This bill appropriates funding for the Department of Public Instruction, the Center for Distance Education, the State Library, the School for the Deaf, and North Dakota Vision Services - School for the Blind for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. It includes significant increases in salaries, operating expenses, and grants, while introducing new legal language regarding the electronic collection of household income information for free or reduced-price meal eligibility. The bill also outlines one-time funding for educational programs aimed at teacher retention, early learning initiatives, and grants for paraprofessionals to become qualified teachers.

Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the North Dakota Century Code, increasing the salary of the superintendent of public instruction to $147,978 through June 30, 2026, and to $152,417 thereafter. It exempts unexpended appropriations for the state library and the school for the deaf from certain provisions, allowing these funds to be used for renovations during the biennium. The bill also establishes conditions for cooperative educational services among school districts, ensuring equivalent payment rates for cooperating districts and outlining reimbursement conditions for jointly hired administrative personnel. The new requirement for electronic collection of meal eligibility information will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations Committee: 15.1-02-02
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15.1-02-02
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Committee: 15.1-02-02
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Conference Committee: 15.1-02-02, 15.1-27-16
25.0157.02008 : 15.1-02-02, 15.1-27-16
Enrollment: 15.1-02-02, 15.1-27-16