Legislative Updates & Alerts

 

It was a productive week at the General Assembly, with many education-related bills filed, debated, and voted on by members. Most notably, four local school calendar bills impacting 23 school districts were passed by the House and sent to the Senate for consideration. Despite the overwhelming support for these school calendar bills, Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, was quoted this week saying, “I don’t see where there’s a need to change the calendar law, except maybe to beef up the enforcement mechanisms for local systems that ignore the law.” House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, had a slightly different take, saying, “The communities at the beach, where maybe it doesn’t work for them, fine. Let them start (later), give them the flexibility they want. But, for those of us in the other parts of the State where we see a need, let the folks start then.”

School Calendar Bills with Action This Week

The following local school calendar bills passed the House on Wednesday on an 111-2 vote:

• HB 45: Address Pandemic Learning Loss/Alamance County(primary sponsors: Representatives Dennis Riddell, R-Alamance; Stephen Ross, R-Alamance)
  • Temporarily allows the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education to adjust the school calendar to address pandemic learning loss
• HB 106: School Calendar Flexibility/Various LEAs(primary sponsors: Representatives Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth; Kyle Hall, R-Stokes; Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth)
  • Allows the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and Stokes County boards of education to open schools no earlier than August 11 and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the boards to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Davidson County, Guilford County, Jackson County, Lexington City, Swain County, Thomasville City, and Transylvania County boards of education were added to the bill prior to approval by the House Education K-12 Committee on Tuesday
• HB 115: School Calendar Flexibility(primary sponsor: Representative Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba)
  • Allows the Catawba County, Newton-Conover City, and Hickory City boards of education to have local control over the school calendar
  • Burke County, Cleveland County, Cumberland County, Davie County, Rutherford County, Wake County, and Yadkin County boards of education were added to the bill prior to approval by the House Education K-12 Committee on Tuesday
  • Anson County Board of Education was added to the bill prior to passage on the House floor
• HB 129: School Calendar Flexibility/Pitt County(primary sponsors: Representatives Timothy Reeder, R-Pitt; Gloristine Brown, D-Pitt)           
  • Allows the Pitt County Board of Education to open schools no earlier than August 15, unless August 15 falls on a weekend, then the opening date will be either the Friday immediately preceding or the Monday immediately following August 15

The following local school calendar bills were approved by the House Education K-12 Committee on Tuesday and were referred to the House Rules Committee, which is the last stop before going to the House floor for a vote:

• HB 70: School Calendar Flexibility/Halifax(primary sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, D-Northampton)
  • Allows the Halifax County Board of Education to open schools as early as the Monday closest to August 10
• HB 111: School Calendar Flexibility/Durham and Person(primary sponsor: Representative Ray Jeffers, D-Person)
  • Allows the Person County and Durham County boards of education to open schools no earlier than August 10 and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the boards to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester

The following local school calendar bills were filed this week and referred to the House Education K-12 Committee:

• HB 160: School Cal. Flexibility/Buncombe & Asheville (primary sponsors: Representatives Lindsey Prather, D-Buncombe; Eric Ager, D-Buncombe; Caleb Rudow, D-Buncombe)
  • Allows the Buncombe County and Asheville City boards of education to have local control over the school calendar
• HB 163: School Calendar Flexibility/Craven Co. (primary sponsor: Representative Steve Tyson, R-Craven)
  • Allows the Craven County Board of Education to open schools no earlier than August 10 and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the board to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester
• HB 176: School Calendar Flexibility/Lee (primary sponsor: Representative John Sauls R-Lee)
  • Allows the Lee County Board of Education to open schools no earlier than August 10 and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the board to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester
• HB 195: School Calendar Flexibility/Roanoke Rapids (primary sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, D-Northampton)
  • Allows the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Education to have local control over the school calendar and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the board to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester

So far during this legislative session, two statewide and fourteen local school calendar bills have been filed. These bills give more control to the local boards of education to create a school calendar that better fits the needs of their students and community. All local school calendar bills filed so far this session affect 38 school districts. Click here for a list of the affected school districts. Click here for a list of these local bills.

House and Senate Joint Education Appropriations Committee Meeting

The House and Senate Education Appropriations Committees held joint meetings on Wednesday and Thursday this week. On Wednesday, the Fiscal Research Division provided an overview of state funding for student financial aid programs and the NC State Education Assistance Authority presented information about K-12 programs. On Thursday, State Superintendent Catherine Truitt presented DPI and the State Board of Education’s (SBE) budget requests for the 2023-25 biennium. A few notable priorities for DPI and SBE include:

• School performance grade redesign
• Pay increases for teachers and principals
• Modifying the school psychologist allotment law

Click here for an article on the DPI/SBE presentation.

DPI Bill to Increase Penalties for Sex Offenses Against Students

HB 142: Protect Our Students Act.-AB (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Kristin Baker, R-Cabarrus; Jake Johnson, R-Polk; Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort) had its first committee hearing this week when the House Education K-12 Committee approved the bill and referred it to the House Judiciary 2 Committee. HB 142 does the following:

• Increases penalties and modifies definitions for certain sex offenses against students
• Increases penalties for failure of school administrators to report certain misconduct to the State Board of Education
• Requires public school units to show 6^th – 12^th grade students a video produced by DPI’s Center for Safer Schools containing age-appropriate information about sexual abuse, as recommended by DPI
• Clarifies the forfeiture of retirement benefits for certain felonies

Click here for an official bill summary. Click here for an article on HB 142.

Statewide Education Bills with Action This Week

HB 8: Computer Science Grad Requirement (primary sponsors: Representatives Erin Paré, R-Wake; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford) had its second committee hearing this week when the House State Government Committee approved the bill. Originally, the bill dropped one science credit to make room for the new computer science credit. However, the bill was amended this week to drop one elective credit, rather than the science credit. The bill will next be heard by the House Rules Committee and, if passed there, will go to the House floor for a vote. Click here for an official bill summary.

HB 67: Encourage Healthy NC Food in Schools (primary sponsors: Representatives Julia Howard, R-Davie; Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba; Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin) had its first committee hearing this week when the House Agriculture Committee approved the bill and referred it to the House Education K-12 Committee. This bill requires 100% muscadine grape juice to be available to K-12 students in public school units as a part of a school’s nutrition program or through the operation of the school’s vending facilities. Click here for an official bill summary.

SB 83: No High Risk Apps/Gov’t Networks & Devices (primary sponsors: Senators Timothy Moffit, R-Henderson; Jim Perry, R-Lenoir; Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck) had its first committee hearing this week when the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved the bill and referred it to the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 83 prohibits the use of TikTok, Telegram, and WeChat on government-issued devices and during participation in any program or activity funded in whole or in part by State, federal, or local funds. This bill applies to any “employee of the State or of a local political subdivision of the State, or any person contracting with the State or with a local political subdivision of the State.” Click here for an official bill summary.

SB 52: Open Meetings/Administering Organizations (primary sponsors: Senators Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell; Todd Johnson, R-Union; Tom McInnis, R-Moore) had its first committee hearing this week when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill and referred it to the Senate Rules Committee. SB 52 says that an administering organization of high school interscholastic athletics is subject to the provisions of the open meetings law. Click here for an official bill summary.

Local Education Bill with Action This Week

HB 81: Increase Halifax Co. Bd. of Ed. Compensation (primary sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, D-Northampton) had its first committee hearing this week when the House Local Government Committee approved the bill and referred it to the House Finance Committee. This bill increases the compensation of the chair and members of the Halifax County Board of Education. Click here for an official bill summary.

