The Week In Review and Looking Forward into Next Week
Education Bills Back in the Spotlight
2019 Budget Goes to Conference Committee
This week, the House did not concur with the Senate version of HB 966 2019 Appropriations Act. Both Chambers have moved forward with the selection of a Conference Committee comprised of House and Senate members to negotiate the final budget. With continued focus on the budget, House and Senate committees also resumed their attention on vetting various bills that made Crossover.
On Thursday, the NCGA held a Special Session at the State Capitol (SJR 679) and adopted resolutions HR 1018 and SR 680 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and to honor the North Carolina service members who changed the course of the war and preserved world freedom. The audio of the House debate of the Resolution (HR 1018) and remarks by World War II veterans can be heard at this LINK. We are forever grateful and indebted to those who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
The State Board of Education held their June meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. Members discussed a number of items such as Charter School and Restart applications, as well as the Computer Science and School Safety app initiatives. In addition, they recognized Superintendent Janet Mason and kindergarten teacher, Lisa Godwin for their service in advisory roles on the Board. See below for additional details and links to meeting agendas and materials.
Next week, the Conference Committee chairs will begin deliberations on the HB 966 Conference Report. This report integrates the budgetary objectives of each chamber through intense negotiations. Next week’s education-related legislative calendar can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.
Budget Goes to Conference Committee
On Tuesday, June 4, the House voted to not concur on the Senate version of the budget. The next step in the budget process is the adoption of a Conference Committee to iron out the differences between each Chamber's budget priorities in a Conference Report that is voted on by each chamber by UP or DOWN Vote. Amendments cannot be made to a Conference Report. If either chamber does not approve the report, a new Conference Committee may be appointed to repeat the negotiation process to offer another budget proposal.
The House and Senate have appointed the following members to chair the HB 966 Conference Committee:
House Chairs:
Senate Chairs:
The complete Conference Committee list is available here.
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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.
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State Board of Education - June Meeting
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The State Board of Education (SBE) held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6. The Board wished Dr. Janet Mason, Superintendent Advisor (pictured right) and Lisa Godwin, 2017 Teacher of the Year Advisor (pictured center below along with the Board members) farewell, but not goodbye. Their service and input on education policy as well as vital education issues has provided the SBE with valuable insight.
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On Thursday, the SBE approved the opening of 10 new charter schools to open for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year, bringing the total number of NC charter schools to 206.
Charter schools approved by the SBE to open in 2020-21 school year:
- Achievement Charter Academy (Harnett County)
- Alamance Community School (Alamance County)
- MINA Charter School of Lee County (Lee County)
- Revolution Academy (Guilford County)
- Robert J. Brown Leadership Academy (Guilford County)
- Wilmington School of the Arts (New Hanover County)
- Elaine Riddick Charter (Perquimans County)
- CE Academy (Wake County)
- Doral Academy of North Carolina (Wake County)
- Wendell Falls Charter Academy (Wake County)
The agendas for the June SBE meetings can be found through the links below:
- State Board of Education Weekly Update located here.
- Agenda for June 5 located here.
- Agenda for June 6 located here
Relevant Bills with Action
Bills Heard in Committee This Week:
House Bills:
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HB 57: Create Term for Public Schs. & Codify NCVPS (Approved by the Senate Education/Higher Education committee and referred to the Senate Rules committee.)
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HB 664: myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal (Approved by the Senate Education/Higher Education committee and referred to the Senate Rules committee.)
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HB 924: Teacher Contract Changes (Approved by the Senate Education/Higher Education committee and referred to the Senate Rules committee.)
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HB 966: 2019 Appropriations Act (Conference Committee)
Senate Bills:
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SB 448: Amend Appt For Compact on Education/Military (Approved by the House Rules committee to be calendared for next week.)
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SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements (Approved by the House Rules committee to be calendared for next week.)
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SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment (Approved by the House Rules committee to be calendared for next week.)
