The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week
 General Assembly in Full Motion This Week
The General Assembly was in full motion this week, taking action on a number of bills impacting K-12 Education. Click here for a list and current status of K-12 Education bills that moved this week.
Teacher pay increases were addressed in HB 377 Teacher Step Act, as well as SB 354 Strengthening Educators’ Pay Act. HB 377 would ensure teachers, instructional support personnel, and Assistant Principals receive salary increases based on years of experience. In addition, it would provide legislatively mandated salary increases for principals. This bill also authorizes salary supplements for highly qualified NC teaching graduates. While the Senate did not attempt an override of the Governor’s veto of HB 966 2019 Appropriations Act, SB 354 includes language that is consistent with the budget bill. Both of these budget bills would appropriate funds for legislatively mandated compensation increases for certain public school personnel. Among other things, both bills would give teachers an average increase of 3.9% over the biennium; however, if the larger budget veto is overridden, SB 354 would include a 4.4% total pay increase over the biennium vs. the 3.9%. HB 377 and SB 354 were passed by both the House and the Senate and were presented to the Governor on November 1, 2019 for his consideration.
Another high profile bill that passed in both Chambers is SB 522 Low-Performing Schools/Adv. Teaching Roles. This bill modifies existing language regarding the Innovative School District (ISD), including the definition of a qualifying school. Current law requires an additional four schools to be named for transfer into the ISD by the State Board of Education for the 2020-2021 school year. SB 522 eliminates the requirement to add any schools next school year and also includes language that would place qualifying schools on an identification list in year one, a watch list in year two and a warning list in year three, all prior to going into the ISD. The bill also identifies a Support Process, requiring the State Board of Education to ensure that qualifying schools identified for any ISD list are engaged in strategies in compliance with federal and State law for comprehensive support and improvement.
Before adjourning this week, the House and Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 694 which has Members returning on November 13, 2019. In addition to limiting what the General Assembly can consider when they reconvene in November, the Resolution also includes language that shows the General Assembly to reconvene next on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The Legislative Calendar can be found here.
November State Board of Education Fall Planning and Work Session Meeting
State Board of Education, Professional Educator Preparation Standards Commission and Ms. Holden Receives Award
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During the 2018 session, HB 933 Reciprocity/School Psychologist Licensure made great advances in the NC General Assembly, but did not become law. The bill would have required the State Board to establish a psychological interjurisdictional compact (PSCYPACT) that granted a license to practice as a school psychologist to any individual who holds the nationally certified school psychologist credential. Although the bill didn’t become law, the State Board of Education (SBE) took action and adopted a policy that essentially accomplished the same objective, which was to simplify the process for school psychologists to become licensed in the State of North Carolina.
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As a result of this work, the SBE, the Professional Educator Preparation Standards Commission (PEPSC) and Cecilia Holden, SBE Director of Government and Community Relations, each received an award from the North Carolina School Psychology Association (NCSPA) for their dedicated work. Dr. Olivia Oxendine accepted the award on behalf of the Board, Dr. Van Dempsey, Dean of the Watson College of Education at UNC Wilmington and member of PEPSC accepted the award on behalf of PEPSC and Ms. Holden accepted her individual award at the October 21st event held in Wilmington, NC. |
Relevant Bills with Action
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SB 354 Part I
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SB 354 Part II (applies if there is a budget veto override)
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Increases average teacher salary by 3.9% over the biennium
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Increases average teacher salary by 4.4% over the biennium
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Gives teachers with 16-20 years of experience a $500 raise for each fiscal year of the biennium
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Gives teachers with 16-20 years of experience a $500 raise in FY 2019-2020 and a $1,000 raise in FY 2020-2021
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Gives teachers with 21-24 years of experience a $1,500 raise in FY 2019-2020 and a $500 raise in FY 2020-2021
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Gives teachers with 21-24 years of experience a $1,500 raise in FY 2019-2020 and a $1,000 raise in FY 2020-2021
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Gives teachers with 25 or more years of experience a $600 raise in FY 2019-2020 and a $500 raise in FY 2020-2021
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Gives teachers with 25 or more years of experience a $600 raise in FY 2019-2020 and a $1000 raise in FY 2020-2021
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- Provides a $500 bonus no later than November 30, 2019 for teachers with 25 or more years of experience as of November 1, 2019 – GA intends to continue this bonus in 2020
- Modifies the definition of a “highly qualified graduate” for those entering the teaching profession in the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium – qualified graduates receive a salary supplement each month
- Grants small county signing bonuses for teachers who are employees in LEAs that received small county school system supplemental funding in the 2018-2019 fiscal year and are matched on the basis of $1.00 in State funds for every $1.00 in local funds, up to $2,000 in State funds
