GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 598

 

 

Short Title:      Future Teachers of North Carolina.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Senators Barefoot, Meredith, Britt (Primary Sponsors);  Alexander, Ballard, Daniel, J. Jackson, McInnis, Newton, Rabin, and Smith-Ingram.

Referred to:

Rules and Operations of the Senate

April 5, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to establish FUTURE teachers of north carolina.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:

"Article 29A.

"Future Teachers of North Carolina.

"§ 116‑239.1.  Establishment of Future Teachers of North Carolina.

(a)        Purpose. – Future Teachers of North Carolina, hereinafter FTNC, is established to encourage high‑achieving high school students with strong academic, interpersonal, and leadership skills to consider teaching as a career.

(b)        Program. – FTNC shall be a program providing professional development and curricula for courses that provide a challenging introduction to teaching as a profession for high school students through courses offered by participating high schools in conjunction with college partners. FTNC courses shall include both content on pedagogy and the profession of teaching and field experiences for high school students.

"§ 116‑239.5.  Oversight of Future Teachers of North Carolina.

(a)        FTNC General Administration. – FTNC shall be administratively located in The University of North Carolina General Administration. The President shall select three constituent institutions with highly successful schools of education located in the western, central, and eastern regions of the State, respectively, to collaborate on development of curricula for FTNC and to provide professional development to high school teachers who will teach FTNC courses. The three constituent institutions shall also work with other constituent institutions and other institutions of higher education in the State to seek input in the development of curricula and professional development for FTNC and to create a network of college faculty to provide support to high schools offering FTNC courses.

(b)        FTNC Site Applications. – All high schools in the State are encouraged to offer FTNC courses to students. A high school shall apply to offer FTNC courses with the geographically appropriate constituent institution overseeing FTNC and shall ensure that all teachers teaching FTNC courses have received appropriate training. High schools shall also seek a partner institution of higher education to provide support from college faculty. High schools participating in the FTNC program shall report demographic, survey, and other available outcome data to The University of North Carolina General Administration as necessary for completion of the FTNC annual report required by G.S. 116‑239.10.

(c)        FTNC Institution of Higher Education Partners. – Constituent institutions that partner with high schools shall offer dual credit for high school students who successfully complete the FTNC course with a grade of "B" or higher. Other institutions of higher education that partner with high schools are encouraged to offer dual credit for high school students who successfully complete the FTNC course with a grade of "B" or higher. Constituent institutions shall provide annually to The University of North Carolina General Administration data on students who have received dual credit for completion of an FTNC course and students who applied for admission into an educator preparation program at a constituent institution who indicated in the application for admission that the student completed an FTNC course. Other institutions of higher education are encouraged to provide annually to The University of North Carolina General Administration data on students who have received dual credit for completion of an FTNC course and students who applied for admission into an educator preparation program at the institution of higher education who indicated in the application for admission that the student completed an FTNC course.

"§ 116‑239.10.  Future Teachers of North Carolina Reporting.

The University of North Carolina General Administration shall report annually, beginning October 15, 2019, on the following:

(1)        Total number and names of local school administrative units with high schools participating in FTNC, total number and names of high schools offering FTNC, partner institution of higher education for each high school, and number of sections of the course being offered at each high school.

(2)        Demographic information of students enrolled in FTNC courses.

(3)        Percentage of students who, after completing the course, reported the following:

a.         The student plans to choose teaching as a profession.

b.         The course was very or somewhat effective in helping the student formulate a positive perception of the education profession.

c.         The coursework and activities increased the student's knowledge of the teaching profession and other careers in education.

d.         The field experience helped the student understand the many factors that contribute to effective teaching.

(4)        Percentage of students who completed an FTNC course who received dual credit for successful completion of the course, by institution.

(5)        Percentage of students who completed an FTNC course who applied for admission into an educator preparation program, by institution.

(6)        Number of teachers provided professional development for FTNC."

SECTION 2.  The University of North Carolina General Administration shall report by October 15, 2018, on the number of site applications received, number of teachers provided professional development, number of local school administrative units and high schools offering FTNC, and number of sections of the course being offered for the 2018‑2019 school year.

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of two hundred seventy‑eight thousand five hundred dollars ($278,500) in recurring funds for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year to establish, develop curricula, and provide professional development for high school teachers for the Future Teachers of North Carolina program at three constituent institutions.

SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017. The selected constituent institutions shall make available site applications and provide professional development to high school teachers no later than February 1, 2018.