Bill to Prohibit Certain School Lessons Around Race and Sex

HB 187: Equality In Education (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; David Willis, R-Union; Diane Wheatley, R-Cumberland) was filed on Thursday and mirrors a bill vetoed by Governor Roy Cooper during the 2021 legislative session. HB 187 lists 13 concepts that are prohibited from being promoted in public schools, including:

• One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex
• An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive
• An individual, solely by virtue or his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex
• The United States was created by members of a particular race or sex for the purpose of oppressing members of another race of sex

HB 187 also requires public school units to notify DPI and post to their website information about:

• Instruction regarding the 13 concepts
• Contracting with, hiring, or otherwise engaging speakers, consultants, diversity trainers, and other persons for the purpose of discussing the 13 concepts

 

The following are additional education-related bills that were filed this week.

Statewide Bills

• HB 147: Impaired Driving Law Revisions (primary sponsor: Representative Mike Clampitt, R-Swain)
  • Expands conditions that trigger an increased driver’s license restoration fee from when a license is mandatorily revoked under the statutory offense concerning a conviction of driving a school bus, school activity bus, or childcare vehicle after consuming alcohol
• HB 149: Remote Charter Academies (primary sponsors: Representatives Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; Erin Pare, R-Wake)
  • Extends the pilot program for the State’s two virtual charter schools from 10 to 11 years, ending the pilot with the 2025-26 school year
    • Authorizes increased student enrollment in each remaining year of the pilot program
    • At the end of the pilot program, allows the two virtual charter schools to apply to the State Board of Education (SBE) for a charter renewal
    • Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, allows new remote charter academy applications and charter modifications to include a remote charter academy to be submitted to SBE for approval
    • The remote charter academy enrollment guidelines, approval process, operational and renewal requirements, and evaluation mirror requirements for LEA remote academies established in SL 2022-59
  • HB 150: School Contracted Health Services (primary sponsors: Representatives John Bradford, R-Mecklenburg; Kristin Baker, R-Cabarrus; Kevin Crutchfield, R-Cabarrus; Carla Cunningham, D-Mecklenburg)
    • Allows children with disabilities who received services prior to enrolling in a LEA the opportunity to continue receiving those services from the same provider while at school, provided the LEA utilizes private providers for that service and if certain criteria are met
  • HB 162: Living Donor Protection Act (primary sponsors: Representatives Phil Shepard, R-Onslow; Marcia Morey, D-Durham; Ken Fontenot, R-Wilson; Diane Wheatley, R-Cumberland)
    • Provides paid leave for State employees, public school employees, and community college employees for organ donation
  • HB 166: American Indians Graduating with Honors Act (primary sponsors: Representatives Jarrod Lowery, R-Robeson; Karl Gillespie, R-Macon; Brenden Jones, R-Columbus; Mike Clampitt, R-Swain)
    • Identical to SB 139: American Indians Graduating with Honors Act (primary sponsors: Senators Danny Britt, R-Robeson; Tom McInnis, R-Moore; Jim Perry, R-Lenoir)
    • Allows American Indian students to wear cultural objects at public school graduation ceremonies
  • HB 172: Sam’s Law (primary sponsor: Representative Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort)
    • Provides training to students and school personnel on recognizing and responding when a person is having a seizure
  • HB 185: Clarifying Sex Education Time Frame (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth; Diane Wheatley, R-Cumberland)
    • Prohibits sex education before seventh grade
    • Requires LEAs to get parental consent before a student receives sex education
  • HB 188: Standards of Student Conduct (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; David Willis, R-Union; Diane Wheatley, R-Cumberland)
    • Requires LEAs to use best practices in developing discipline policies that do not discriminate against students on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability
    • Requires LEAs to include in their discipline policies measures that will be taken to support a student during suspension, including mitigating learning loss
  • HB 202: Workforce Development Act of 2023 (primary sponsor Representative Ben Moss R-Richmond)
    • Provides funding for DPI to establish the High School To Work pilot grant program, which creates opportunities for high school students to connect with local businesses to develop skills and contacts for future jobs
  • HB 206: Increase Dropout Age/Completion Indicator (primary sponsors: Representatives Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes; Ashton Clemmons, D-Guilford; Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth; Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba)
    • Incrementally increases the dropout age from 16 to 18 years over a five-year period
    • Clarifies that parents and guardians must send children to school while school is in session, unless the child graduates high school first

Local Bills

• HB 174: Stagger Winston-Salem/Forsyth Board of Education Term (primary sponsor: Representative Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth)
  • Staggers the terms of office for members elected to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth Board of Education
• HB 179: Pamlico Board of Education Partisan (primary sponsor: Representative Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort)
• Changes the election of the Pamlico County Board of Education from nonpartisan to partisan
• SB 150: Make McDowell County Board of Education Election Partisan (primary sponsor: Senator Warren Daniel, R-Burke)
  • Changes the election of the McDowell County Board of Education from nonpartisan to partisan
• SB 155: Mitchell County Board of Education Election Partisan (primary sponsor: Senator Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell)
  • Changes the election of the Mitchell County Board of Education from nonpartisan to partisan

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

February 20, 2023, Weekly Report

Headlines for this edition include:

• NC DPI and School Districts Win Mental Health and Student Wellness Grants from the US Department of Education
  • Increases access to school-based mental health services and strengthens the pipeline of mental health professionals in high-needs districts
  • In addition to the $2.4 million DPI grant, the winning NC school districts include:
    • Iredell-Statesville Schools – $2 million
    • Guilford County Schools – $2.9 million
    • Surry County Schools – $892,109
  • Senate Democratic Policy Committee Outlines Impact of Proposed Budget Cuts

 

The following are recent news articles, reports, and press releases on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• EdNC – School calendar flexibility gets a hearing in the House
• EdNC – Cooper’s DRIVE Task Force kicks of statewide tour
• WRAL – Cumberland County Bus Drivers Hold ‘Sick Out’ Over Pay
• North State Journal – Bill Would Increase Penalties for Sex Crimes Against Students

National News

• K-12 Dive – Educators say they lack resources to address worsening mental health crisis
• Education Week – Ending ‘Government-Run Monopoly’ on Schools is Top Priority for Rep. Virginia Foxx
• Education Week – What the Push for Parents’ Rights Means for Schools
• New York Times Opinion – America Should be in the Middle of a Schools Revolution

 

Tuesday, February 28

8:00 am – Joint meeting of the House and Senate education appropriations committees – Legislative Offices Building, rm 423 (livestream)

10:00 am – House Local Government Committee – Legislative Building, rm 1228/1327  (livestream)

• HB 66: Catawba/Newton-Conover/Hickory Bd of Ed Elect.

1:00 pm – House Education K-12 Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

• HB 136: Arts High School Diploma Endorsement.
• HB 149: Remote Charter Academies.
• HB 150: School Contracted Health Services.

Wednesday March 1 

8:00 am – Joint meeting of the House and Senate education appropriations committees – Legislative Offices Building, rm 423 (livestream)

 

 

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Advocacy Coordinator
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

The legislature ramped up its efforts on public education issues this week as statewide education bills were approved by committees, local education bills passed the House, and more school calendar bills were filed. See more on these education bills below and see the “Bills Filed” section for a list of education bills filed this week. On Wednesday, the 2023 State Revenue Consensus Forecast was released and shows projections of a $3.25 billion (10.7%) budget surplus for the 2022-23 fiscal year. Read more about this under the “State Revenue Forecast” section. Additionally, the House adopted permanent rules, which you can read more about here.