- Maintains the base assistant principal pay and supplements – pay is based on the “A” teacher salary schedule plus 19%
- Central office and noncertified personnel salaries
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SB 354 Part I
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SB 354 Part II (applies if there is a budget veto override)
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Increases central office and noncertified personnel salaries by 1% for FY 2019-2020 – GA intends to appropriate an additional 1% pay increase for FY 2020-2021
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Increases central office and noncertified personnel salaries by 2% each fiscal year of the biennium
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Establishes maximum monthly salary levels for central office employees from State funds
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Increases maximum monthly salary levels for central office employees from State funds for both years of the biennium
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Provides a 0.5% bonus for noncertified public school employees no later than October 31, 2020
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- Designates how additional funds will be used if HB 966 becomes law
- Clarifies that if HB 966 does not become law, then Part I of this bill shall remain in effect – if HB 966 becomes law, certain sections of Part I of this bill and certain sections in HB 966 are repealed
- Presented to the Governor on Friday, November 1
(all sections are consistent with HB 966 unless otherwise noted)
- Appropriates funds for principal salary increases for each year of the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium
- Establishes the 2019-2020 Teacher Monthly Salary Schedule for teachers and instructional support personnel to receive applicable salary step increases
- Authorizes salary supplements for highly qualified NC teaching graduates entering the teaching profession in the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium
- Provides principal salary increases for the 2019-2020 fiscal year based on school average daily membership and school growth scores
- Provides principal bonuses, consistent with HB 966, but changes the application of bonuses to not apply to principals who are no longer employed as a principal or whose last workday is prior to November 1, 2019 (was October 1) and requires the bonus to be paid no later than November 30, 2019 (was October 31)
- Eliminates the principal double bonus for principals in schools with D or F performance grades
- The chart below shows the bonus increase for principals in the top 5% and 10%
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Statewide Growth Percentage
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2019-2020 Bonus
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2018-2019 Bonus
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Top 5%
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$15,000
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$10,000
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Top 10%
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$10,000
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$7,500
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Top 15%
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$5,000
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$5,000
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Top 20%
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$2,500
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$2,500
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Top 50%
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$1,000
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$1,000
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- Establishes the Principal Recruitment Supplement Program, which will provide an annual salary supplement of $30,000 for up to 36 months for a principal who is paid on the exceeded growth column of the salary schedule and accepts employment at a low-performing school that is in the bottom 5%
- The principal remains eligible for the 36 months regardless of future school performance grades or whether the principal continues to be paid based on the exceeded growth column
- Authorizes assistant principal salary step increases for the 2019-2020 fiscal year based on years of experience
- Pay is based on the “A” teacher salary schedule, plus 19%
- Authorizes salary step increases based on years of experience for employees of schools operated by DHHS, DPS, and SBE who are paid on the teacher salary schedule
- Clarifies that application of salary increases for principals does not apply to persons separated from service due to resignation, dismissal, reduction in force, death, or retirement whose last workday is prior to June 30, 2019
- Clarifies what sections are repealed if HB 966 becomes law
- Presented to the Governor on Friday, November 1
*This section compliments of the NC School Boards Association.
SB 522 Low-Perf. Schools/Adv. Teaching Roles would modify existing language regarding the Innovative School District (ISD), including the definition of a qualifying school. The definition would include any Title 1 school that is governed by a Local Education Agency and that is in the lowest-performing 5% of school performance grades. The definition would now include middle and high schools, as well as elementary schools which are included in the current law. The bill would exclude from eligibility any alternative schools, cooperative innovative high schools, schools in their first or second year of operation, and newcomers schools.
Current law requires an additional four schools to be named for transfer into the ISD by the State Board of Education for the 2020-2021 school year. SB 522 would eliminate the requirement to add any schools next school year. The bill would; however, require the SBE to transfer the lowest scoring school in the State for the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years to the ISD in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years respectively. For future years, the bill includes language that would place qualifying schools on an identification list in year one, a watch list in year two and a warning list in year three and for any schools still on the warning list, they would then be transferred into the ISD the following school year.
