The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week

Budget Negotiations Continue While Bills Continue to Move

HB 966 Conference Committee members have spent days and nights behind the scenes this week in negotiations between the House and Senate budget writers.  In addition, General Assembly senior leadership has been in heavy conversations with the Governor's Office.  With less than two weeks before the start of a new fiscal year, the focus of the General Assembly remains on finalizing a budget for the upcoming biennium.  Members have indicated the plan is to have the final budget bill go before the House and Senate chambers for vote next week.  If it passes both chambers, it will then be presented to the Governor for his consideration.

In addition to the efforts centered on the budget, crossover bills continue moving at a rapid pace through House and Senate committees and on to the floor of each chamber.  K-12 education bills that have been passed in both Chambers and are being sent to the Governor this week include HB 57 Create Term for Public Schs. & Codify NCVPS and HB 664  myFutureNC / Postsecondary Attainment Goal. SB 219 a high profile bill focused on teacher licensure has been passed by the House and is on the Senate calendar for 6/24/2019 for vote.  This bill would grant teachers three years to pass the required standardized exam, as well as create an additional 3-year non-renewable Limited License, eligible by teachers who haven’t passed the test in the three year allowable timeframe.  (See highlights below for additional details.)

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

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.

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
3. SB 448: Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military

SB 448: Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military

• Amends the requirements for an individual to be appointed as compact commissioner under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children as follows: 
• Removes the requirement that the compact commissioner be a licensed North Carolina attorney who represents at least one local board of education or an attorney familiar with military issues.
• Requires the Governor to appoint an individual who represents at least one local board of education with a high concentration of military children.

BILL SUMMARY

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

Relevant Bills with Action

Bills Passed in Both Chambers

Presented to the Governor

HB 57: Create Term for Public Schs. & Codify NCVPS 

• Creates a new definition for the education chapter of the General Statutes for the term "public school unit" to refer collectively to multiple types of public schools in the State.  
• Codifies the North Carolina Virtual Public School program (NCVPS) in the education chapter of the General Statutes to consolidate all references to the NCVPS program.

BILL SUMMARY

HB 664: myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal

• Establishes a postsecondary educational attainment goal for the State.
• Requires the State to make significant efforts to increase access to learning and improve the education of more North Carolinians so that, by the year 2030, 2,000,000 residents between the ages of 25 and 44 will have completed a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree.
• Requires myFutureNC Commission to report to the General Assembly and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the progress of the State reaching the postsecondary attainment goal and the activities of the Commission to further the State towards the goal.

High Profile K-12 Education Bills

Heard in Committee This Week

HB 886: Study Participation of Operators in NC Pre-K

HB 886 passed Senate Health unanimously this week and has been referred to Senate Rules.  From there it will go to the Senate floor for consideration. This legislation would require a study of four and five star private preschool facilities currently not participating in NC PreK Program through the NC Department Health and Human Services.  The purpose of the study is to identify the challenges preschool operators face in becoming a NC PreK site.  This study would also help determine funding for PreK at the local level. Currently, the state covers 60% of the cost, leaving the locals to cover the remainder.    Key community education leaders and others from the business community spoke at the committee meeting, stressing the value of  PreK education.   The focus of PreK is to prepare children socially and academically for school and studies show that attending PreK lays the foundation for student success in literacy, as well as overall success in school. BILL SUMMARY

SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements

An act to modify teacher licensure requirements in the following ways: Requires the SBE to give teachers three years to pass the required exam. Grants a one year extension for elementary education (K-6) or special education general curriculum teachers with an IPL that is set to expire June 30, 2019, due to the failure to fulfill the licensure examination requirements. Creates a “Limited license”, a three-year nonrenewable license for individuals 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 submit to the SBE an affidavit stating the teacher is effective. Limited license can also be obtained by out-of-state teachers who hold current teacher licensure in another state that is in good standing.  The local board of education submits to the State Board an affidavit signed by the superintendent for the local board of education seeking to employ the teacher stating that the local board seeks to employ the teacher, that the teacher has been employed as a licensed teacher in another state for at least three years, and that the teacher will be encouraged to pursue an IPL or CPL, as appropriate for that teacher. Allows local board to determine experience level for purposes of paying the teacher with state allotted funds according to the state salary schedule.  States that the local board nor teacher are responsible for repayment of over payment, as long as the local board does due diligence when determining pay. Provides a lifetime license to teachers after 30 years vs. the current 50 years of teaching. BILL SUMMARY

HB 37: Child Sex Abuse/Extend Statute of Limitations

• Extends the statute of limitations for a civil action for child sexual abuse so that a plaintiff has until age thirty-eight to commence an action.
• Requires training related to child sexual abuse and sex trafficking for school personnel.

(Amended on the House floor - Passed the House - Sent to the Senate - Referred to Senate Rules)          

HB 656: Medicaid Changes for Transformation

HB 656 makes changes to the Medicaid and Health Choice appeals statutes, and to other laws pertaining to Medicaid and Health Choice, that are necessary to implement Medicaid Transformation and contracts with Prepaid Health Plans on November 1, 2019.

(Amended in Senate Health Care Cmte (CS) - Amended on the Senate floor - Passed the Senate - Sent back to the House for concurrence - House Calendar for Monday, June 24, 2019)

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.