Bill to Elect SBE Members and Make State Superintendent SBE Chair

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary 3 Committee approved HB 17: Elect the SBE/SPI as SBE Chair (primary sponsors: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; David Willis, R-Union) and referred the bill to the House Rules Committee, which is its last stop before heading to a vote on the House floor. HB 17 is a constitutional amendment that requires 14 State Board of Education (SBE) members to be elected to four-year terms from districts established by the General Assembly. The bill also makes the State Superintendent the chair of the SBE.

The SBE currently has 11 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly for eight-year terms (eight members are from each of the State’s education regions and three members are at-large). Currently, the State Superintendent is elected to a four-year term and is the Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of the SBE.

A 3/5 vote in each chamber is required for this constitutional amendment to be put on the ballot for consideration by North Carolina’s voters.

Click here for an official bill summary.

House Education K-12 Committee Meeting

The Committee met on Tuesday and approved HB 8: Computer Sci. Grad. Requirement. and HB 11: Schools for the Deaf and Blind.

HB 8: Computer Sci. Grad. Requirement. (primary sponsors: Representatives Erin Pare, R-Wake; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford) requires the following:

• The State Board of Education (SBE) to establish a computer science graduation requirement
  • Computer science would be a standalone graduation requirement
    • There are exceptions for students with specific individualized education programs and students enrolling in a public high school after completing 11^th grade
  • Required science credits would decrease from three to two
• Public school units (PSUs) to offer computer science instruction to students in middle and high school

Click here for an official bill summary of HB 8.

HB 11: Schools for the Deaf and Blind. (primary sponsors: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Ken Fontenot, R-Wilson; Erin Pare, R-Wake; Dianne Wheatley, R-Cumberland) does the following:

• Upon request, for a student who has applied to a school for the deaf or blind, requires the local superintendent to share current evaluation data and the current or proposed individualized education plan for any child enrolled in that superintendent’s PSU
• Establishes Boards of Trustees to govern the State’s schools for the deaf or blind, taking away the SBE’s authority as the sole governing agency and DPI’s administrative responsibilities and oversight of these schools

Click here for an official bill summary of HB 11. Both bills have been referred to the House State Government Committee.

Bill to Limit Teacher and Employee Retirement Income

HB 120: Government Retirement/No Vacation Leave Spiking (primary sponsor: Representative Harry Warren, R-Rowan) was filed on Tuesday. The bill limits the amount of accrued vacation leave that is counted toward the average final compensation for members of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS), as well as members of the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System. It impacts employees and teachers who start earning contributory retirement service on or after January 1, 2024. HB 120 will not help efforts to retain top teachers.

Local Education Bills Approved by the House

On Wednesday, the following local education bills passed the House on voice votes and have been sent to the Senate:

• HB 27: Elect Thomasville City Bd. of Ed. (primary sponsor: Representative Sam Watford, R-Davidson)
  • Changes the Thomasville City Board of Education from appointed members to elected members
• HB 30: Reduce Length of Granville Bd. of Ed. Terms. (primary sponsors: Representatives Matthew Winslow, R-Franklin; Frank Sossamon, R-Granville)
  • Reduces the term length on the Granville County Board of Education from six years to four years
• HB 31: Rowan-Salisbury Board of Educ. Filing Period. (primary sponsor: Representative Harry Warren, R-Rowan)
  • Changes the filing period for candidates running for the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to between the first and third Friday in July before the general election
• HB 88: Guilford Board of Education Vacancies(primary sponsors: Representatives Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; John Faircloth, R-Guilford)
  • Clarifies the filling of vacancies on the Guilford County Board of Education

School Calendar Bills

So far during this legislative session, two statewide and ten local school calendar bills have been filed. These bills give more control to the local boards of education to create a school calendar that better fits the needs of their students and community. The local school calendar bills would affect 18 school districts. Below are summaries of each local school calendar bill filed this week. Click here for a list of all school calendar bills filed so far this session.

• HB 106: School Calendar Flexibility/Forsyth,WS,Stokes (primary sponsors: Representatives Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth; Kyle Hall, R-Stokes; Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth)
  • Allows the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and Stokes County boards of education to open schools no earlier than August 11 and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the boards to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester
• HB 111: School Calendar Flexbility/Durham and Person (primary sponsor: Representative Ray Jeffers, D-Person)
  • Allows Person County and Durham County boards of education to open schools no earlier than August 10 and, if the first semester ends prior to December 31, allows the boards to administer assessments prior to the end of that semester
• HB 115: School Calendar Flexibility/Catawba & Cities (primary sponsor: Representative Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba)
  • Allows local control over the school calendar for Catawba County, Newton-Conover City, and Hickory City boards of education
• HB 129: School Calendar Flexibility/Pitt County (primary sponsors: Representatives Timothy Reeder, R-Pitt; Gloristine Brown, D-Pitt)
  • Allows the Pitt County Board of Education to open schools no earlier than August 15, unless August 15 falls on a weekend, then the opening date will be either the Friday immediately preceding or the Monday immediately following August 15
• SB 96: School Calendar Flexibility/Pitt Co. (primary sponsor: Senator Kandie Smith, D-Pitt)
  • Allows the Pitt County Board of Education to determine the opening and closing dates for three school years
  • Requires public hearings to be held as part of the process of determining the opening and closing dates and requires a report on implementation of the school calendar
• SB 118: School Calendar Flexibility/Moore County (primary sponsor: Senator Tom McInnis, R-Moore)
  • Allows the Moore County Board of Education to align the school opening and closing dates with the calendar of the local community college
• SB 119: School Calendar Flexibility/Cumberland County (primary sponsor: Senator Tom McInnis, R-Moore)
  • Allows the Cumberland County Board of Education to align the school opening and closing dates with the calendar of the local community college

House and Senate Joint Education Appropriations Committee Meeting

The House and Senate Education Appropriations Committees held joint meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. The two appropriations committees are charged with developing the budget for public schools, community colleges, and the UNC System. During the Tuesday meeting, the Fiscal Research Division (FRD) presented part two of the public school funding presentation that includes information about the funding structure, as well as how the funding is generated, distributed, and utilized.

When explaining allotments that address student characteristics, it was noted that many school districts exceed specific funding formula caps, including funding for Academically or Intellectually Gifted students and Limited English Proficiency students. Click here for the presentation and click here for a handout that includes FY 2021-22 per student expenditures for each LEA. On Wednesday and Thursday, the committees were presented with the UNC system budget overview and the NC community college system budget overview, respectively.

 

The 2023 State Revenue Consensus Forecast was released on Wednesday and shows projections of a $3.25 billion (10.7%) budget surplus for the 2022-23 fiscal year, putting total state General Fund revenue collections at $33.76 billion. (According to the 2022 State Revenue Consensus Forecast, 2021-22 collections totaled $32.65 billion.) The primary drivers of anticipated overcollections for 2022-23 are:

• A smaller-than-expected decline in individual income tax collections, especially due to larger-than-expected tax payments from pass-through businesses electing to be taxed at the entity level
• Persistently high corporate profits, particularly among large multi-national corporations
• Resilient consumer spending despite longer-lasting inflation in goods and services subject to sales tax
• Higher-than-expected investment returns on the General Fund balance

Looking ahead to the 2023-25 biennium, the consensus forecast anticipates slight year-over-year declines of 0.2% in General Fund revenues each year, resulting in net collections of $33.71 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year and $33.65 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.

