This week, the North Carolina Department of Instruction (DPI) celebrates global learning as part of its Find Your Fit campaign, highlighting the many pathways available within North Carolina’s public schools. Global learning is reflected in DPI’s Key Elements of a Global Classroom, embedded in curriculum resources, and often most visible in magnet schools focused on global studies. Yet one of the most powerful and accessible drivers of global learning across all districts is the presence of international teachers.
The H-1B visa provides a pathway to permanent residency and is often pursued by international teachers who wish to remain in their school communities long term. Last year, more than 200 H-1B visas were approved for K-12 educators in North Carolina, which is more than any other state in the country except for Texas. With more than 1,500 teacher vacancies and over 5,000 residency licensed teachers reported statewide last year, these certified, credentialed educators are an essential part of filling classrooms.
In addition, nearly 3,700 teachers in North Carolina serve on J-1 visas, which allow educators to teach for up to three to five years through cultural exchange programs. Many districts partner with organizations such as Participate Learning to recruit and support these teachers. While J-1 visas enrich school communities, their temporary nature limits long-term retention. Many educators previously transitioned from J-1 to H-1B status to remain in districts they had come to call home, but recent policy shifts have made that pathway far more difficult.
For districts, particularly rural and low-wealth communities, international teachers are not supplemental; they are foundational. In Halifax County, for example, international teachers now make up the majority of educators. Their presence strengthens instruction and provides students, many of whom are multilingual learners or students of color, the opportunity to engage with diverse global perspectives.
Last September, the Trump administration announced an increase in the H-1B visa fee to $100,000. This new structure places the pipeline at risk, at a time when schools continue to face staffing shortages. Few school districts can absorb such costs, forcing greater reliance on short-term visas and contributing to continued turnover just as educators become integrated into their schools and communities. At a time when North Carolina is struggling to recruit and retain high-quality teachers, policies that restrict access to certified international educators create additional strain on an already fragile workforce.
North Carolina’s commitment to preparing globally engaged students depends on stable classrooms led by qualified teachers. Protecting and strengthening the international teacher pipeline is both a workforce necessity and an investment in preparing globally engaged students for the future.
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