Rep. Willis files bill in North Carolina House to improve math education

A new bill filed by State Rep. David Willis in the North Carolina House seeks to improve math proficiency and readiness for advanced math courses through enhanced instruction and tailored interventions, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 875 on April 9 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘DPI to Redesign Math Instruction.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill directs the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to enhance math instruction and student support from kindergarten through eighth grade, aiming for student proficiency in grade-level math and readiness for NC Math 1 and related exams. The Department will implement a system based on high-quality instructional materials and provide technology-driven responsive feedback. Districts must select from approved lists of supplemental math systems and instructional materials that include explicit, structured problem-based learning. These materials should measure skills such as number sense and geometry and help identify students with math deficiencies or dyscalculia. Interventions will be tailored to individual student needs, with ongoing parent notifications and proposed strategies. Teachers will receive comprehensive training in evidence-based instructional strategies and using technology effectively in math education. The act is effective upon enactment and applies from the 2025-26 school year, with progress reports due before new state math standards are implemented.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brian Biggs proposed the most bills (43) 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.

Willis graduated from Appalachian State University in 1996.

Willis, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 68th House district, replacing previous state representative D. Craig Horn.