A new bill filed by State Rep. Cecil Brockman seeks to establish a distinct teaching license for educators in Montessori schools, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 946 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Montessori Teaching License.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill establishes a new class of teaching license specifically for educators in schools that use Montessori instruction as their primary method. To obtain this Montessori license, an applicant must possess a valid credential from the American Montessori Society, the Association Montessori Internationale, or a program accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education. Additionally, the individual must hold a bachelor’s degree and complete any examination requirements set by the State Board. The license permits the holder to teach only in Montessori schools and not in public schools unless the individual has another state-issued license. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, applying to Montessori license applicants from that date.
Of the three sponsors of this bill, Brian Biggs proposed the most bills (54) 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.
Brockman graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2006 with a BA.
Brockman, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2015 to represent the state’s 60th House district, replacing previous state representative Marcus Brandon.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cecil Brockman, Brian Biggs, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 946 | 04/10/2025 | Montessori Teaching License. |
| Cecil Brockman, Brian Biggs, and Tricia Ann Cotham | HB 947 | 04/10/2025 | Every Child Reads. |
| Cecil Brockman, Cynthia Ball, Lindsey Prather, and Phil Rubin | HB 816 | 04/07/2025 | Voucher School Transparency Act. |
| Cecil Brockman, Amber M. Baker, Frances Jackson, PhD, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 709 | 04/02/2025 | K-3 Literacy and Improvement Act. |
| Cecil Brockman | HB 712 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Income/Pay-It-Forward Fund. |
| Cecil Brockman, Allen Buansi, Amos L. Quick, III, and Ya Liu | HB 713 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Free Breakfast and Lunch. |
| Cecil Brockman and Carla D. Cunningham | HB 714 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Healthcare. |
| Cecil Brockman, Brandon Lofton, Carla D. Cunningham, and Cynthia Ball | HB 715 | 04/02/2025 | Universal Pre-K. |
| Cecil Brockman, Allen Buansi, Charles Smith, and Vernetta Alston | HB 722 | 04/02/2025 | Enact Criminal Justice Debt Reform. |
| Cecil Brockman and Amos L. Quick, III | HB 317 | 03/05/2025 | Restore Down-Zoning Auth./City of High Point. |
