Happy Holidays: K-12 Education Legislative Update

North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 11/27/2019 11:57 AM EST

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K12 Education Legislation Update

State Board of Education Vision: Every public school student in North Carolina will be empowered to accept academic challenges, prepared to pursue their chosen path after graduating high school, and encouraged to become lifelong learners with the capacity to engage in a globally-collaborative society.
 
State Board of Education Mission: The mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education is to use its constitutional authority to guard and maintain the right of a sound, basic education for every child in North Carolina Public Schools. 

November 27, 2019

The Session In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week

NCGA

It's a Wrap - General Assembly to Return in 2020

 

The General Assembly returned to Raleigh on November 13, 2019, during which they addressed three items but none related to K-12 education - SB 356 Dot Cash and Accountability, HB 200 2019 Storm Recovery/Var. Budget Corrections and H.B. 1029 Congress 2020 An Act to Realign the Congressional Districts.  All bills were passed and have become Session Law. The General Assembly stands adjourned throughout the holidays and are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at 12:00 noon according to Adjournment Resolution 2019-20.  To date, there has not been a K-12 Education mini-budget bill passed that addresses all of the items in the larger budget bill; however, based on the adjournment resolution, the Senate may attempt a veto override of the larger budget bill HB 966 2019 Appropriations Act.

 

Senate Bill 522 became law on November 11, 2019, without the Governor’s signature. This law modifies prior legislation regarding the Innovative School District, a school turnaround program which gives an outside group authority for five years over low-performing schools to boost their performance.  In addition to changing the definition of a qualifying school, 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.

 

During the break, a few task force, council and committee meetings are calendared. The Legislative Calendar can be found here. 

 

State Board of Education Legislative Director, Cecilia Holden has accepted a new position with myFutureNC a non-profit focused on closing the attainment gap.  Cecilia offers closing remarks to our readers below.  Click here for additional details.  

Cecilia Holden

Dear Readers:

 

As the Director of Legislative and Community Affairs for the NC State Board of Education, I have been so blessed by your support and input over the years, which has maximized my opportunity to help make a positive difference in the lives of our students and community of educators.  It is with mixed emotions that I update you on my new journey.  While I will miss my daily interaction in K-12, I have accepted a role that will involve all sectors of the education system and our business community.  I will be leading the efforts of the newly created myFutureNC, a non-profit centered around closing the educational attainment gap in North Carolina through alignment and coordination across sectors, catalyzing local action, public engagement and progress monitoring. 

 

I have enjoyed hearing from many of you over the last few years, sharing your ideas and passion for how we can drive change to result in a better educational experience and outcomes for our children – the leaders of tomorrow.  Your willingness to help me transform your knowledge and experience into an understanding of how policy and decisions in Raleigh work when implemented in the field, has been instrumental in my ability to represent what is in the best interest of our students when working to increase targeted resources and to drive change in our system. 

 

The work I will undertake in my new role is a perfect segue from my current position centered around K-12 education.  Although 87% of our K-12 students are graduating annually, NC’s talent supply is not keeping pace with the needs of business. Studies show that we will need 2 million North Carolinians between the ages of 24-44 to have a high quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030.  With current tracking, we will have a shortage of 400,000 skilled workers necessary to fill the projected job needs.  To meet this goal, we will need your help - our students need all of us.  Click here to see details of the “leaky pipeline” where students don’t continue on a pathway that would lead to a postsecondary credential or degree.

 

As I am sure you will agree, a quality education that leads to living-wage jobs, is the key to economic prosperity and upward mobility for our citizens.  This is what educators aspire for his or her students and each of you has a unique role in helping every child achieve this.  I thank you for the work you do to cultivate the talents of each of our students to ensure they are well positioned for a prosperous future.  YOU make a difference in every child’s life you touch. 

 

While I will miss my newsletter readers, I encourage you to maintain the faith and continue keeping every individual student at the center of decisions you make and actions you take.  Please come alongside me in the journey to a future filled with hope and prosperity for all of our students. My new email will be cecilia@myfuturenc.org and I encourage you to reach out to me with your ideas for how we can achieve our goal.  I invite you to click here to subscribe to receive the myFutureNC newsletter to stay abreast of the latest happenings around this initiative. 