In response to the revenue forecast, Governor Roy Cooper stated, “These increased funds are needed desperately to pay our teachers more, fund our schools…I hope we can negotiate a bipartisan budget that makes these investments without more tax breaks for the wealthiest among us.” Additionally, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate Leader Phil Berger weighed in. Moore said, “I am confident that as we continue to address some of the state’s most pressing needs, we will continue doing so in a fiscally responsible way that leads to even more growth for North Carolina,” Berger stated, “Today’s consensus revenue forecast confirms that North Carolina’s tax policies are fueling economic growth…We must continue to prioritize responsible spending, addressing our state’s workforce needs, and providing additional tax relief to our citizens.”

 

DPI’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) met on Thursday and approved recommendations from the Commission’s working groups to be sent to the State Board of Education (SBE). These working groups were created as a result of a motion approved by the SBE in December 2022 directing PEPSC to make recommendations on how to implement pilots of the new teacher licensure/salary model. This new model would pay teachers based on performance, effectiveness, and years of experience, rather than exclusively on years of experience. The following are links to each working group’s recommendations:

• New pathway entry points
• New professional learning tools and structures
• Measures of teaching effectiveness (previously student impact measures)
• Advanced teaching and leader roles

PEPSC approved a motion to do the following:

1. Forward these recommendations to the SBE
2. Recommend that the SBE use these recommendations to initiate a pilot program to study this new model to replace the current teacher licensure/salary system
3. Communicate to the SBE PEPSC’s commitment to continue to work with the SBE to further develop recommendations and operationalization of the pilots

Click here for the meeting agenda and materials. PEPSC will present these recommendations at the SBE meeting on March 1 and 2. Any recommendations adopted by the SBE will require legislative approval. Click here for an article on the meeting.

 

The following are additional education-related bills that were filed this week.

Statewide Bills

• HB 98: Medical Freedom Act (primary sponsors: Representatives Brian Biggs, R-Randolph; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; Neal Jackson, R-Moore; Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth)
  • Identical to SB 121: Medical Freedom Act (primary sponsors: Senators Timothy Moffitt, R-Henderson; Michael Lazzara, R-Onslow; Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck)
  • Prohibits public school units (PSUs) from (i) adopting policies regarding the use of face coverings and (ii) quarantining healthy students
    • States that if a PSU violates this section, the student who is subject to the violation or the student’s parent may bring a civil action against the governing body of the PSU
  • Prohibits PSUs from requiring a student to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination
  • Prohibits State agencies, local governments, and political subdivisions of the State from discriminating against persons based on their refusal to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination
• HB 101: The Firearms Liberty Act (primary sponsors: Representatives Jay Adams, R-Catawba; Kelly Hastings, R-Gaston; Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort; Carson Smith, R-Pender)
  • Allows guns on property that is both a school and place of religious worship during certain hours
    • This does not include property owned by a local board of education or county commission
  • Similar language is included in HB 49 and SB 41
• HB 122: Reimburse Late Audit Costs with Sales Tax Revenue (primary sponsor: Representative Harry Warren, R-Rowan)
  • Increases compliance by units of local governments that fail to timely submit an annual audit
• HB 136: Arts High School Diploma Endorsement (primary sponsors: Representatives Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes; Kyle Hall, R-Stokes; Becky Carney, D-Mecklenburg)
  • Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to create an arts proficiency high school diploma endorsement
• HB 141: Paid Parental Leave for State Employees (primary sponsors: Representatives Carolyn Logan, D-Mecklenburg; Amber Baker, D-Forsyth; Sarah Crawford, D-Wake; Shelly Willingham, D-Edgecombe)
  • Provides paid parental leave to State employees, public school employees, and community college employees
• HB 142: Protect Our Students Acts.-AB (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Kristin Baker, R-Cabarrus; Jake Johnson, R-Polk; Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort)
  • Modifies penalties and definitions for certain sex offenses against students
  • Increases penalties for failure of school administrators to report certain misconduct to the SBE
  • Requires PSUs to show 6^th – 12^th grade students a video produced by DPI’s Center for Safer Schools containing age-appropriate information about sexual abuse, as recommended by DPI
• SB 99: Bond Referendum Transparency (primary sponsors: Senators Todd Johnson, R-Union; Carl Ford, R-Rowan; Eddie Settle, R-Wilkes)
  • Increases transparency on bond referendums by requiring additional disclosures on bond applications, the order approving the bond application, and the ballot
• SB 107: Fines and Forfeitures/Payment to Schools (primary sponsor: Senator Lisa Grafstein, D-Wake)
  • Directs excess receipts in the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund to be transferred to the School Technology Fund in the same fiscal year and any capital funds for school technology to be used toward payment of the 2019 court judgement on civil penalties, fines, and forfeitures
  • Directs the Legislative Research Commission to study ways to satisfy the remainder of the court judgement
  • This is a priority on NCSBA’s Legislative Agenda
    • Click here for NCSBA’s issue brief on school technology
  • SB 116: 2023 Youth END Act (primary sponsors: Senators Kevin Corbin, R-Macon; Gale Adcock, D-Wake; Jim Burgin, R-Harnett)
    • Funds local health departments to provide community-based education and training of schools, local agencies, and youth centers regarding evidence-based tobacco use prevention and interventions                                                    

Local Bill

• SB 103: Partisan Elections Henderson County Board of Education (primary sponsor: Senator Tim Moffitt, R-Henderson)
  • Makes the Henderson County Board of Education elections partisan

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

February 13, 2023, Weekly Report

Headlines for this edition include:

• Teacher Pay Bill Introduced In Congress
  • Representatives Frederica Wilson (D-FL) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) introduced the American Teacher Act
  • The legislation provides grants to states in order to raise teacher salaries to at least $60,000 per year
• US Department of Agriculture Announces School Nutrition Initiative
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a major initiative meant to support the health of children through nutritious school meals
  • Components of the initiative include:
• Proposing gradual updates to science-based nutrition standards in school meals
• Recognizing school districts that have gone above and beyond in nutritional quality
• Assisting small and rural school districts in improving the nutritional quality of school meals

 

The following are recent news articles, reports, and press releases on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• NC Governor Proclamation – School Bus Driver Appreciation Week
• North State Journal – Another Parents’ Bill of Rights may be filed in the House
• WRAL – NC Lawmakers, controller want Leandro back in front of the state Supreme Court
• EdNC – What you need to know to be an effective advocate for education in 2023-24
• DPI – Wells Fargo North Carolina Regional Principals of the Year Named
• Winston-Salem Journal – Triad legislators file bill focused on prohibiting certain COVID-19 vaccination requirements
• EdNC – How NC’s dual enrollment program elevates students, families, and the state
• wfdd – Task force looking to diversity NC educator workforce kicks off statewide tour
• EdNC – LatinxEd releases report identifying challenges Latinx students face in North Carolina

National News

• New York Times – How Educators Secretly Remove Students with Disabilities from Schools
• K-12 Dive – HHS creates research, technical assistance center for early ed workforce
• Education Week – The Push for a $60k Base Teacher Salary Gains Steam as Bernie Sanders Signs On
• NPR – A new study offers hints that healthier school lunches may help reduce obesity

 

This week, Governor Roy Cooper announced a series of Public Forums hosted by the Governor’s Commission on the Governance of Public Universities in North Carolina at which members of the commission will seek ideas and suggestions on how to enhance and refresh the governance structure of our public universities. Detailed information for each forum date and location, as well as a virtual option, will be made available on the Commission website prior to the day of the forum. Individuals interested in attending one of the forums and speaking should contact Minda Watkins at minda.watkins@nc.gov at least two days prior to the forum.

