GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

H                                                                                                                                                    3

HOUSE BILL 587

Committee Substitute Favorable 4/28/15
Third Edition Engrossed 4/29/15

Short Title:        School Flexibility Act.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

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) Organizations such as the North Carolina School Boards Association may conduct professional development workshops in each region of the State to provide information on the four school reform models set forth in subsection (a) of this section. In conducting the workshops, organizations are strongly encouraged to place particular emphasis on the restart model in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) 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 of Public Instruction shall provide information and assistance as requested to organizations such as the North Carolina School Boards Association and shall ensure that information and assistance is provided in a timely manner so that such organizations can conduct at least one workshop annually for superintendents and their designees with a goal of providing a series of workshops throughout the year."

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

"(d) Organizations such as the North Carolina School Boards Association may 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 of Public Instruction shall provide information and assistance as requested to organizations such as the North Carolina School Boards Association and shall ensure that requested information and assistance is provided in a timely manner so that the organizations can conduct at least one workshop annually for superintendents and their designees with a goal of providing a series of workshops throughout the year."

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 teacher's 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.