 

As I transition into my new role, Anne Murtha will continue to be available for State Board of Education legislative inquiries and can be reached at anne.murtha@dpi.nc.gov or (919)807-3403.  Thanks for what you have already done and for what the future holds, due to the collective impact of our passionate educator community.

 

Happy holidays,                                                                                                                

Cecilia

Announcement of New Leadership for myFutureNC

State Board of Education - December Meeting

 

The SBE will hold their monthly meeting next week on Wednesday, December 4, and Thursday, December 5. 

 

  • Agendas for meetings can be found through this link.
  • Audio for meetings can be found here.

 

Follow the State Board of Education on Twitter @edstateboard_nc
NC State Board of Education Seal

 2019 New K-12 Education Laws

 

Bills
  1. SL 2019-11: (HB 263) Fill Vacancies/Modify 2018 Appointments:  Appoints Jeannette Butterworth of Henderson County to the North Carolina Charter Schools Advisory Board for a term expiring on June 30, 2021.
  2. SL 2019-22: (HB 646) ID Approval/Flex Muni One-Stop: Requires the head of a university, college, or K-12 school to submit sufficient documentation for voting identification card approval; amends the criteria school entities must meet for approval of ID card use.
  3. SL 2019-23: (HB 70) Delay NC HealthConnex for Certain Providers: The following providers of Medicaid services or other State-funded health care services are not required to connect to  the HIE Network or submit data but may connect to the HIE Network and submit data voluntarily:  Local education agencies and school-based health providers.
  4. SL 2019-38: (SB 448) Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military: Removes the requirement that the compact commissioner for the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children be a licensed NC attorney who represents a local board of education; rather the Governor appoints the individual. BILL SUMMARY
  5. SL 2019-44: (HB 383) Topsail Beach Charter/Board Vacancies: Clarify the timing of the organizational meeting of the Pender County Board of Education.
  6. SL 2019-51: (HB 57) Create Term for Public Schs. & Codify NCVPS: Defines the term "public school unit" and codifies past session laws for the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program in the education chapter of the General Statutes (115C).  BILL SUMMARY
  7. SL 2019-55: (HB 664) myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal: Establishes a postsecondary educational attainment goal for the State to ensure the State remains economically competitive now and into the future. The State will make significant efforts to increase access to learning so that by 2030, 2,000,000 residents between the ages of 25 and 44 will have completed a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree. BILL SUMMARY
  8. SL 2019-60: (SB 227) TP3/Principal Fellows Consolidation: Maintains existing administration of the Transforming Principal Preparation Program (TP3) until it is repealed in 2021; expands the Principal Fellows Consolidation to include the TP3. BILL SUMMARY
  9. SL 2019-63: (SB 674) Surry Co./Mt. Airy/Elkin City/Bd. Ed Partisan: Changes the method of election for the local Boards of Education in the above listed localities from nonpartisan to partisan and alters vacancy filing process. BILL SUMMARY
  10. SL 2019-71: (SB 219) Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements: Makes various changes to statutes regarding the testing for the initial professional teacher (IPL) licensure; creates one-year extension for IPL for certain teachers; creates a limited teaching license for out-of-state teachers; authorizes local boards of education to determine commensurate pay level; and reduce the lifetime teaching license requirement from 50 to 30 years. BILL SUMMARY
  11. SL 2019-76: (SB 556) GSC People First Language 2019: Updates General Statutes relating to the provision of services with people first language by changing the phrase "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" or "intellectual or other developmental disability". GENERAL COMMENTS
  12. SL 2019-78: (SB 88) Electrician Requirements for Certain Orgs: Local boards of education (LEAs) may employ licensed electrical contractors. BILL SUMMARY
  13. SL 2019-81: (HB 656) Medicaid Changes for Transformation: Makes adjustments to the Medicaid and Health Choice appeals statutes, and other laws pertaining to Medicaid and Health Choice, in order to implement Medicaid Transformation and contracts with Prepaid Health Plans. BILL SUMMARY
  14. SL 2019-82: (HB 924) Teacher Contract Changes: Clarifies the amount of time a teacher must work for an LEA in order to be eligible for an extended employment contract.  Adds a new course in economics and personal finance as a graduation requirement for students. BILL SUMMARY
  15. SL 2019-87: (HB 886) Study Participation of Operators in NC Pre-K: Requires DHHS, Division of Child Development and Early Education to complete a study of four- and five-star centers that are not participating in NC Pre-K in order to identify the challenges associated with becoming an NC Pre-K site.  BILL SUMMARY
  16. SL 2019-91: (HB 770) Freedom to Work/OLB Reform: Defines a "State agency licensing board."  Clarifies standards for a licensing board's use of an applicant's criminal history in making determinations. BILL SUMMARY
