A new bill filed by State Rep. Heather H. Rhyne in the North Carolina House aims to provide clearer evaluations of school performance by separating achievement and growth metrics, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 488 on March 24 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Modify School Performance Grades.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill mandates that schools in North Carolina receive distinct grades for achievement and growth. Achievement grades will reflect student performance on a 0-100 scale, with scores translating to a letter grade of A to F. Growth grades will also be scored on a 0-100 scale based on the Education Value-Added Assessment System. Schools will additionally receive overall performance scores combining 80% of the achievement score and 20% of the growth score. The bill requires report cards to display these grades prominently, detailing performance for specific student subgroups like economically disadvantaged or English learners. This act is effective Jan. 1, 2026, impacting report cards for the 2025-26 school year.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Erin Paré proposed the most bills (24) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Rhyne graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998.
Rhyne, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2024 to represent the state’s 97th House district, replacing previous state representative Jason Saine.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dennis Riddell, Erin Paré, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 488 | 03/24/2025 | Modify School Performance Grades. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Donna McDowell White, Donny Lambeth, and Jimmy Dixon | HB 491 | 03/24/2025 | Medicaid Work Requirements. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, and Ray Pickett | HB 437 | 03/18/2025 | Establish Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 412 | 03/17/2025 | Child Care Regulatory Reforms. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Brian Biggs, and David Willis | HB 415 | 03/17/2025 | Modify Math & Social Studies Grad. Req. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Jake Johnson, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 372 | 03/11/2025 | Home-Based Business Fairness Act. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Cody Huneycutt, and Kyle Hall | HB 351 | 03/10/2025 | Recovery-Friendly Workplace Program/Funds. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Charles W. Miller, and Cody Huneycutt | HB 330 | 03/06/2025 | Controlled Substances Act – Updates. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Dean Arp, Donny Lambeth, and Erin Paré | HB 309 | 03/05/2025 | Various Local Provisions VI. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Howard Penny, Jr., Jonathan L. Almond, and Paul Scott | HB 239 | 02/26/2025 | Change to EC Funding Formula. |
| Heather H. Rhyne and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 190 | 02/24/2025 | SchCal Mandatory Winter Break/Date Adjustment. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Cody Huneycutt, Hugh Blackwell, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 163 | 02/21/2025 | Pharmacy Benefits Manager Provisions. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Buansi, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Jarrod Lowery | HB 145 | 02/17/2025 | Funds for Diabetes Research Institute/UNC-CH. |
| Heather H. Rhyne, Allen Chesser, Brenden H. Jones, and Jay Adams | HB 35 | 02/03/2025 | Establish Military Appreciation Month. |
| Heather H. Rhyne | HB 41 | 02/03/2025 | Lincoln/Catawba Common Boundary Line. |
