GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 587

Short Title:        School Flexibility Act.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Lambeth and Stam (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly Web Site.
Referred to:	Education ‑ K‑12.

April 6, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish public school flexibility.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑105.37B is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(e) The Department of Public Instruction shall conduct professional development workshops in each region of the State that provide information on the four school reform models set forth in subsection (a) of this section. In conducting the workshops, particular emphasis shall be placed on the restart model in subdivision (a)(2) of this section that provides local school administrative units with flexibility similar to charter schools with the local board of education maintaining control of the school. The Department may conduct a series of workshops but must conduct at least one workshop annually for superintendents and their designees."

SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑105.25 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(d) The Department of Public Instruction shall conduct professional development workshops in each region of the State that provide information on the budget flexibility provided by this section for differentiated pay and other initiatives to improve student achievement. The Department may conduct a series of workshop but must conduct at least one workshop annually for the superintendents and their designees."

SECTION 3.  The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by November 15, 2015, with recommendations on (i) improving the teacher licensing process in the areas of establishing initial pay for teachers who have been hired but their request for a North Carolina teachers license has not been processed; (ii) efforts to automate the teacher licensing process; (iii) changes to the lateral entry process for teachers; (iv) whether to accept funds under Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C., Chapter 70, Subchapter II, which impacts the number of highly‑qualified teachers; and (v) streamlining the teacher licensing process.

SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015.