 

Tuesday, February 21

9:00 am – Joint Meeting of House and Senate Appropriations Committees – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

10:00 am – House Local Government Committee – Legislative Building, rm 1228/1327 (livestream)

• HB 66: Catawba/Newton-Conover/Hickory Bd of Ed Elect.
• HB 81: Increase Halifax Co. Bd. of Ed. Compensation.

12:00 pm – Senate State and Local Government Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 423 (livestream)

• SB 83: No TikTok on Government Devices.

1:00 pm – House Education K-12 Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

• HB 45: Address Pandemic Learning Loss/Alamance Co.
• HB 51: School Calendar Flex/Multiple Counties.
• HB 70: School Calendar Flexibility/Halifax.
• HB 106: School Calendar Flexibility/Forsyth,WS,Stokes.
• HB 111: School Calendar Flexibility/Durham and Person.
• HB 115: School Calendar Flexibility/Catawba & Cities.
• HB 129: School Calendar Flexibility/Pitt County.

Wednesday, February 22

8:30 am – Joint Meeting of House and Senate Education Appropriations Committees – Legislative Offices Building, rm 423 (livestream)

Thursday, February 23

8:30 am – Joint Meeting of House and Senate Education Appropriations Committees – Legislative Offices Building, rm 423 (livestream)

 

 

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Advocacy Coordinator
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

 

This week, both the House and Senate took floor votes for the first time this session. The Senate passed SB 49: Parents’ Bill of Rights and the House passed HB 26: Education Omnibus. See more on those two bills below. According to a news source, House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, explained that the House and Senate will most likely continue addressing their own bills before dealing with bills from the other chamber.

Parents’ Bill of Rights

On Tuesday, SB 49: Parents’ Bill of Rights (primary sponsors: Senators Amy Galey, R-Alamance; Michael Lee, R-New Hanover; Lisa Barnes, R-Nash) passed the Senate on a 29-18 party-line vote. SB 49 was received by the House and has been referred to the House Rules Committee.

Democrats in each chamber filed a bill titled “Parents’ and Students’ Bill of Rights”. HB 58 (primary sponsors: Representatives Vernetta Alston, D-Durham; Allison Dahle, D-Wake; Rosa Gill, D-Wake; Terence Everitt, D-Wake) and SB 74 (primary sponsors: Senators Sydney Batch, D-Wake; Michael Garret, D-Guilford; Rachel Hunt, D-Mecklenburg) include rights regarding students’ safety, comfort, and health. NCSBA does not anticipate that either of these bills will have a committee hearing.

SB 49 creates additional rights for parents regarding their child’s education and lists numerous existing rights. Below are a few of the provisions included in the 11-page bill.

• Establishes a process and timelines to address parental requests for information
• Establishes a process and timelines for a parent to share concerns about a procedure or practice, as well as a process for resolving those concerns
• Requires public school units (PSUs) to provide parents with a written annual parent’s guide for student achievement
• Requires PSUs to develop policies to increase parental involvement in schools
• Prohibits instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality from being included in K-4 curriculum
• Requires school staff to notify parents prior to any changes in a student’s name or pronouns or if a student seeks mental health services, with some exceptions, such as the belief that disclosure could result in child abuse or neglect

A few of the school requirements in SB 49 lack clarity and will create ambiguity and challenges with implementation. Also, there is no additional funding associated with the requirements of the bill. While bill sponsors say that SB 49 prioritizes parental involvement and increases transparency, critics claim the bill will cause harm to some students. Click here for an official bill summary. Click here for an article on SB 49’s passage in the Senate.

Bill to Elect SBE Members and Make State Superintendent SBE Chair

On Tuesday, the House Education K-12 Committee approved HB 17: Elect the SBE/SPI as SBE Chair (primary sponsors: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; David Willis, R-Union) on a 16-9 vote. HB 17 is a constitutional amendment that requires 14 State Board of Education (SBE) members to be elected to four-year terms from districts established by the General Assembly. The bill also makes the State Superintendent the chair of the SBE.

The SBE currently has 11 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly for eight-year terms (eight members are from each of the State’s education regions and three members are at-large). Currently, the State Superintendent is elected to a four-year term and is the Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of the SBE.

A 3/5 vote in each chamber is required for this constitutional amendment to be put on the ballot for consideration by North Carolina’s voters.

HB 17 is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary 3 Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 14, at 3:00 pm (click here for the livestream). Click here for an official bill summary. Click here for an article on HB 17’s approval by the House Education K-12 Committee.

Bill to Potentially Reform School Accountability Model

On Wednesday, the House approved HB 26: Education Omnibus (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Mike Clampitt, R-Swain) on a 75-42 vote. This bill requires the State Superintendent to study and evaluate school achievement scores and metrics and report back to the General Assembly by April 15, 2023. It also requires DPI to submit a report to the General Assembly by February 15, 2024, on suggested changes to the school accountability model. In addition to this section, HB 26 includes the following sections:

• Revises the governance structure and admissions standards for the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT)
  • Puts the State Superintendent in charge of the powers and duties of NCCAT
• Requires DPI to enter into a contract with Gooru, Inc., for up to three years to evaluate and improve student learning and performance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Clarifies language related to the purchase of data from the National Student Clearinghouse

HB 26 was received by the Senate and referred to the Senate Rules Committee. Click here for an official bill summary.

School Calendar Bills

So far during this legislative session, two statewide and three local school calendar bills (one of which was filed last week) have been filed. These bills give more control to the local boards of education to create a school calendar that better fits the needs of their students and community. These local school calendar bills would affect nine school districts. Below are summaries of each school calendar bill that was filed this week.

Statewide Bills

• HB 62: An Act to do School Calendars Better (primary sponsor: Representative Terence Everitt, D-Wake)
  • Gives local school boards authority to determine school year start and end dates
• HB 86: School Calendar Flex/Statewide (primary sponsors: Neal Jackson, R-Moore: Brian Biggs, R-Randolph; Sarah Stevens, R-Surry; Donnie Loftis, R-Gaston)
  • Allows LEAs to open as early as the Monday closest to August 10 and close no later than the Friday closest to June 11
  • Allows LEAs that implement a school calendar that ends the fall semester prior to December 31 to administer assessments prior to the conclusion of that semester

Local Bills

• HB 51: School Calendar Flex/Multiple Counties (primary sponsors: Representatives Neal Jackson, R-Moore; Brian Biggs, R-Randolph; Sarah Stevens, R-Surry; Donnie Loftis, R-Gaston)
  • Provides local control over the school calendar for Moore County, Randolph County, Asheboro City, Gaston County, Surry County, Mount Airy City, and Elkin City schools
• HB 70: School Calendar Flexibility/Halifax (primary sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, D-Northampton)
  • Allows Halifax County Schools to open as early as the Monday closest to August 10 and close no later than the Friday closest to June 11

House and Senate Joint Education Appropriations Committee Meeting

The House and Senate Education Appropriations Committees held a joint meeting on Thursday morning for the first time during the 2023 legislative session. The two appropriations committees are charged with developing the budget for public schools, community colleges, and the UNC System. During the meeting, the Fiscal Research Division (FRD) provided an overview of budgeting practices, process, and policies, followed by a presentation on public school funding. The public school funding presentation includes information about the following:

• The funding structure
• How the funding is generated, distributed, and utilized
• Recent developments to help contextualize hot topics

The Committee is scheduled to reconvene next Tuesday, February 14, at 8:30 am (click here for the livestream) where FRD will discuss part two of the public schools funding presentation.

