The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week

Education Bills Picking up Pace

Budget conferees focused on deliberations over the HB 966 conference report this week.  Work will continue throughout the weekend, moving to finalize the budget for consideration by both chambers next week. In addition to the efforts centered on the budget, crossover bills are moving at a rapid pace through House and Senate committees and on to the floor of each chamber. 

Over the coming days, the goal is to ratify the conference report and move it forward to the Governor for consideration.  This report must be approved by both the House and Senate to pass, and from there be sent to the Governor.  The Governor will have ten days after bill presentation to either sign the bill, veto the bill, or allow the bill to become law without his signature.   If vetoed, the General Assembly can then either override the veto, take next steps to reach a compromise with the Governor, or undergo no further action - allowing the continuing resolution to take effect and the state to operate under the existing budget.

Numerous K-12 education bills are scheduled to be heard in House and Senate Education committees next week. The education-related legislative calendar for next week can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.

With a continued focus on the student, one rising junior and one rising senior will be selected to represent North Carolina's public school students as a nonvoting advisor to the State Board of Education. Click here to view the application and see below for further details.

In addition, the SBE Teacher Advisor and 2018 NC Teacher of the Year, Freebird McKinney, spoke to hundreds of attendees and over 100 graduating senior students of Raleigh-based Needham Broughton High School on Sunday evening.  Freebird motivated these students at their Baccalaureate Ceremony, encouraging them to replace the word “time” with the word “life”.  Freebird McKinney's Baccalaureate Address can be found here and an expanded article is outlined below.

Important Budget Resources  DPI Financial & Business Services: Budget Comparison here.  Conference Committee Members here. HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (Senate Edition 6) here.  Updated "Money" Report - 3rd Edition (Senate) here. Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Amendments here. HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (House v4) here.  Committee "Money" Report - 2nd Edition (House) here. Education Items in the Governor's budget here.  Highlights of the NC Public School Budget 2019 here. NC State Board of Education Budget Response here. NC Department of Public Instruction #NC2030 vision here. Public School Capital Outlays Chart here. North Carolina School Finances website here.

Program Evaluation Oversight Committee Meeting - Early Childhood Report

“North Carolina Should Focus on Early Childhood Learning in Order to Raise Achievement in Predominantly Disadvantaged School Districts.”   The Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly was charged with identifying at least ten high-performing American school systems with predominantly economically disadvantaged student populations.  They were further charged to explore reasons for the better outcomes of these systems.   PED’s research led to these findings: Economically disadvantaged districts that demonstrate average or better performance are uncommon. Predominantly disadvantaged districts with average or above performance are already demonstrating high achievement in third grade. Economically disadvantaged districts that perform well share common characteristics. In North Carolina, opportunities exist to improve achievement among predominantly disadvantaged districts through state funding and other forms of support.   PED found that high achieving predominantly disadvantaged districts share several characteristics including:  A focus on early education, Increasing or maximizing student learning time, Attracting, developing, and retaining high-quality teachers, Using data and coaching to improve instruction, Seeking additional outside resources, and Promoting a local school board focus on policy and academic achievement.   PED Recommended the General Assembly: Require low-performing school districts to include an early childhood improvement plan as a component of their required plans for improvement. Require an assessment of early childhood learning as part of the Department of Public Instruction’s comprehensive needs assessment process for districts. Disadvantaged Schools Presentation                                            Disadvantaged Schools Report     Next Program Evaluation Oversight Committee Meeting: Monday, September 9, 2019

Relevant Bills with Action

Bills Heard in Committee This Week: 

• HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (Conference Committee)

House Bills:  June 10-14

• HB 57: Create Term for Public Schs. & Codify NCVPS (Passed the Senate sent back to the House for concurrence)  LINK to Bill Overview in May 17, 2019 Update
• HB 664: myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal (Passed the Senate sent back to the House for concurrence)  LINK to Bill Overview in June 7, 2019 Update
• HB 697: State Surplus Prop. Computers for Nonprofits (Approved by Senate State and Local Government and referred to Senate Rules)  LINK to Bill Overview in May 31, 2019 Update 
• HB 924: Teacher Contract Changes (Placed On Senate Calendar For 06/17/2019)  LINK to Bill Overview in June 7, 2019 Update

Senate Bills:  June 10-14

• SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements (Senate failed to concur - Conference Committee appointed)  LINK to Bill Overview in June 7, 2019 Update
• SB 227: TP3/Principal Fellows Consolidation (Amended (CS) in House K-12 Ed - Title Change, referred to House Rules)
• SB 366: 10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways (Amended (CS) in House K-12 Ed - Title Change, referred to House Rules)
• SB 399: Rehire High-Need Teachers (Passed House  K-12 Ed and referred to House Rules)
• SB 448: Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military (Ratified - Sent to the Governor)
• SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment (Amended on House floor, returned to the Senate for concurrence)  LINK to Bill Overview in June 7, 2019 Update
• SB 556: GSC People First Language 2019 (Passed House Judiciary and referred to House Rules)  LINK to Bill Overview in May 31, 2019 Update

*For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.

