The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week

More Mini Budgets and State Board of Education Appointments 

Earlier this week, Senator Berger held a press conference and stated that legislators will continue clearing the deck of broad bipartisan budget items that were included in HB 966 2019 Appropriations Act. He further noted that these mini-budgets will be identical or nearly identical to the larger budget bill.  Following his press conference, three additional mini-budgets moved forward in the General Assembly HB 100: DOT Budget for 2019-2020 Biennium, HB 387: Growing G.R.E.A.T., HB 1001: Raise the Age Funding. In the press conference, Senator Berger shared that the Senate will adjourn by October 31^st at the latest this Session but prior to adjournment, they plan to send something forward that will address teacher pay increases.  He further stated that if they override the veto of HB 966, a Special Session will be called later this year with a focus around healthcare. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, the State Board of Education held their monthly meeting.  Board members received a presentation from the Superintendent of the Innovative School District and the Friday Institute on the evaluation of the implementation of the Innovative School District (ISD) – a legislated initiative centered around low-performing schools.  Potential changes to the existing ISD legislation are included in SB 522: Low-Performing Schools/Standard Student Conduct which is currently pending action by the General Assembly S522 Conference Committee. The legislative update to the Board highlighted a comparison between existing legislation and the changes that would be effective should SB 522 become law.

Also this week, the House and Senate held a Joint Session in accordance with SJR 687 SBOE Confirmation/Jt. Session to consider the Governor's appointments to the State Board of Education.  The General Assembly voted and have confirmed Donna Tipton-Rogers, JB Buxton and J. Wendell Hall to serve on the State Board of Education.  Details about this and the October State Board meeting can be found in the article below.

The House and Senate have Session scheduled next week, as well as Appropriations Committee meetings. The legislative calendar can be found here. 

State Board of Education - October Meeting

The SBE held their monthly meeting this week on Wednesday, October 2, and Thursday, October 3.    The agendas can be found through the links below: Agenda for October 2 located here. Agenda for October 3 located here.

State Board of Education Members Approved by Joint Session of the General Assembly

SJR 687 SBOE Confirmation/Jt. Session

On Wednesday, in a joint session of the General Assembly, three of the Governor's nominations, J. Wendell Hall, J.B. Buxton, and Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers were approved to serve on the State Board of Education (SBE).  Donna Tipton-Rogers and Weston Hall will fill seats previously occupied by Tricia Willoughby and Wayne McDevitt respectively whose terms had expired.  J.B. Buxton will continue to serve in the at-large seat he has been filling post the resignation of Board Chair Bill Cobey last year.    

• J. Wendell Hall of Ahoskie will serve as a Member-At-Large on the Board. He is a member of the Hertford County School Board and has served as the interim superintendent for Northampton County Schools, Warren County Schools and Weldon City Schools. Mr. Hall was the president of the NC School Boards Association and the NC Association of School Administrators.
• J.B. Buxton will officially continue his service on the State Board of Education as a Member-At-Large. Mr. Buxton is the founding principal of the Education Innovations Group, a consulting practice focused on state education strategies for Pre-K-12 and postsecondary public education. He also worked as the deputy state superintendent of the North Carolina Department for Public Instruction. 
• Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers will serve the Western Education Region. Dr. Tipton-Rogers is the president and CEO of Tri-County Community College. She also serves as vice-chair on the Legislative Committee for the NC Community College System Presidents Association and as co-chair of the North Carolina Task Force on Rural Health.

Status of Mini Budgets

 LINK to History of Budget Resources

NC Youth Legislative Assembly Accepting Applications 

                                                   

The North Carolina Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA) is a state program that has been in existence for over 49 years. This program continues to shape young leaders and provide them with a hands-on approach to government. The YLA program replicates a legislative atmosphere of geographic diversity similar to our legislature. In doing so, the YLA program builds, encourages, and strengthens character traits that equip students to take leadership roles in civic activities in their communities.

In April 2020, approximately 200 North Carolina high school students will convene at the NC General Assembly for YLA. If you know a high school student with an interest in government, please share this information with them. Applications for the Youth Legislative Assembly are now online and can be found at https://www.ncleg.gov/YLA. If you have questions regarding the YLA program, please contact Erica Gallion, YLA Program Coordinator, at erica.gallion@ncleg.net or (919) 301-1372. 

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2019 New K-12 Education Laws

• List of New K-12 Education Laws and Chaptered Resolutions here.

• Complete List of Bills that are Session Law here.

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

Relevant Bills with Action

Education Bills Vetoed by the Governor This Session

• HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act  VETO Message | House veto override on 9/11/2019 - Referred to Senate Rules on 9/11/2019
• Base budget appropriations for current operations of state agencies, departments, and institutions. Governor Cooper’s veto message states his disappointment in the budget based on differing priorities between the Governor and General Assembly.
• SB 392: Various Charter School Changes  BILL SUMMARY   VETO Message
• Makes various changes to the laws affecting charter schools. Governor Cooper’s veto message states his concern about the lift on enrollment caps for virtual charter schools due to the low performance of schools in this pilot.
• SB 438: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2019  VETO Message
• An act to modify the implementation of the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program in order to attain statewide reading proficiency by the third grade.
• SB 533: Regulatory Reform Act of 2019  VETO Message
  • Would amend several State laws related to State and local government regulation, and agricultural, energy, environmental, and natural resources regulation. Would require NC Pre-K operators to provide parents with information pertaining to public and private school options in the county.    

Complete List of Bills Vetoed by the Governor here.

K-12 Education Bills - Last Movement This Week

• Passed the House - Sent to the Senate  

• HB 1001: Raise the Age Funding (Passed the House - Referred to Senate Rules on 10/3/2019)
• SB 690: Modifications to 2019 Appointments Bill (Passed the House - Sent To Senate on 10/3/2019)

• Passed the Senate - Sent to the House 

• HB 100: DOT Budget for 2019-2021 Biennium (Passed the Senate - Returned to the House for Concurrence in Senate changes)

• Conference Committee 

• SB 681: Rur Hlth Care/Loc. Sales Tax Flex/Util. Acct. (Conferees Reappointed 0n 10/3/2019)
• Bills in Conference Committee: LINK

• Bills that are filed, referred to a committee or calendared for the House or Senate Floor 

• None 

• Presented to the Governor

• None 

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.

Next Week's Education-Related Legislative Calendar

October 7 - 11: Legislative Meeting Calendar

Monday, October 7, 2019

  4:00 p.m.: House: Session Convenes - No Vote Session                                   House | Audio

  4:00 p.m.: Senate: Session Convenes - No Vote Session                                 Senate | Audio

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

  9:00 a.m.: House: Appropriations                                                                    643 LOB | Audio

  1:00 p.m.: Senate: Appropriations/Base Budget                                             643 LOB | 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   HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill JR = Joint Resolution SL = Session Law GS = General Statute  PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute

OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION:

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

OFFICE OF THE NC SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Karson Nelson –  Legislative Assistant 

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.