NC Senate budget-writers roll out early spending bill

RALEIGH (AP) — Top Senate budget-writers have written an early-session spending bill that in part seeks to ensure a panel drafting new academic standards for North Carolina’s public schools has money to perform its work.

The bill filed Monday directs the Department of Public Instruction to transfer $275,000 to help the panel, which was created last year. The current state budget omitted details on money for the commission, which is designed to rewrite math and reading standards that currently follow Common Core.

The measure also tells the State Board of Education to give $100,000 to the Rules Review Commission so the commission can defend itself in a lawsuit the education board filed against it. The bill also clarifies funding for the state to oversee coal ash cleanup.

The Senate budget-writing committee meets Tuesday.