May State Board of Education Meeting - May 7, 2026

The North Carolina State Board of Education held its May 7, 2026 meeting in Duplin County, focusing on various education-related topics including contract approvals, budget updates, and policy discussions. Key procurement activities included the approval of multiple contracts such as a one-year extension for college admissions and workplace readiness assessments, a joint contract amendment with the Department of Health and Human Services for kindergarten and pre-kindergarten literacy assessments, and a $9.3 million five-year contract for school system wrecker vehicles. Additional contracts covered statewide unique identification systems, longitudinal data management, cybersecurity training and support, and infrastructure analysis through the Friday Institute. The board also discussed the upcoming release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for advanced teaching roles. Budget highlights included a proposed 11% average pay raise for teachers and instructional support personnel, funding for school health personnel, a $100 million non-recurring device refresh, and investments in school business systems modernization. The board approved the hiring of an assistant general counsel and voted on multiple committee items related to charter schools, remote academies, and school improvement initiatives. No significant policy changes affecting procurement were reported during this meeting.