Other K-12 Education Bills with Movement:

House Bills:

• HB 266: School Annual Report Card (Re-referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 386: Ensure Safety of School Drinking Water (Re-Referred to House Rules) BILL DIGEST
• HB 493: Abuse & Neglect Resources (Re-referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed) BILL SUMMARY
• HB 521: Transitional License/Teacher from Other State (Referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed) BILL SUMMARY 
• HB 777: Purchase Opt/Credit for Prior Year FT Service (Re-referred to Senate Pensions and Retirement and Aging)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 886: Study Participation of Operators in NC Pre-K (Re-referred to Senate Health Care)  BILL SUMMARY

Senate Bills:

• SB 90: Protect Religious Meeting Places (Re-referred to Senate Judiciary) BILL DIGEST
• SB 239: Children of Wartime Vets/Scholarships (Re-referred To House Committee On Education - Universities) BILL SUMMARY

*For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.

2019 Long Session LINK for bills impacting K-12 education. LINK to K-12 Public Education Bills that made Crossover. NCGA Crossover List - LINK.

High Profile K-12 Education Bills

Heard in Committee This Week

SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements:

An act to modify teacher licensure requirements.

• Time Line for Completion of Examinations – Requires the SBE to give teachers 3 years to pass the examination requirement vs. the current 2 years.
• Creates a “Limited license”, a three-year nonrenewable license issued to an individual who was issued an IPL but didn’t qualify for a CPL due to test requirements under G.S. 115C-270.15(e).  A local board of education must also submit to the State Board and affidavit stating the teacher is effective.
• Creates a “Transitional license”, a three-year nonrenewable license issued to an individual who holds current teacher licensure in another state that is in good standing. Individuals issued transitional licenses shall not be required to demonstrate preparation through achieving a prescribed minimum score on a standardized examination.
• Pay for Teachers with a Transitional License – Allows a teacher pending this license to be paid on the appropriate teachers salary schedule vs. substitute pay and further holds the district and teacher harmless for any overpayment.
• Lifetime license – Provides a lifetime license to teachers after 30 years vs. the current 50 years of teaching.

SB 366: 10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways:

An act to expand to academic transition pathway options for certain sophomore high school students, to permit certain freshman and sophomore high school students to enroll in college courses as part of a college transfer pathway, and to require the SBE to include certain individuals as qualified to contract as adjunct instructors with local boards of education for Career and Technical Education programs.

• Modifies G.S. 115D-20(4)a such that qualified sophomore high school students after meeting certain requirements, may take advantage of college courses through the college transfer pathways requiring successful completion of 30 semester credit hours of transfer courses.  The previous version of this bill also included freshmen high school students.
• Modifies G.S. 115C-157.1 to state that the SBE shall include in the “Adjunct CTE Instructor” criteria that an individual who does not possess an associate or baccalaureate degree shall be qualified as an adjunct instructor if the individual (i) can clearly demonstrate a minimum of six years in the last 10 years of professional experience in the relevant skill or trade and (ii) possesses a recognized industry credential or an active professional license that is required for each subject area or course.  It also increases the number of hours an adjunct instructor may be employed from no more than 10 to no more than 20 hours per week or no more than five full consecutive months of employment.

SB 399: Rehire High-Need Teachers:

An act to allow retired teachers to return to work in high-need schools without adversely impacting the retired teachers’ benefits.

• This would allow retired teachers to work in high-need schools at the pay outlined in the salary steps in subsection (b) of the bill and under the special conditions identified in the bill.
• The bill requires the State Treasurer to seek a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the provisions of this act to ensure there is no conflict with the restrictions of the retirement system.

SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment:

An act to make certain modifications to the implementation of advanced math courses offered when practicable for grades six and higher.

