The NC Principal Recruitment Supplement Program (PRSP)
Published 2026 | BEST NC | Section: Educators (Page 33)
Research consistently demonstrates that experienced, high-performing principals are less likely to lead schools serving large concentrations of low-income students, students of color, and low-performing students. The North Carolina Principal Recruitment Supplement Program (PRSP), established in 2019 through Session Law 2019-247, incentivizes proven leaders to move into and remain in the state’s lowest-performing schools to drive sustained turnaround efforts.
Qualified Principals
Under PRSP, qualifying principals receive a $30,000 annual salary supplement for up to three years while serving at a low-performing school. Eligibility is tied to demonstrated effectiveness: receiving an “Exceeded Growth” score for two of the three previous years at the principal’s prior school.
Schools In the Bottom 5% Statewide are Eligible
Qualifying schools are low-performing under G.S. 115C-105.37, with a School Performance Grade of D or F and a growth status of “Met” or “Not Met Expected Growth.” Typically, 110–150 schools qualify annually, based on the prior year’s data. Districts are notified between January and April.
Impressive ImpactsAt least 50% of participating schools have exceeded growth, meaning they exit their status as a low-performing school. Among the 2023–24 schools, six schools’ growth scores improved in 2024–25 over the 2022–23 baseline, while two remained at “met growth.” These gains indicate that strategically placing high-performing leaders in struggling schools can meaningfully accelerate academic growth. |
School Growth Scores Before and After Participating in the PRSP (2022–23 and 2024–25) |
Participation Remains Low
The number of principals participating each year is much lower than program capacity, presenting a great opportunity for school districts to leverage these incentives. In 2024–25, 13 principals received the supplement across qualifying schools, out of 40 available slots statewide. Participation peaked at 20 principals across the three cohorts in 2023–24, with a total of 78 principals benefiting since the program’s inception.
Opportunities for Greater ImpactThe NC Department of Public Instruction recommends increasing the number of years principals are eligible for the supplement and expanding school eligibility to increase participation. Also, strengthening program perception and flexibility could improve alignment between available funding and the state’s broader goal of ensuring that the most effective school leaders are equitably distributed across high-need schools. |
85%
of PRSP-Participating Schools
either Met or Exceeded Expected Growth. This represented some of the strongest collective results for turnaround schools in state history.
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PRSP Report to the NCGA 2024–25; EdNC Article on PRSP from BEST NC 2026 — ednc.org
About This Series
This post is part of BEST NC’s 2026 Facts & Figures: Education in North Carolina Spotlight On: series. View the full report at NCEdFacts.org or visit BESTNC.org.