Modernizes funding for children with disabilities in North Carolina, raising the cap and creating a support fund.

This bill raises the cap on the maximum percentage of students for which a public school unit can receive funds for children with disabilities from 13% to 16%. It also creates a High-Cost Disabilities Support Fund to provide additional support for students requiring intensive and specialized services. The fund will be used to reimburse local school administrative units and charter schools for extraordinary costs. The bill appropriates $82.8 million for general disability funding and $15 million for the High-Cost Disabilities Support Fund, both beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Modernizes funding for children with disabilities in North Carolina, raising the cap and creating a support fund.

This bill raises the cap on the maximum percentage of students for which a public school unit can receive funds for children with disabilities from 13% to 16%. It also creates a High-Cost Disabilities Support Fund to provide additional support for students requiring intensive and specialized services. The fund will be used to reimburse local school administrative units and charter schools for extraordinary costs. The bill appropriates $82.8 million for general disability funding and $15 million for the High-Cost Disabilities Support Fund, both beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year.