  17. SL 2019-102: (HB 134) Filling Vacancy/Onslow County Board of Comm.: Changes the manner of election of the Stokes County Board of Education from nonpartisan to partisan and to make the terms of all members four years.
  18. SL 2019-110: (SB 399) Rehire High-Need Teachers: Permits retired teachers to return to work in certain high-needs schools without adversely impacting their retirement benefits. BILL SUMMARY
  19. SL 2019-120: (SB 500) Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment: Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, makes certain modifications to the implementation of advanced math courses offered when practicable for grades six and higher. Requires an annual report on the number and demographics of students eligible for advanced math courses.
  20. SL 2019-122: (SB 686) Appointments Bill 2019 (Specific terms are listed in the session law)
    • Stephen Griffin of Durham County, Thomas Luckadoo of Catawba County, Richard L. Purcell of Mecklenburg County, Craig Hagood of Wake County, and Judith E. Irwin of Johnston County are appointed to the North Carolina Education and Workforce Innovation Commission.
    • Lentz Brewer of New Hanover County and Michael "Greg" Patterson of Wake County are appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System.
    • Lawrence H. "Larry" Chewning, III, of Nash County and Lisa Grimes of Wake County are appointed to the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees Board of Trustees.
    • Mariann Tillery of Guilford County and Dr. Jennifer W. Olson of Wake County are appointed to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission.
    • Lauren Genesky of Wake County, Meaghan Loftus of Mecklenburg County, Patrick Miller of Greene County, Hank Weddington of Catawba County, Anthony Graham of Guilford County, Glenda Jones of Mecklenburg County, Dr. Michael Maher of Wake County, and Ellen McIntyre of Mecklenburg County are appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission.
    • Charles Westley Wood of Wilkes County, Dr. Van O. Dempsey, III, of New Hanover County, Dr. Connie O. Locklear of Robeson County, Samuel H. Houston, Jr., of Wake County, Michael D. Hicks of Union County, Dr. Virginia Ann Bullock of Alamance County, Aaron Fleming of Harnett County, and Joseph W. Childers of Stokes County are appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission for terms expiring on August 31, 2020. are appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission.
  21. SL 2019-129: (HB 735) Adopt Rules Incorporating 2017 Food Code: Authorizes the Commission for Public Health to adopt rules incorporating all or part of the most recent edition of the United States Food and Drug Administration Food Code. BILL SUMMARY
  22. SL 2019-139: (HB 668) Various Higher Education Changes: Graduation from a North Carolina high school is permissible evidence that the student's residence is the parent's residence for establishing residency for in state tuition purposes for North Carolina community colleges and universities. However, this evidence alone does not establish legal residence in the State. BILL SUMMARY
  23. SL 2019-142: (HB 411) Modify School Qual./Student Success Indicator: Combines the Career and College Readiness indicators used for school performance grades and for the purpose of compliance with federal law for grades nine through twelve, to require the State Board of Education to include additional Career and College Readiness information on annual report cards.
  24. SL 2019-149: (HB 107) PED Oversight/EPP Changes: Makes changes to the Educator Preparation Program performance standards and data reporting system.
  25. SL 2019-154: (HB 362) 15-Point Scale For School Performance Grades:  Adopts a fifteen-point scale in the determination of school performance grades, requires SBE to adopt emergency rules in preparation for permanent rule making, and directs SBE to study the reporting methods used for school accountability purposes on the NC annual school report cards. BILL SUMMARY
  26. SL 2019-165: (SB 343) Various Education Law Changes: Changes to various education reports including date changes, repeals of certain reports, and modifications of information to be reported. Clarifies the Education Workforce Innovation Commission's membership; staggers the appointments to the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission; and exempt the State Board's charter actions from contested case provisions. BILL SUMMARY
  27. SL 2019-166: (SB 391) Expand Youth Internship Opportunities: Creates an exception to the prohibition on youth participating in occupations found detrimental by the Commissioner of Labor for youth aged 16 to 18 who are participating in a supervised, practice experience.  BILL SUMMARY
  28. SL 2019-167: (SB 478) Modify Appointment Reporting: Modifies the reporting requirement for gender-proportionate appointments to certain boards and commissions.  
  29. SL 2019-172: (HB 469) Various Family Law Changes: Modifies the parenting coordinator's scope of authority to include, but is not limited to the following areas: before- and after-school activities and education.
  30. SL 2019-176: (HB 922) Enhance Insurance Coverage/Educ. Buildings: Authorizes a Type I transfer and consolidation of the School Insurance Fund Section of DPI that oversees the management and operation of a system of insurance for public education property, to the Department of Insurance (DOI), as well as a transfer of the Public School Insurance Fund to DOI.  Local boards of education, regional schools, and community colleges would also be required to purchase flood insurance for all educational property. BILL SUMMARY
