NCGA approves calendar flexibility, guarantees educator pay for WNC schools
On Thursday, October 11, Governor Cooper signed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 (HB149) into law, the day after it was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. Among many investments, the legislation approves calendar flexibility and guarantees educator pay (including contractors and cafeteria workers) for WNC schools impacted by Hurricane Helene. You can download a summary of the bill here.
This is just the first piece of hurricane relief legislation expected. Lawmakers will return to Raleigh on October 24.
Sign the #SchoolsStandTogether Petition
Sign the petition and join the call to invest in our public schools as North Carolina rebuilds our mountain region. Show your support for WNC students and educators as state lawmakers consider hurricane relief legislation.
Displaced Students Protected by the McKinney-Vento Act
As educators, we know how dramatic events at home can impact students at school. The loss of a home can be traumatic, leaving children and youth with tumultuous feelings that can impact their social and intellectual well-being. Limited access to food, medical care, and basic school supplies can also impact performance in the classroom.
The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that addresses the needs of children and youth who are displaced from their homes, by allowing them to quickly enroll in a new school district. The law addresses educational challenges created by being in transition and guarantees students the right to enroll, attend, and succeed in school. Since this is a federal law, school districts must adhere to its requirements and provide these protections to students as requested. Affected families can contact the school district and request additional information and resources.
Most school districts have information about this rule publicly available on their website. For example, here is the page for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. When in doubt, education professionals such as school social workers and counselors are knowledgeable about how such laws may be used to support and protect the rights of students.
Special Video from President Tamika Walker Kelly
Member Benefits for Disaster Victims
NEA Member Benefits’ Disaster Relief Assistance program stands ready to assist by providing resources to eligible members through its Disaster Relief Assistance Program. You can reach the Member Advocacy Center at 1-800-637-4636 or through neamb.com/contact-us.
NC Foundation for Public School Children Resources for Students and Educators
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The Children’s Fund can be used to purchase items or services to directly benefit a student’s academic experience when no other resources are available. Requests for the Children’s Fund must be made by public school employees only. Submission form.
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The Disaster Relief Fund can be used to replace clothing, necessities, and school supplies lost by students and educators during the storm. Submission form.
Get Help with Replacing Vital Documents
From scheduling appointments to providing transportation, VoteRiders can help with obtaining vital personal records that were lost in the storm. A great resource for those needing to replace a driver’s license or secure another form of ID to vote. Call or text the VoterRiders helpline at 866-ID-2-Vote (866-432-8683) or submit a request via their website (voteriders.org/freehelp).
Shelter Information
If you are in need of shelter, there are lists from Ready NC and the American Red Cross.
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Residents in the 25-county federal disaster area may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. There are several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3362 (7am-11pm). You can also watch Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance on YouTube.
Read more from the NC Department of Insurance on how to access the $750 of immediate assistance and additional support that is available.
Contribute to our Disaster Relief Fund
Public school staff created the NC Foundation for Public School Children for moments like these. We are mobilizing now. Our Disaster Relief Fund has helped many students and educators over the years to recover from hurricanes and other natural disasters by replacing lost or destroyed clothing, basic necessities, and school supplies.