House Education K-12 Committee Meeting

In addition to approving HB 17: Elect the SBE/SPI as SBE Chair (see above), the Committee heard a presentation from State Superintendent Catherine Truitt about her Operation Polaris 2.0. The mission of Operation Polaris has remained the same – every student deserves a highly qualified, excellent teacher in every classroom – but the framework for reaching that goal has been updated. Superintendent Truitt provided an update on each of Operation Polaris’ priorities (see slides 2-11):

1. Human capital
2. Accountability and testing
3. Literacy
4. Competency-based education
5. District and regional support
6. Student support services
7. Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration

Superintendent Truitt also presented a different approach to how DPI supports low-performing schools (see slides 12-21), which she presented to the State Board of Education last week. The Superintendent’s plan includes reorganizing the current structure of district and regional support to provide more coordinated support from the federal, state, and regional levels.

Finally, Superintendent Truitt listed legislative and budget priorities of Operation Polaris 2.0 (see slides 22-23), which include:

• Career development plans
• School performance grade redesign
• New teacher licensure/salary model
• Elimination of the child nutrition co-pay
• School safety/Center for Safer Schools grants

 

The following are additional education-related bills that were filed this week.

Statewide Bills

• HB 60: SUDEP Awareness Week (primary sponsors: Representatives Dennis Riddell, R-Alamance; Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort; Ken Fontenot, R-Wilson; Ben Moss, R-Richmond)
  • Encourages local school boards to develop and provide seizure awareness training for all teachers and school personnel who may be responsible for students with epilepsy or students that are predisposed to seizures
• HB 67: Encourage Healthy NC Food in Schools (primary sponsors: Representatives Julia Howard, R-Davie; Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba; Jimmy Dixon, R-Duplin)
  • Requires 100% muscadine grape juice to be available to K-12 students in public school units as a part of a school’s nutrition program or through the operation of the school’s vending facilities
• SB 83: No TikTok on Government Devices (primary sponsors: Senators Timothy Moffit, R-Henderson; Jim Perry, R-Lenoir; Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck)
  • Prohibits the use of TikTok and WeChat on government-issued devices and during participation in any program or activity funded in whole or in part by State, federal, or local funds
    • Applies to any “employee of the State or of a local political subdivision of the State, or any person contracting with the State or with a local political subdivision of the State”
  • SB 87: State Emps./No Payroll Dues Deduction (primary sponsors: Senators Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell; Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth; Todd Johnson, R-Union)
    • Repeals statutory language that
  • SB 90: Searches of Student’s Person (primary sponsors: Senators Michael Lazzara, R-Onslow; Amy Galey, R-Alamance; Vicki Sawyer, R-Iredell)
    • Standardizes the procedures for searching students in public school units                                                         

Local Bills

• HB 66: Catawba/Newton-Conover/Hickory Bd of Ed Elect (primary sponsors: Representatives Jay Adams, R-Catawba; Mitchell Setzer, R-Catawba)
  • Identical to SB 72
  • Changes the method of election for the Catawba County, Hickory City, and Newton-Conover City boards of education from nonpartisan to partisan
• HB 81: Increase Halifax Co. Bd. of Ed. Compensation (primary sponsor: Representative Michael Wray, D-Northampton)
  • Increases the compensation of the chair and members of the Halifax County Board of Education
• HB 88: Guilford Board of Education Vacancies (primary sponsors: Representatives Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; John Faircloth, R-Guilford)
  • Clarifies the filling of vacancies on the Guilford County Board of Education
• SB 72: Catawba/Newton-Conover/Hickory Bd of Ed Elect. (primary sponsor: Senator Dean Proctor, R-Catawba)
  • Identical to HB 66
  • Changes the method of election for the Catawba County, Hickory City, and Newton-Conover City boards of education from nonpartisan to partisan

 

As DPI continues its work on the State Portrait of a Graduate, K-12 educators are needed to help create a rubric for implementation. The Portrait identifies seven competencies that students need for success after high school (click here for the list). State Superintendent Catherine Truitt has said the Portrait is needed because employers are seeking durable skills (personal qualities and traits) almost four times more than the top five technical/hard skills.

One of the next steps of statewide implementation of the Portrait is creating a rubric that will measure how the seven competencies are guiding the work of schools. The deadline to apply for the rubric writing team is February 15. Click here to apply. Applicants will be notified of their selection on February 24, and the first meeting will be on March 7. Additionally, click here for the Portrait Playbook, which is meant to familiarize school districts with the seven competencies and allow educators to provide feedback.

 

In November 2022, the NCSBA Delegate Assembly approved NCSBA’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda, which is used to guide the Association’s advocacy efforts. To provide additional background information on each item in the Legislative Agenda, including NCSBA’s position, the Governmental Relations team published issue briefs, which are linked below. You can also access the issue briefs on NCSBA’s website.

• Retaining Top Talent & Improving Working Conditions Issue Brief
• School Safety Issue Brief
• Accountability Issue Brief
• Student-Centered Calendar Issue Brief
• Administrator Ethics Training Issue Brief
• School Finance Officers Issue Brief
• School Technology Issue Brief
• Local School Funding Structure Issue Brief
• Opportunity Scholarship Program Issue Brief
• Leandro Issue Brief
• High School Athletics Issue Brief

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

February 6, 2023, Report

Headlines for this edition include:

• US Department of Education Briefs LEAs on Maximizing Education Technology Investment
  • The Office of Educational Technology at the US Department of Education has issued a “Dear Colleague” letter for states, school districts, and other grantees on ways to maximize their investment in technology-based learning strategies. The letter provides an overview of the federal funds available to support digital learning.

 

On Monday, myFutureNC held a forum on “The State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina”. Speakers included Governor Roy Cooper, Senate leader Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore. The goal of myFutureNC is to ensure that by 2030, 2 million North Carolinians have a high-quality credential or a postsecondary degree to meet the need of a majority of new jobs in the State. As of 2022, 1.55 million North Carolinians have acquired a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree. Monday’s forum highlighted success stories and focused on what needs to be done to achieve this 2030 goal. Click here to watch the forum recording.

 

The following are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• NC Health News – Providers say legislature’s proposed ‘transgender’ bills hurt LGBTQ youth, disrupt care
• EdNC – Schools provide a safe haven for many students. Would the Parents’ Bill of Rights change that?
• Carolina Journal – Parents Bill of Rights passes NC Senate; all Democrats vote ‘no’
• WRAL – More school safety funding to come, NC lawmakers say
• Carolina Journal – New Leandro judge to hold first hearing on March 10
• EdNC – Superintendent Truitt unveils new plan for schools designated low performing
• WRAL – NC school leaders search for new way to measure school performance without socioeconomic bias
• DPI – North Carolina Teachers Continue to Lead the Nation in National Board Certification
• EdNC – Cooper proclaims School Counseling Week

National News

• EdNC – USDA announces new measures to improve nutrition of school meals
• K-12 Dive – Teacher shortage shows signs of worsening in several states
• Education Week – Boosting ‘Pathetically Low’ Teacher Pay Is Top of Mind For Senate Education Chair Bernie Sanders
• The New York Times – At This School, Computer Science Class Now Includes Critiquing Chatbots
• Pew Research Center – Economy Remains the Public’s Top Policy Priority; COVID-19 Concerns Decline Again

 

Tuesday, February 14

8:30 am – Joint Meeting of House and Senate Education Appropriations Committees – Legislative Offices Building, rm 423 (livestream)

10:00 am – House Local Government Committee – Legislative Building, rm 1228/1327 (livestream)

• HB 27: Elect Thomasville City Bd. of Ed.
• HB 30: Reduce Length of Granville Bd. of Ed. Terms.
• HB 31: Rowan-Salisbury Board of Educ. Filing Period.

