GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

H                                                                                                                                                   2

HOUSE BILL 855

Committee Substitute Favorable 5/31/11

 

Short Title:        Personal Learning Plan for Each Child.

(Public)

Sponsors:

 

Referred to:

 

April 7, 2011

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to require the public schools to provide a personal learning plan for every student.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 115C-105.42.  Personal learning plans for certain students.

(a)        A personal learning plan is a document that provides an ongoing record of a student's interests, strengths, needs, learning styles, and progress. It is created by, and is the responsibility of, the student to update in grade six through high school graduation. At a minimum, the personal learning plan shall ensure that a student evaluates his or her strengths, weaknesses, short- and long-term goals, accomplishments, and provides input into his or her own conception of a quality education. Each student who does not have an individualized education program as defined in G.S. 115C-106.3 or a personal education plan in accordance with G.S. 115C-105.41 shall have a personal learning plan.

(b)        Local education authorities shall develop and deliver the personal learning plan template and process. Students shall be responsible for plan creation and maintenance with updates as they deem necessary.

(c)        The purpose of a personal learning plan is for an applicable student to promote independent learning at school, home, and in the community by:

(1)        Setting realistic goals and identifying persons who can help achieve these goals.

(2)        Developing strategies for dealing with goals that are not achieved or are only partially achieved.

(3)        Recording achievements beyond a purely subject-based focus.

(4)        Ensuring a dialogue with teachers regarding progress.

(5)        Facilitating communication between parents and teachers.

(d)        A personal learning plan shall include self-assessment by an applicable student of personal interests, strengths, needs, and learning styles soon after entry into grade six, forming the starting point of the plan. For students not attending North Carolina schools in the sixth grade, a personal learning plan shall be developed as soon as practicable.

(e)        A personal learning plan may include the following:

(1)        The student's evaluation of the curriculum and community learning opportunities and plans for using these resources.

(2)        Learning targets and goals, agreed upon by the student, teachers, and parents, including strategies for attainment and achievement in academics, personal and social health and mental health, information and communication technology, and career options.

(3)        An outline of the main responsibilities of the school, the parents, and the student in achieving learning targets and goals.

(f)         A personal learning plan shall be developed and maintained in an electronic format whenever feasible."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.