Other K-12 Education Bills with Movement
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- HB 90: DPI/EC Div. Feedback/DIT Study/PED report
- HB 411: Modify School Qual./Student Success Indicator
- HB 714: Competency-Based Assessments
- SB 123: Portability of Leave/Charter Schools
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High Profile K-12 Education Bills
Heard in Committee This Week
SB 219: Modify Teacher Licensing Requirements
Language from HB 521 was inserted into SB 219. Both bills focus on teacher licensure. The combined language:
- Modifies testing requirements for an initial professional teacher license (IPL), provides a one-year IPL extension for certain teachers, and implements a three-year nonrenewable license for teachers who were issued an IPL but did not qualify for a continued professional license (CPL)
- Provides a three-year transitional license for teachers from other states.
- Adds “Individuals issued transitional licenses shall not be required to demonstrate preparation through achieving a prescribed minimum score on a standardized examination.
- Authorizes LEAs to determine experience credit for teachers from other states and to pay them at the commensurate level on the State salary schedule during the first year of the license.
- Reduces the service requirement for a lifetime teaching license from 50 years to 30 years.
- Clarifies that a lifetime license be issued to a currently licensed teacher that “has completed 30 or more years of creditable service with the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System.”
SB 219 will now move to the House Rules Committee.
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SB 500: Modify Advanced Math Course Enrollment
Last June, state lawmakers passed legislation to require schools to place any students who scored a Level 5 — the highest level on state math exams, in advanced math classes. The Senate had unanimously passed Senate Bill 500 in May to make technical changes to last year’s math bill. On Wednesday, in an effort to give school districts more time to see how to carry out the legislation’s requirements, the House Education Committee introduced several changes, including a delayed implementation of the advanced math requirements for the 2019-20 school year.
- Makes the following modifications to the implementation of advanced math courses and opportunities for grades three and higher:
- When practicable, LEAs shall offer advanced learning opportunities in math in grades three through five
- Any 3rd-5th grade student scoring at the highest level on the EOG shall be provided advanced learning opportunities in math approved for that student’s grade level.
- Before a parent or guardian can provide written consent for their student to be excluded or removed from an advanced learning opportunity for 3rd – 5th grade students or from an advanced math course for students in 6th grade and higher, it is required that the parent or guardian be informed that the student’s placement was determined by the student’s achievement at the highest level on the previous EOG or EOC.
- The House modified the bill to:
- Remove the high school math placement requirement.
- Extend certain reporting and implementation deadlines by one year
- Require the submission of implementation plans.
The revised version of the bill 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.
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HB 57: Create Term for Public Schools & Codify NCVPS
Codifies the NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) program and defines a “public school unit” as a local school administrative unit, a charter school, a regional school, or a school providing elementary or secondary instruction operated by the SBE or the University of North Carolina.
After amending the bill to clarify that the NCVPS isn’t a public school unit, the bill was approved by the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee and referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
HB 924: Teacher Contract Changes
Clarifies eligibility for extended teacher contracts by defining a year of employment as not less than the standard 120 workdays performed as a teacher in a full-time permanent position, which had previously been the standard for career status.
HB 664: myFutureNC/Postsecondary Attainment Goal
The Senate Education/Higher Education Committee approved amended language (Committee Substitute) for HB 664 to increase access to learning by 2030 for adults between the ages of 25-44 to complete a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree. It also adds a report on the progress of this goal. Overall, HB 664 would set up a statewide commission of leaders in the business, education, philanthropic, religious and government sectors to develop a plan for North Carolina to train a workforce to ensure NC is economically competitive. Bill Summary
The amended version of the bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee.
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K-12 Public Education Bills that have become Session Law
- No K-12 Public Education Bills became Session Law this week.
LINK to all bills that are now Session Law.
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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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June 10 - 14: Legislative Meeting Calendar
Monday, June 10, 2019
1:00 p.m.: Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee 544 LOB | Audio
2:00 p.m.: Senate: Session Convenes Senate | Audio
7:00 p.m.: House: Session Convenes House | Audio
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
11:00 a.m.: House Education - Universities 421 LOB
S295: NC HS Graduation as Evidence of Residency.
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
AB = Agency Bill
HB/SB = House Bill/Senate Bill
JR = Joint Resolution
SL = Session Law
GS = General Statute
PCS = Proposed Committee Substitute
FY = Fiscal Year
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION 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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