1:00 pm – House Education K-12 Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

• HB 8: Computer Sci. Grad. Requirement.
• HB 11: Schools for the Deaf and Blind.
• HB 47: School Protection Act.

3:00 pm – House Judiciary 3 Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 421 (livestream)

• HB 17: Elect the SBE/SPI as SBE Chair.
• HB 49: Protect Religious Meeting Places.

 

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Advocacy Coordinator
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

 

Legislators have wasted no time getting to work since returning to Raleigh on January 25. More than 100 bills have already been filed in the first eight working days of this “long” legislative session. Many of those bills directly or indirectly impact K-12 education. Most notably, Chairs of the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee filed Senate Bill 49, also known as the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.”

Parents’ Bill of Rights

SB 49: Parents’ Bill of Rights (primary sponsors: Senators Amy Galey, R-Alamance; Michael Lee, R-New Hanover; Lisa Barnes, R-Nash) was filed late in the afternoon on Tuesday and, less than 20 hours later on Wednesday morning, it was introduced in a press conference and presented in the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee meeting. The bill creates additional rights for parents regarding their child’s education and lists numerous existing rights.

SB 49 was approved by the Education Committee and, on Thursday, was approved by the Senate Health Care Committee. SB 49 was fast tracked to the Senate Rules Committee, which will meet at 5:30 pm on Monday, February 6. Following approval by the Senate Rules Committee, SB 49 will be sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Below are a few of the provisions included in the 11-page bill.

• Establishes a process and timelines to address parental requests for information
• Establishes a process and timelines for a parent to share concerns about a procedure or practice, as well as a process for resolving those concerns
• Requires public school units (PSUs) to provide parents with a written annual parent’s guide for student achievement
• Requires PSUs to develop policies to increase parental involvement in schools
• Prohibits instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, or sexuality from being included in K-4 curriculum
• Requires school staff to notify parents prior to any changes in a student’s name or pronouns or if a student seeks mental health services

SB 49 includes “rights” and school requirements that lack clarity, which will undoubtedly cause subjective interpretation and challenges with implementation. There is also no additional funding associated with the requirements of the bill. While bill sponsors say that SB 49 prioritizes parental involvement and increases transparency, critics claim the bill will cause harm to some students. Click here for an article on the press conference and the Senate Education/Higher Education Committee meeting, which includes quotes from bill sponsors and critics. Click here for an official bill summary.

According to news outlets, a similar or identical “Parents’ Bill of Rights” is expected to be filed in the House in the coming weeks. SB 49 is similar to a bill introduced during the 2022 session that was approved by the Senate on a party-line vote but was never heard in the House.

House Education K-12 Committee Meeting

The Committee met on Tuesday and approved HB 26: Education Omnibus (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Mike Clampitt, R-Swain), which includes the following provisions:

• Requires the State Superintendent to study and evaluate school achievement scores and metrics and report back to the General Assembly by April 15, 2023
  • Requires DPI to submit a report to the General Assembly by February 15, 2024, on suggested changes to the school accountability model
  • (See more about the work being done to redesign the school accountability model under the State Board of Education Meeting section)
• Revises the governance structure and admissions standards for the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT)
  • Puts the State Superintendent in charge of the powers and duties of NCCAT
• Requires DPI to enter into a contract with Gooru, Inc., for up to three years to evaluate and improve student learning and performance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Clarifies language related to the purchase of data from the National Student Clearinghouse

HB 26 has been referred to the House Rules Committee, but a committee hearing has not been scheduled. Click here for an official bill summary.

Additionally, during the meeting, Jamey Falkenbury, Director of Government Affairs for the Office of the State Superintendent, presented a computer science legislative brief, which included the following recommendations:

• Require computer science to count as a “science credit”
  • HB 8 includes this requirement, as well as a provision that requires students to complete a computer science course to graduate
• Require middle schools to offer exploratory computer science courses
• Continue to fund stipends and professional development for computer science

Click here for an article on the Committee meeting.

Bill to Require Acceptance of Cash for Admission to High School Athletic Events

HB 38: Entry Fees for High School Interscholastic Events (primary sponsors: Representatives Reece Pyrtle, R-Rockingham; Jason Saine, R-Lincoln; Ben Moss, R-Richmond; Charles Miller, R-Brunswick) was filed on Tuesday and requires cash to be an accepted form of payment when there is a fee to attend a high school interscholastic athletic event. The bill also requires the acceptance of a senior citizen’s “Tar Heel Card”, which is issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, for free admission to high school interscholastic athletic events.

If this cash admission requirement would cause a potential burden on your school district, please email Rebekah Howard at rhoward@ncsba.org with more information.

 

The State Board of Education (SBE) met this week on February 1 and 2 for its monthly meeting. Board members were presented with the following:

• 2021-22 State of the Teaching Profession report
• 2021-22 Educator Preparation Program performance report
• School performance grade redesign update
• State Superintendent’s district and regional support plan

2021-22 State of the Teaching Profession report: Board members were presented with teacher attrition data, which showed a slight decrease in teachers who left the profession from 8.2% in 2020-21 to 7.8% in 2021-22. Attrition remains high for teachers with 0-2 years of experience at 13.1%, which is almost double the 6.9% attrition rate for teachers with 3+ years of experience. Dr. Tom Tomberlin, DPI’s Senior Director of Educator Preparation, Licensure, and Performance, noted this beginning teacher attrition rate is problematic for the future of the teacher pipeline. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt stated that the beginning teacher attrition rate has been in double digits for many years, and the new teacher licensure/salary model aims to provide the necessary support for beginning teachers.

Teacher vacancy rates were also presented, which show a drastic increase in teacher vacancies from the 2020-21 school year to the 2021-22 school year. Dr. Tomberlin explained that this increase could be attributed to the methodology prescribed in law, which does not count retired teachers, long-term substitutes, interim teachers, and teachers with a permit to teach or provisional license as a permanent placement. Dr. Tomberlin stated, “I think it’s very unfortunate that this may be construed as there’s this massive increase in the number of vacancies across the state. What has changed is we’ve enforced the methodology that’s prescribed in law.”

• Click here for the presentation
• Click here for the draft report
• Click here for DPI’s press release on the report
• Click here and here for articles on the presentation

2021-22 Educator Preparation Program (EPP) performance report: Following the presentation on the state of the teaching profession, Board members were presented with EPP performance data that showed a 42% drop in new enrollments between 2021 and 2022, falling back to 2017 levels. This decrease in new enrollment was common among all license groups, including elementary, secondary, Exceptional Children, and Career and Technical Education. Dr. Andrew Sioberg, DPI’s Director of Educator Preparation, said this decline in enrollment will have a moderate impact on employment in the 2023-24 school year, with higher enrollment rates during COVID years mitigating some of that impact. Greater impact will occur in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Board members expressed concern about this huge drop in enrollment and highlighted the need to improve the teaching profession to recruit and retain high-quality educators. Click here and here for articles on the presentation.