  31. SL 2019-177: (HB 264) GSC Technical Corrections 2019: The Juvenile court counselor shall deliver verbal and written notification of actions to the principal of the school that the juvenile attends.
  32. SL 2019-184: (SB 301) Regional School Modifications: Creates a withdrawal process for participating units from a regional school.  BILL SUMMARY
  33. SL 2019-185: (SB 366) 9th/10th Grade/College Transfer Pathways: Expands academic transition pathway options and permits enrollment in college courses as part of a college transfer pathway for certain freshman and sophomore high school students. Requires the SBE to include certain individuals as qualified to contract as adjunct instructors with local boards of education for CTE programs.
  34. SL 2019-192: (HB 961) Ensuring Authorization of Federal Funds: Provides certain federal funding in the absence of a new state budget.
  35. SL 2019-200: (HB 217) DIT Changes.-AB: Makes miscellaneous and technical changes to the statutes relating to the Department of Information Technology; Amends various statutes relating to state agency cybersecurity.
  36. SL 2019-201: (SB 230) NC Military and Veteran Act of 2019:     Directs 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.
  37. SL 2019-209: (HB 226) Pay Increases/State Employees: Appropriates funds for the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium to award public employee benefits increases and legislatively mandated salary increases to state employees.
  38. SL 2019-212: (SB 621) Testing Reduction Act of 2019: Reduces testing administered to students in public schools and makes various technical and clarifying changes related to education laws.
  39. SL 2019-222: (HB 75)  School Safety Funds, Programs, and Reports: An act to appropriate funds for school safety, require an annual report on school resource officers, establish certain school safety grants programs, require the development of a recommended school mental health crisis response program, require annual reports on school mental health support personnel. BILL SUMMARY
  40. SL 2019-233: (SB 690) Modifications to 2019 Appointment Bill:
    • Tabari A. Wallace of Craven County is appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and  Standards Commission for a term expiring on August 31, 2021, to fill the unexpired term of Joseph W. Childers. 
    • Freebird McKinney of Alamance County is appointed to the North Carolina Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission for a term expiring on August 31, 2021, to fill the unexpired term of Michael D. Hicks.
  41. SL 2019-234: (HB 181) Yanceyville/Greensboro/McDowell Cty Bd Ed.: Revise the McDowell County Board of education districts.
  42. SL 2019-235: (SB 61) Community Colleges Budget/2019-2021 Biennium: NC Career Coaches/Local Matching Funds
  43. SL 2019-238: (SB 312)  Relief to Ocracoke School/Hurricane Dorian: Provides flexibility in the school calendar and facilitate compensation to school employees for missed instructional days at the Ocracoke School resulting from Hurricane Dorian.  BILL SUMMARY    
  44. SL 2019-240:(SB 537) Licensing & HHS Amends & Rural Health Stable: Amends the Licensed Professional Counselors Act. Nothing herein shall prohibit school social workers who are certified by the State Board of Education from practicing school social work under the title "Certified School Social Worker." 
  45. SL 2019-242: (HB 111) 2019-2021 Base Budgets/Certain Agencies: An act to enact a base budget for certain state agencies, departments, and institutions for the 2019-21 fiscal biennium. Public Instruction FY 2019-2020 = 9,586,373,370 | FY 2020-2021 = 9,647,732,595
  46. SL 2019-245: (SB 199) Child Sex Abuse/Strengthen Laws: An act to protect children from sexual abuse and to strengthen and modernize sexual assault laws.
  47. SL 2019-247: (HB 377) Teacher Step Act: An act to ensure teachers, instructional support personnel, and assistant principals receive salary increases based on years of experience, to authorize salary supplements for highly qualified NC teaching graduates, and, consistent with HB 966 to appropriate funds to provide legislatively mandated salary increases for principals.
  48. SL 2019-248: (SB 522) Low-Perf. Schools/Adv. Teaching Roles BILL SUMMARY
    • Change the selection process for schools in the Innovative School District (ISD).  
    • Make additional changes to the ISD statutes.  
    • Require additional reporting by local boards of education to county commissioners on the academic performance of certain schools.  
    • Require additional study on changes to the ISD and statutes related to low-performing schools.  
    • Eliminate the cap on local boards of education that can participate in the Advanced Teaching Roles Pilot Program and exempt participating schools from class size requirements. 
  49. SL 2019-250: (HB 200) 2019 Storm Recovery/Var. Budget Corrections
    • $1,700,000 to the Department of Public Instruction as a directed grant to Hyde County for repairs to the Ocracoke School necessitated by Hurricane Dorian.
    • General Fund Appropriations: School Safety Funds, Programs, and Reports (S.L. 2019-222) FY 2019-2020 (38,833,333) | FY 2020-2021 (29,800,000)
    • Teacher Step Act (S.L. 2019-247) FY 2019-2020 (16,300,000)| FY 2020-2021 (16,300,000)  