(Amended in House K-12 Ed - Passed the House - Sent back to the Senate for concurrence) 

BILL SUMMARY

SB 230: Excused Absences for Military Children

An act to direct the State Board of Education to adopt rules providing for excused absences from school for children of members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Provide for a minimum of 2 days per academic year for excused absences related to a parent or legal guardian's service in a combat zone.    (Referred House K-12 Ed)                                 BILL SUMMARY

SB 392: Various Charter School Changes 

Part I.  Designates the Superintendent of Public Instruction as an applicable elected representative who may approve bonds to finance or refinance a charter school facility. Part II. Clarifies Charter School Renewal Standards: Amends G.S. 115C-218.6 as follows: Strikes out this language: The charter school's student academic outcomes for the immediately  preceding three years have not been comparable to the academic outcomes of students in the local school administrative unit in which the charter school is located. Adds in this language:  The percent of students who scored at or above proficient for all end-of-grade and end-of-course tests taken in the previous school year, as required by G.S. 115C-174.11(c)(1), is at least five percentage points lower in the charter school than in the local school administrative unit where the charter school is located. Part III. Requires background checks for charter boards of directors Part IV. Increases the cap on enrollment growth of virtual charter schools participating in the virtual charter school pilot program:  Allows enrollment to be increased annually by 20% up to a maximum of 3000 students and allows SBE to waive the 3,000 student maximum.

Bills Heard in Committee This Week:  

• Passed the House - Sent to the Senate

  • HB 37: Child Sex Abuse/Extend Statute of Limitations (Amended on the House floor, Passed the House – Sent to the Senate)
  • SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements (Adopted in the House - On the Senate Calendar for Monday, 6.24.19)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 227: TP3/Principal Fellows Consolidation (Amended in House K-12 Ed - Passed the House - Sent back to the Senate for concurrence)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 366: 10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways (Amended in House K-12 Ed - Passed the House - Sent back to the Senate for concurrence)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 556: GSC People First Language 2019  (Amended on the House floor - Sent back to the Senate for Concurrence)  BILL MEMO - General Comments

• Passed the Senate - Sent to the House 

  • HB 656: Medicaid Changes for Transformation (Amended in the Senate - Passed the Senate - Sent back to the House for concurrence - House Calendar for Monday, 6.24.19)
  • HB 924: Teacher Contract Changes (Sent back to the House for concurrence - House Calendar for Monday, 6.24.19)

• Conference Committee

  • HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act  (Conference Committee negotiating budget)
  • SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment (Conference Committee appointed)

• Passed in a Committee - Referred to another Committee

  • HB 411: Modify School Qual./Student Success Indicator (Amended in Senate Ed/Higher Ed (CS) - referred to Senate Rules)  BILL SUMMARY 
  • HB 886: Study Participation of Operators in NC Pre-K (Passed Senate Health Care - referred to Senate Rules)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 123: Portability of Leave/Charter Schools (Passed in House Pensions - referred to House K-12 Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 391: Expand Youth Internship Opportunities (Amended (CS) in House K-12 Ed - referred to House Rules)
  • SB 392: Various Charter School Changes (Amended (CS) in House K-12 Ed - referred to House Rules)
  • SB 399: Rehire High-Need Teachers (Amended (CS) in House Pensions - referred to House Rules)  BILL SUMMARY
  • SB 674: Surry Co./Mt. Airy/Elkin City/Bd. Ed Partisan *Local Bill (Amended (CS) in House Elections - referred to House Rules)  BILL SUMMARY

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

Other K-12 Education Bills with Movement:

House Bills:    

• HB 107: PED Oversight/EPP Changes (Referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 276: Modify Low-Performing School Definition (Referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 354: Modify Weighting/School Performance Grade (Referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 362: 15-Point Scale For School Performance Grades (Referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 377: Reduce Testing (Referred to Senate Ed/Higher Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 777: Various Retirement Chngs/Wastewater Reform (Referred to Senate Finance)  BILL SUMMARY
• HB 782: Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed (Referred to House Transportation)

Senate Bills:

• SB 230: Excused Absences for Military Children (Referred House K-12 Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• SB 474: Clean Up Obsolete Boards (Referred House Judiciary)
• SB 522: Various Changes to Charter School Laws (Referred to House K-12 Ed)
• SB 621: Testing Reduction Act of 2019 (Referred to House K-12 Ed)  BILL SUMMARY
• SB 343: Changes to Education Reports (Referred to House K-12 Ed)  BILL SUMMARY

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

REMINDER: 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.

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

Next Week's Education-Related Legislative Calendar

June 24 - 28:  Legislative Meeting Calendar

Monday, June 24, 2019

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

  3:00 p.m.: House: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House  1228/1327 LB | Audio       

Tuesday, June 25, 2019 

10:00 a.m.: House: Transportation

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

                   SB 239: Children of Wartime Vets/Scholarships

  1:00 p.m.: House: Education - K-12                                                         643 LOB | Audio  

                   SB 230: Excused Absences for Military Children

                   SB 343: Changes to Education Reports

                   SB 354: Student Notice/Charter School Closure/Restr

                   SB 522: Various Changes to Charter School Laws

                   SB 621: Testing Reduction Act of 2019

Wednesday, June 26, 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.