Policy Amendment: Authority for Local School Boards to Exceed Minimum Graduation Requirements
The conference budget (HB259) detailed a provision for three-year graduation requirements stating that local school districts can no longer exceed the SBE’s minimum requirements. For background, a previous 1978 policy allowed that districts could add additional requirements, such as community service. As a result, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is requesting technical corrections from the General Assembly that still support the intent of the legislation, a three-year graduation pathway, but also support local districts with their graduation requirements. The aim of the technical correction is that districts may establish additional high school graduation requirements, however after three years, a student may apply for a waiver to graduate and follow the three-year graduation procedures.
Action taken by SBE: The SBE will hear at the November meeting.
Related Links: GRAD-001 (Proposed Amendment)
Discussion: link
New Policy: Parents’ Bill of Rights Appeal Procedure
Pursuant to the Parents Bill of Rights (SB49), NCDPI developed draft procedures for parental concern hearings. Through technical corrections, this bill will be implemented after January 1, 2024. The procedure details two parts: 1. what is appealable to the State Board under the new statute and 2. the hearing process to appeal. The aim of any appeal is to keep the well-being of the student at its center.
Action taken by SBE: The SBE will hear at the November meeting.
Related Links: SB49 – Parents Bill of Rights; PRNT-001 policy manual
Discussion: Link
2022-2023 Read to Achieve State Level Summary
The 2022-23 Read to Achieve State Level Summary provided an overview of reading results and intervention efforts.
Related Links: State Board of Education Meeting: 22-23 Read to Achieve Accountability State Level Summary Presentation; Read to Achieve – State Level Summary Report to the North Carolina General Assembly
Discussion: Link
New Policy: Appeals Process for Charter Schools Review Board Decisions
The SBE approved a new policy that outlines the appeals process for Charter Schools Review Board decisions. General Statute 115C-218.9 shifts the authority to approve charter school applications from the SBE to the Charter Schools Review Board. Charter school applicants, an existing charter school or the State Superintendent of Public Instruction may appeal a decision made by the Charter Schools Review Board to the SBE, and request that a charter be granted, renewed, revoked or amended. The appeal will be heard by a panel of SBE members, which will make a recommendation to the entire SBE at their next meeting. The SBE can overturn, agree or modify the decisions of the Charter Schools Review Board.
Action taken by SBE: Approved on first read (unanimous)
Related Links: Appeals Process for Charter Schools Review Board Decisions
Discussion: Link
2023 NC Legislative Update
The October 2023 Long Session update provided details on all of NCDPI’s major policy bills and the budget, which became law on October 3 without Governor Cooper's signature. The SBE heard education highlights included in the budget and policy updates. The budget included 80 separate education budget line items and the overall education budget for fiscal year 2023-24 is $13.492 billion and $13.699 billion for fiscal year 2024-25.
Related Links: Presentation
Discussion: General Assembly update, Budget highlights, Policy update
Approval of Two Contracts Over $500,000
The SBE approved two contracts over $500,000. The first contract, for an alternative assessment for Read to Achieve, was awarded to Renaissance Star Reading. NCDPI procured this contract in response to General Statute 115C-83.9, which charged the agency with selecting a single valid and reliable alternative reading comprehension assessment for third graders. Renaissance Reading was one of five vendors that bid on the project and was selected through a Request for Proposals process. The contract is for a term of two years, with an optional additional two years, and one-year optional renewal at the discretion of the state. While the contract comes at no cost to the state, it allows NCDPI to collect data from the program. Renaissance Star Reading will cost LEAs $6.64 per student license.
The second contract, for a Consolidated Facility Database Platform, was to The Amos Group, LLC, which was selected in response to Session Law 2021-180. The law requires all local school administrative units and county governments to participate a digital platform to facilitate data sharing between school districts and local governments for purchases, bonds and capital projects. This is a three-year SaaS (Software as a Service) contract totaling $1 million.
Action taken by SBE: Approved on first read (unanimous)
Related Links: Alternate Assessment for Read to Achieve, Consolidated Facility Database
Discussion: Link
|
