Education Bill Crossover

To date this session, 88 K-12 public education bills have passed from one chamber to the other, with 1 education bill becoming session law thus far. 

Crossover is the date by which legislation without a financial component must pass from the originating chamber into the other chamber, in order for that legislation to be considered during the short session. 

The K-12 Public Education bills that made crossover this week are listed below. These bills have been vetted throughout multiple committees over the course of this session, as well as having been heard on the floor and passed by the originating chamber.

WEEK of May 6-10

1. HB 144: Hands Free NC
2. HB 777: Purchase Opt/Credit for Prior Year FT Service
3. HB 888: Education Accommodations/Sickle Cell Disease 

1. SB 123: Portability of Leave/Charter Schools
2. SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements
3. SB 354: Student Notice/Charter School Closure/Restr
4. SB 366: 9th/10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways
5. SB 379: Retiree Amendments
6. SB 399: Rehire High-Need Teachers
7. SB 408: Pensions Benefits Revision
8. SB 448: Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military
9. SB 474: Clean Up Obsolete Boards
10. SB 488: Realistic Evaluation of Actuarial Liabilities
11. SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment
12. SB 522: Various Changes to Charter School Laws 
13. SB 599: State and Local Disability Benefit Reform

Link to K-12 Public Education Bills that made Crossover. 

HB 798: Low-Performing Schools

This bill would modify the provisions set forth in GS 115C-75.7. HB 798 is an act that would align the selection of Innovative Schools with those identified by the State Board of Education for comprehensive support and improvement, to expand options for the Innovative School District (ISD) to require local boards of education to inform boards of County Commissioners of academic progress annually and to require further study of reforms for assistance to low-performing schools. 

This bill would also change how schools are selected for ISD, a program that allows state acquisition of low-performing schools. The ISD would focus on Title 1 lowest-performing 5% of schools and place these schools on a Qualifying List, Watch List and Warning List. The legislation would require the state’s lowest-performing school to be added to the program annually.

SB 374: Repeal Risky Retirement Payments

This bill would eliminate certain retirement payment system options in order to both reduce risk (to both the retirement system and its members) and complexity of the retirement payment system. The current list of retirement options for state employees can be found here (Specifically page 17). 

OPTIONS THAT WOULD REMAIN AVAILABLE

• Maximum Allowance. The amount is defined by statutory formula, and is payable only over the member’s life.
• Option 2. The benefit is reduced so that the full payment can continue to a designated beneficiary if the member predeceases the beneficiary. The beneficiary can be any person.
• Option 3. The benefit is reduced (but not as much as in Option 2) so that half of the payment can continue to a designated beneficiary if the member predeceases the beneficiary. The beneficiary can be any person.

OPTIONS THAT WOULD BE ELIMINATED FOR FUTURE RETIREMENTS

• Option 4. Only available if the member retires before age 62. The benefit is greater than the Maximum Allowance until the member reaches age 62. After age 62, the benefit is reduced in an amount equal to the Social Security benefit payable at age 62 that was estimated when the member retired.
• Option 6-2. Similar to Option 2, but benefit is reduced further, so that if the beneficiary predeceases the member, the benefit increases (“pops up”) to the member’s Maximum Allowance.
• Option 6-3. Similar to Option 3, but with the “pop-up” to the Maximum Allowance (as with Option 6-2) if the beneficiary predeceases the member.

2019 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year Announced

We are proud to announce that the 2019 NC Principal of the Year is Mr. Matthew Bristow-Smith. Smith presides over Edgecombe Early College High School in the Edgecombe County School System. Matt succeeds the 2018 Principal of the Year, Tabari Wallace, principal at West Craven High School in the Craven County School System.

Congratulations to Matt and a special thank you to Tabari Wallace, 2018 Principal of the Year (POY). Tabari will remain as a Principal advisor to the State Board of Education and will be joined by Matt who will also serve in this capacity. 

The state’s top principal was selected from a field of eight regional finalists chosen earlier this year following interviews and a rigorous portfolio review. 

The regional principals of the year are:

• Northeast: Melissa Fields, Perquimans Central (Perquimans County Schools);
• Southeast: Elizabeth P. Pierce, Frink Middle (Lenoir County Public Schools);
• North Central: Matthew Bristow-Smith, Edgecombe Early College High (Edgecombe County Public Schools);
• Sandhills: James “Bo” Mullins, Clement Elementary (Sampson County Schools);
• Piedmont-Triad: Sean Gaillard, Lexington Middle (Lexington City Schools);
• Southwest: Dr. Timisha Barnes-Jones, West Charlotte High (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools);
• Northwest: Michelle Baker, Eastfield Global Magnet (McDowell County Schools) and
• Western: Brandon Sutton, Swain Middle (Swain County Schools).

This year’s Wells Fargo Principal of the Year receives $3,000 for personal use and $3,000 for his or her school. The winner also receives professional development and resources thanks to Education First Tours, a custom-made NC Principal of the Year signet ring and pendant from Jostens Inc., a complimentary two-night stay at the new Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Chapel Hill-Carrboro, and resources to help combat child hunger from the Principal of the Year program’s newest sponsor, No Kids Hungry NC.

Students Present on Enhancing Education

On Friday, students from Wake County's Enloe High School presented to SBE's legislative team as well as DPI staff from the social studies and AIG departments. The topic of their presentation was "Education: From Good to Better" and as part of a school project, the students talked about ways in which they would like to see public education improve. The solutions ranged from reduced class sizes and advanced degree pay, to snackbars in classrooms and student technology trainings. Each audience member was captivated by the variety of intelligent ideas these high school sophomores were able to convey.

Legislative Info and Acronyms 

This section includes details pertaining to acronyms and bill information referenced throughout the K-12 Education Legislative Update newsletters.

Biennium- A two-year term of legislative activity

Public Bill- Legislation enacted into law that applies to the public at large

Local Bill- Legislation put into law that has limited application (How many counties)- Local bills do not have to be signed by the governor

Sponsor- The legislator who presents a bill or resolution for consideration

Resolution- A document that expresses the sentiment or intent of the legislature or a chamber. Resolutions, when finalized, go to the Secretary of State

Glossary of Legislative Terms- LINK

DPI = NC Department of Public Instruction

LEA = Local Education Agency

NCGA = North Carolina General Assembly

LB/LOB = Legislative Building/Legislative Office Building 

SBE = North Carolina State Board of Education

AB = Agency Bill

HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill

JR = Joint Resolution

SL = Session Law

GS = General Statute 

PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute 

FY = Fiscal Year