The bill aligns the selection of innovative schools with those identified by the SBE for comprehensive support and improvement and also identifies a Support Process, requiring the State Board of Education to ensure that qualifying schools identified for any ISD list are engaged in strategies in compliance with federal and State law for comprehensive support and improvement.
While unrelated to the Innovative School District, this bill addresses needed technical corrections pertaining to the Advanced Teaching Roles Pilots. The bill would eliminate the cap on LEAs that can participate in the Advanced Teaching Roles Pilot Program and would exempt participating schools from class size requirements.
This bill passed in the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for his consideration.
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SB 199 Child Sex Abuse/Strengthen Laws an act to protect children from sexual abuse and to strengthen and modernize sexual assault laws.
- Increases prosecutorial options when there are delayed reports of juveniles who are victims of violent offenses, sexual offenses, or child abuse.
- Expands the duty to report child abuse.
- Protects children from online predators.
- Extends the statute of limitations for a civil action for child sexual abuse so that a plaintiff has until age twenty-eight to commence an action; and
- Requires training related to child sexual abuse and sex trafficking for school personnel.
This bill passed in the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for his consideration.
BILL SUMMARY
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Mini Budgets
Mini Budgets Presented to the Governor this week:
History of Mini Budgets:
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K-12 Education Mini Budgets:
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Other Mini Budgets:
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Pending Mini Budgets:
LINK to History of Budget Resources
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.
- Complete List of Bills Vetoed by the Governor here.
- Complete List of Bills Pending the Governor's Signature here.
For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.
K-12 Education Bills - Last Movement This Week
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Passed the House - Sent to the Senate
- All bills that passed the House this week were sent by Special Message to the Senate.
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Passed the Senate - Sent to the House
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Conference Committee
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Bills that are filed, referred to a committee or calendared for the House or Senate Floor
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Presented to the Governor
- LINK to ALL Bills Pending the Governor's Signature - HERE
For complete bill history and summaries, click on the bill link.
Student Perspective
Pinecrest Marching Patriots Perform on Raleigh’s Halifax Mall
 Rain or Shine, the Pinecrest Marching Patriots Played On
On a rainy Wednesday this week, the award-winning Marching Patriots from Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines filled Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh with the sounds of music. The Marching Patriots consistently bring home awards from band competitions they compete in.
The Pinecrest Marching Patriots are led by Director of Band Eugene Cottrell. Currently in his 5th year as Director of Bands at Pinecrest High School the Marching Patriots have won several Grand Championships over the past three seasons while receiving all superior ratings over that same time period.
Pictured: (L-R) Principal Stefanie Phillips, Senator Tom McInnis, Band Director Eugene Cottrell, Superintendent Mark Johnson, and Representative Jamie Boles
Social Studies High School Course Sequencing Survey - Input Needed
On July 8, 2019, House Bill 924, “an act to clarify eligibility for extended teacher contracts, to require completion of an economics and personal finance (EPF) course as a high school graduation requirement in public schools, to clarify requirements for high school civic literacy, and to require professional development for economics and personal finance teachers” was signed into law.
The purpose of this form is to collect data from Academic Leaders re: the sequencing of high school courses in this legislation so that the State Board of Education can provide guidance toward the grade levels during which the EPF course and the Founding Principles of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy may be completed.
Please complete and submit this form: Social Studies High School Course Sequencing Survey by 5pm Tuesday, November 5, 2019.
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- 2019 Long Session LINK for bills impacting K-12 education.
- LINK to K-12 Public Education Bills that made Crossover.
- NCGA Crossover List - LINK.
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November 4 - November 8: Legislative Meeting Calendar
Monday, November 4, 2019
10:00 a.m.: Child Fatality Task Force 1027/1128 LB | Audio
Friday, November 8, 2019
10:00 a.m.: Jt. Leg Com on Gov Ops, Subcommittee on Atlantic Coast Pipeline 643 LOB | Audio
ONLINE RESOURCES:
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
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OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION:
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Cecilia Holden – Director of Government and Community Relations | 919-807-3406
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Anne Murtha – Legislative Specialist | 919-807-3403
OFFICE OF THE NC SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION CONTACT INFORMATION:
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.
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