's sweeping immigration crackdown. Trump critics contend that Dugan's arrest went too far and that the administration is trying to make an example out of her to discourage judicial opposition to the crackdown. The backstory Dugan is charged with concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor, and obstruction, which is a felony. Prosecutors say she escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back door on April 18 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse seeking to arrest him for being in the country illegally. She could face up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted on both counts. Her attorneys say she's innocent. They filed a motion last month to dismiss the case, saying she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and therefore is immune to prosecution. They also maintain that the federal government violated Wisconsin's sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge. The other side Justice Department attorneys responded in a court filing Monday, saying dismissing the charges against the judge on the grounds that she is immune would be unprecedented and would ignore "well-established law that has long permitted judges to be prosecuted for crimes they commit." "Such a ruling would give state court judges carte blanche to interfere with valid law enforcement actions by federal agents in public hallways of a courthouse, and perhaps even beyond," Justice Department attorneys argued. "Dugan's desired ruling would, in essence, say that judges are 'above the law,' and uniquely entitled to interfere with federal law enforcement." Dugan's attorney, Craig Mastantuono, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. In her motion to dismiss, Dugan argued that her conduct amounted to directing people's movement in and around her courtroom, and that she enjoys legal immunity for official acts she performs as a judge. She also accused the federal government of violating Wisconsin's sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge. Dugan's case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration against a Massachusetts judge, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a courthouse back door to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent. That case was eventually dismissed. The backstory According to prosecutors, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. He was charged in March with misdemeanor domestic violence in Milwaukee County and was in Dugan's courtroom for a hearing in that case on April 18. Dugan's clerk alerted her that immigration agents were in the courthouse looking to arrest Flores-Ruiz, prosecutors allege in court documents. According to an affidavit, Dugan became visibly angry at the agents' arrival and called the situation "absurd." After discussing the warrant for Flores-Ruiz's arrest with the agents, Dugan demanded that they speak with the chief judge and led them away from the courtroom. She then returned to the courtroom, was heard saying something to the effect of "wait, come with me," and then showed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a back door, the affidavit says. The immigration agents eventually detained Flores-Ruiz outside the building following a foot chase. Dugan, 66, was arrested by the FBI on April 25 at the courthouse. A grand jury indicted Dugan on May 13 and she pleaded not guilty on May 15. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What we know A legal defense fund created by Dugan supporters to help pay for her high-profile defense attorneys has raised more than $137,000 in three weeks from more than 2,800 donors. Her legal team includes former U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement. Both were appointed by Republican presidents. She has also hired prominent attorneys in Milwaukee and Madison. "This is an impressive show of support for the defense fund, highlighting that the public believes in protecting a fair and independent judiciary," former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske, the fund's trustee, said Monday. "The fund will continue to raise grassroots donations and uphold strict guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability." Dugan is not required to list the donor names until she submits her annual financial disclosure form, which is due in April. Numerous people are prohibited from donating, including Milwaukee County residents; attorneys who practice in the county; lobbyists; judges; parties with pending matters before any Milwaukee County judge; and county employees. The Source FOX6 has done significant reporting on the arrest and charges filed against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. FOX6 produced this story with information from the federal motion, with contributions from the Associated Press.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
List: Democratic candidates for NJ governor
The Brief Nearly a dozen candidates are competing for the chance to succeed Gov. Murphy. The race for the Democratic nomination features a crowded field of prominent current and former officeholders. Primary election day is Tuesday, June 10. Polls close at 8 p.m. NEW JERSEY - Nearly a dozen candidates are competing in New Jersey for the chance to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. MORE: Who is ahead in the NJ governor race? Polls, candidates, updates MORE: How to vote in New Jersey The race for the Democratic nomination for governor features a crowded field of prominent current and former officeholders. ***Click on each name to jump to their section. Mikie Sherrill Josh Gottheimer Ras Baraka Steve Fulop Sean Spiller Steve Sweeney Sherrill is a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. She has represented the 11th District, which includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, since her 2018 election. She has since won reelection three times. Gottheimer, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton and adviser to the head of the Federal Communications Commission, toppled conservative Republican Rep. Scott Garrett in 2016. Gottheimer represents the state's 5th Congressional District, which spans parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties. Baraka is the current mayor of Newark. First elected mayor in 2014, Baraka has spent over a decade leading Newark through economic and social changes, including reductions in crime and homelessness, and improvements in infrastructure. Most recently, he was arrested outside the Delaney Hall federal immigration detention center while protesting its opening. Fulop, the third-term Democratic mayor of the state's second-biggest city, is a former Marine who served in Iraq after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Back in January, Fulop floated the idea of a 'reverse congestion pricing' toll in an appearance on Good Day New York. Fulop suggested New Jersey could implement similar fees, capitalizing on the state's opportunities for cross-border tolling. Spiller is the president of the New Jersey Education Association and former mayor of Montclair. Spiller began as a science teacher before rising through the ranks of the New Jersey Education Association, becoming its president in 2021 after eight years on the executive board. Sweeney has centered his gubernatorial campaign on reforming New Jersey's budget process and addressing the state's housing challenges. With 20 years of public office experience, including more than a decade as Senate president, Sweeney is banking on his experience and commitment to tackling systemic issues. Primary election day is Tuesday, June 10. Polls close at 8 p.m. Click HEREfor more information. Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey: According to a May survey, 28% of registered New Jersey Democratic voters said they would vote for U.S. Rep, Mikie Sherrill, as Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer each had 11% of Democratic responders' support. A month ahead of the primary, 24% of Dem voters said they were undecided. SurveyUSA: According to a poll conducted in May, voters showed slightly more favorable options for Sherrill compared to the rest of the field. Gottheimer was a close second. Fundraising numbers: Gottheimer has had a slight edge in fundraising, with about $9.1 million in contributions, followed by Sherrill and Fulop, each with about $8.9 million raised for their campaigns, according to the Associated Press.