January 7-8, 2027 | 8:30am - 4:45pm | New Bern, NC |  $TBD

February 4-5, 2027 | 8:30am - 4:45pm | Charlotte, NC |  $TBD

SCHEDULE: 2027 AGENDA TBA

This course will be in-person. Check-in begins at 7:30am and the program concludes at 4:45pm on Day One and 4:15pm on Day Two. A reception will be held on the first night of this program from 5pm-6pm. 

Participants will receive an email with details and important information about their course one week prior to the event. 

The School of Government, in partnership with the North Carolina League of Municipalities, offers Essentials of Municipal Government, our biennial school for newly elected municipal officials.

This course will help those newly elected to office successfully transition from campaigning to governing. On the campaign trail, you make speeches and shake hands; you make commitments and promise good things for your citizens. Once elected, you take an oath of office to uphold the laws and the Constitution of our state and our nation; the scope of your responsibilities can seem daunting. In this two-day course, you will learn the following:

• The fundamentals of municipal government law, authority, and practice
• The core functions, structure, and purpose of municipal government
• The role of the elected body and your role as one of its members
• The legal and ethical duties of elected officials and staff
• The exemplary habits of a high-performing governing board, which include building positive relationships with staff and external partners who influence life in your communities

Essentials of Municipal Government provides an excellent opportunity for incumbents to learn about newer elements of laws affecting municipal governance. It also fulfills the mandatory Ethics training requirement. All participants will gain a deeper appreciation of the value of governing at the municipal level and the importance of developing the skills and behaviors that lead to effective local government leadership. Participants especially appreciate getting to know other elected officials from across their regions and learning from each other’s experiences.  

Who should attend the course: We encourage your newly elected officials to attend with their municipal manager. Municipalities with strong clerk relationships would also benefit from attending together.

This engaging course includes roleplay, small-group discussions, peer-to-peer insights, and practical tips and tools for navigating the municipal governing environment. Dates and locations for the upcoming program cycle are:

• January 7-8, 2027, River Convention Center, New Bern, NC
• February 4-5, 2027, Harris Converence Center, Charlotte, NC

LELA Level: Local elected officials become members of the Local Elected Leaders Academy upon completion of Essentials of County/Municipal Government. Members work toward completing four recognition levels, Practitioner, Master, Mentor, and Laureate, and receive a certificate of completion at each level.  For more information, visit the LELA Academy information page.