 

Chaptered Resolutions Affecting Education

  • Ch. Res 2019-14: (SJR 687) SBOE Confirmation/Jt. Session: The General Assembly met in joint session to act on confirmation of the appointments by the Governor of new members to the State Board of Education.

 

  • 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.

 

 

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

K-12 Education Mini Budgets

 

School Bond

 

Student Perspective

50th Annual Youth Legislative Assembly

Be the Voice of Government

YLA

 

The North Carolina Youth Legislative Assembly (YLA) is a state program that 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. 

NC Teaching Fellows

MAKE A DIFFERENCE. TEACH

 

Forgivable loans of up to $4,125 per semester for students interested in teaching in a STEM or Special
Education area in NC public school.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
MIDNIGHT,  MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2020
APPLY TODAY!
www.ncteachingfellows.com
@NCTF_Program

 

NCT Logo

Application and Selection Process

  • All applications must be submitted online by 11:59PM (EST) on Monday, January 13, 2020.  Applications that are incomplete, including those that do not include all necessary documentation, will not be considered.
  • All applications will undergo an initial screening to verify eligibility. Applicants will be notified by email if their application is deemed ineligible.
  • Eligible applications will move forward for evaluation by the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission, who will select the applicants that will be invited for a finalist interview. Invitations to finalist interviews will be sent by the end of February.
  • Following the interviews, the NC Teaching Fellows Commission will conduct a final review to select those finalists who will be offered a Teaching Fellows award. All those offered an award will be notified by email by April 1, 2020.
  • Awardees must accept or decline their award by 11:59PM (EST) on May 1, 2020.

 

All applicants are strongly encouraged to review our Frequently Asked Questions page prior to submitting an application.  Please also review the Application and Selection Preparation Guide. 

 

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

 

For any questions about the program, application, or selection process, please contact us at ncteachingfellows@northcarolina.edu.

Next Week's Education-Related Legislative Calendar

 

December 2 - 6: Legislative Meeting Calendar

No scheduled committee meetings or sessions this week.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

North Carolina General Assembly 

ONLINE RESOURCES:

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:

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.