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Federal grant that helped Wake County schools hire more teachers has been cut

The Wake County Public School System recently learned that federal funding for a successful teacher recruitment program has been cut. The $11.78 million grant that supported Project LEADERS—a program that helped schools hire and keep more teachers—has been terminated immediately by the U.S. Department of Education.

This grant made a real difference for students. It helped schools hire teachers faster, reduced vacancies, and improved hiring processes so more kids could start the school year with a full-time teacher in place. The program was effective, well-managed, and delivered real results.

What Project Leaders did for its 24 schools:

  • Modernized our hiring and recruitment systems—The grant allowed the district to adopt modern recruitment strategies used in private industry. This included investing in digital advertising, targeted outreach, and lead generation tools to attract top talent. These efforts helped the district reach more qualified candidates, streamline the hiring process, and bring the best and brightest into our classrooms more efficiently than ever before.

  • Bonuses to help keep great teachers in the classroom—Retaining experienced, high-quality teachers is especially important in high-needs schools, where turnover rates tend to be higher. Losing teachers mid-year or struggling to fill vacancies can disrupt learning and create instability for students who need consistency the most. The grant provided retention bonuses to encourage great teachers to stay, ensuring that students in these schools had experienced, dedicated educators who could build strong relationships and create a stable, supportive learning environment.

And the results?

  • 133 new teachers were hired in these schools since January 2024.

  • Teacher vacancies dropped by 40%, meaning fewer students started the school year without a teacher.

We’re sharing this information with you to keep you informed. Please know while this decision presents challenges, the district remains committed to keeping great teachers in the classroom so every child gets the education they deserve.

Teacher Leader Schools

  • Baileywick Road Elementary

  • Barwell Road Elementary

  • Brentwood Magnet Elementary

  • Bugg Magnet Elementary

  • Carroll Magnet Middle

  • Centennial Campus Magnet Middle

  • Dillard Drive Magnet Elementary

  • East Garner Magnet Middle

  • East Millbrook Magnet Middle

  • Forestville Road Elementary

  • Green Magnet Elementary

  • Hodge Road Magnet Elementary

  • Knightdale Elementary

  • Lockhart Elementary

  • Lynn Road Elementary

  • Neuse River Middle

  • Poe Magnet Elementary

  • River Bend Elementary

  • Timber Drive Elementary

  • Wake Forest Magnet Elementary

  • Walnut Creek Elementary

  • Wilburn Elementary

  • Wildwood Forest Magnet Elementary

  • Zebulon Magnet Middle