• Modifies G.S. 115C-81.36 to add language that when practicable, local boards of education shall offer advanced learning opportunities in mathematics in grades three through five.
• It further adds that when advanced learning opportunities are offered in mathematics in grades three  through five, any student scoring at the highest level on the end-of-grade test shall, for the next school year, be provided advanced learning opportunities in mathematics approved for that student's grade level. No student who qualifies shall be removed from the advanced learning opportunity provided to the student unless a parent or guardian of the student provides written consent for the student to be excluded or removed after being adequately informed that the student's placement was determined by the student's achievement on the previous end-of-grade test.
• Requires the Department of Public Instruction provide guidance to local boards of education on how to best develop programming and courses to ensure all impacted students receive rigorous, academically appropriate instruction in mathematics.

SB 227: TP3/Principal Fellows Consolidation

The House K-12 Education Committee replaced the language in SB 227 Broaden Charter School Sibling Priority.  The revised version of the bill which also amended the title will now be referred to the House Rules Committee. From there, it would then go to the full House and back to the Senate to see if it agrees with the changes.

K-12 Education Bills That Are Now Session Law

1. HB 263: Fill Vacancies/Modify 2018 Appointments
2. HB 646: ID Approval/Flex Muni One-Stop

*For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.

Continued Investment in the Student Perspective

SBE Student Advisor Application now available

 Deadline: June 30

One rising junior and one rising senior will be selected to represent North Carolina's public school students as a nonvoting advisor to the State Board of Education. The rising senior selected will serve a one-year term, while the rising junior will serve a two-year term, each beginning with the August 2019 SBE meeting. Meetings are typically the first Wednesday and Thursday of each month on the 7th floor of the Education Building at 301 N. Wilmington Street in Raleigh. Click here to view the application. The deadline for applications is June 30, and the two advisors selected will be notified by July 15.  You are encouraged to forward this application to students who would be an excellent fit for this role.

Baccalaureate Address: Freebird McKinney, 2018 Teacher of the Year

On Sunday evening, June 9^th, 2019, SBE Teacher Advisor and 2018 NC Teacher of the Year Freebird McKinney, spoke to hundreds of attendees and over 100 graduating senior students of Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC. Freebird motivated these students at the Baccalaureate Ceremony by encouraging them to replace the word “time” with the word “life”.  He noted that his history class performed an experiment and “determined we value things that we have less of and thus if we visualized our minutes evaporating before our very eyes then eventually we would see that they are worth more as they vanish. After each minute we have less and thus each minute becomes more valuable.”  He further encouraged students “to self-reflect on how TIME, this precious resource is spent on a day to day basis. Once we complete the activity, we analyze our clocks and then we make a dramatic collective classroom promise- we will never use the word time again in our class, NEVER! It is a four-letter word and it does not do justice for what it symbolically stands for. And we agree to replace the word time with LIFE! For this is actually what time represents, what it is failing miserably to impersonate, and what we need to begin to see very differently in our own lives. Every minute of our life should have meaning, value, and purpose, and it should connect to a greater path or REASON. This is an Education Culture Transformation, one that needs to occur in every classroom and within every teacher and student, within every human being.”  Freebird concluded by saying “Good Luck” and “giving thanks to God, for the opportunity to become the husband and father you envisioned, and for giving me purpose, as a teacher, long before I existed.”

Freebird McKinney's entire Baccalaureate Address

Next Week's Education-Related Legislative Calendar

June 17 -  21: Legislative Meeting Calendar

Monday, June 17, 2019

  2:00 p.m.: Senate: Session Convenes                                                      Senate | Audio

  2:30 p.m.: House: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 

11:00 a.m.: House Education - Universities                                                 421 LOB

                    S295: NC HS Graduation as Evidence of Residency.      

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 

11:00 a.m.: Senate: Education/Higher Education                                        1027/1128 LB | Audio

North Carolina General Assembly 

ONLINE RESOURCES:

• Highlights of the NC Public School Budget 2018
• DPI/SBE Reports to the General Assembly
• About the Legislature
• Who Represents Me?
• How a Law is Made
• House Member List
• Senate Member List
• North Carolina Constitution
• House Page Program
• Senate Page Program
• Governor’s Page Program
• Youth Legislative Assembly
• Educational Resources
• An Introduction to the NC General Assembly – Elementary School Ages
• NC Government – Middle School Ages

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

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Cecilia Holden  – Director of Government and Community Relations |  919-807-3406
• Anne Murtha  –  Legislative Specialist  |  919-807-3403

To view previous 2019 Weekly Legislative Updates click here.

 The NC Department of Public instruction offers a number of topics for subscription.

• To subscribe to the Weekly Legislative Update, click here.
• To subscribe to other NC Department of Public Instruction topics, click here.