School performance grade redesign update: Board members were provided with an update on the work of DPI’s Testing and Accountability Working Group to redesign the State’s school accountability model. An initially long list of potential indicators to measure school performance have been reduced to four academic indicators and four school quality indicators.

Work will continue to be done to ensure indicators have “valid and reliable measurements.” The Working Group is also considering how to weigh proficiency versus growth, which is currently 80% student achievement and 20% school growth. Click here for an article on the Working Group’s January 31 meeting, which includes a definition of each indicator.

State Superintendent’s district and regional support plan: Superintendent Truitt presented the Board with a “different approach to how NC DPI supports all schools with an equity lens on low performing schools.” The Superintendent’s plan includes reorganizing the current structure of district and regional support to provide more coordinated support from the federal, state, and regional levels. The presentation listed 2023 budget requests to carry out this plan, including:

• $10 million for professional development that can be targeted to specific needs of schools and districts through the North Carolina Center for Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT)
• $2 million for 17 principal coaches to serve 51 low-performing-designated schools that are not currently being served
• $4.5 million unobligated federal COVID relief funds for immediate hiring of principal coaching and teacher professional development.

Click here to access all meeting materials.

 

In November 2022, the NCSBA Delegate Assembly approved NCSBA’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda, which is used to guide the Association’s advocacy efforts. To provide additional background information on each item in the Legislative Agenda, including NCSBA’s position, the Governmental Relations team published issue briefs, which are linked below. You can also access the issue briefs on the North Carolina School Boards Action Center website.

• Retaining Top Talent & Improving Working Conditions Issue Brief
• School Safety Issue Brief
• Accountability Issue Brief
• Student-Centered Calendar Issue Brief
• Administrator Ethics Training Issue Brief
• School Finance Officers Issue Brief
• School Technology Issue Brief
• Local School Funding Structure Issue Brief
• Opportunity Scholarship Program Issue Brief
• Leandro Issue Brief
• High School Athletics Issue Brief

 

The following are additional education-related bills that were filed this week.

Statewide Bills

• HB 28: Managing Environmental Waste Act of 2023 (primary sponsor: Representative Harry Warren, R-Rowan)
  • Requires LEAs to annually report on the amounts and types of supplies with recycled content purchased and amounts and types of materials collected for recycling
• HB 46: Eliminate Tax on Government Retirees (primary sponsors: Representatives George Cleveland, R-Onslow; Frank Iler, R-Brunswick; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; Donna White, R-Johnston)

• • Allows a taxpayer to deduct from their adjusted gross income the income received from a North Carolina State or local retirement plan or a federal government retirement plan

• HB 47: School Protection Act (primary sponsors: Representatives Jake Johnson, R-Polk; Neal Jackson, R-Moore; Brian Biggs, R-Randolph; Bill Ward, R-Pasquotank)
  • Allows security guards to carry firearms on nonpublic educational property
• HB 49: Protect Religious Meeting Places (primary sponsors: Representatives Jeffrey McNeely, R-Iredell; Carson Smith, R-Pender; Allen Chesser, R-Nash; Neal Jackson, R-Moore)
  • Identical to SB 41
  • Allows guns on property that is both a school and place of religious worship during certain hours
    • This does not include property owned by a local board of education or county commission
  • SB 41: Protect Religious Meeting Places (primary sponsors Senators Danny Britt, R- Robeson; Warren Daniel, R-Burke; Jim Perry, R-Lenoir)
    • Identical to HB 49
    • Allows guns on property that is both a school and place of religious worship during certain hours
      • This does not include property owned by a local board of education or county commission
    • SB 52: Open Meetings/Administering Organizations (primary sponsors: Senators Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell; Todd Johnson, R-Union; Tom McInnis, R-Moore)
      • States that an administering organization of high school interscholastic athletics is subject to the provisions of the open meetings law
    • SB 62: Schools for the Deaf and Blind (primary sponsors: Senators Buck Newton, R-Wilson; Warren Daniel, R-Burke)
      • Identical to HB 11
      • Upon request, for a student who has applied to a school for the deaf or blind, requires the local superintendent to share current evaluation data and the current or proposed individualized education plan for any child enrolled in that superintendent’s public school unit
      • Establishes Boards of Trustees to govern the State’s schools for the deaf or blind, taking away the State Board of Education’s authority as the sole governing agency and DPI’s administrative responsibilities and oversight of these schools                                         

Local Bills

• HB 30: Reduce Length of Granville Board of Education Terms (primary sponsors: Representatives Matthew Winslow, R-Franklin; Frank Sossamon, R-Granville)
  • Reduces the term length on the Granville County Board of Education from six years to four years
• HB 31: Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education Filing Period (primary sponsor: Representative Harry Warren, R-Rowan)
  • Changes the filing period for candidates running for the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education to between the first and third Friday in July before the general election
• HB 45: Address Pandemic Learning Loss/Alamance County (primary sponsors: Representatives Dennis Riddell, R-Alamance; Stephen Ross, R-Alamance)
  • Temporarily allows adjustments to the school calendar for Alamance-Burlington Schools to address pandemic learning loss

 

The Union County Board of Education voted to rescind its decision to make August 9 the start date for the 2023-24 school year, news outlets reported. This follows the filing of a lawsuit on January 9 by two Union County parents alleging the Board adopted a school calendar in violation of State law. Click here for an article on the issue.

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

January 30, 2023, Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Outlines 2023 Vision for Agency
    • Secretary Cardona announced his “Raise the Bar, Lead the World” initiative, a call to strengthen our will to transform education for the better
  • Hunt Institute Holds Webinar on Early Childhood Education

 

The following are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• EdNC – Education bills to watch in North Carolina’s 2023 legislative session
• DPI – Report: Teacher Effectiveness in NC Schools Tied to Better Student Outcomes During Pandemic
• EdNC – Public School Forum’s annual Eggs & Issues event focuses on teacher pay and recruitment
• EdNC – Celebrating 20 years of bringing legislators together to talk ed policy
• EdNC – Governor Cooper announces five recipients of Governor’s Educator Discovery Award
• WRAL – Cheating or working smarter? How colleges, universities and schools are coping with students using AI technology for writing assignments
• WRAL – Cumberland County students will see science projects blast into space

National News

• New York Times – Students Lost One-Third of a School Year to Pandemic, Study Finds
• Education Week – Dept. Outlines How Schools Can Use Federal Funds to Sustain Tech Programs
• The Washington Post – Teachers are burning out. On TikTok, they describe the working conditions.
• Education Week – 6 Lawsuits that Could Shake Up How States Pay for Schools
• Scholaroo – States with Best & Worst Education (2023)

 

Monday, February 6

5:30 pm – Senate Rules Committee – Legislative Building, rm 1027/1128 (livestream)

• SB 49: Parents’ Bill of Rights.

Tuesday, February 7

1:00 pm – House Education K-12 Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

• HB 8: Computer Sci. Grad. Requirement.
• HB 17: Elect the SBE/SPI as SBE Chair.

 

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Advocacy Coordinator
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

On Wednesday, January 25, the House and Senate reconvened to begin work for the 2023 legislative long session. In the House, committee chairs were appointed and given their gavels. For a list of House education committee assignments, click here. For a list of Senate education committee assignments, click here. Dozens of bills were filed in both chambers, many of which concern education. In addition to HB 17 and HB 26, which are summarized below, see the “Bills Filed” section for a list of all education-related bills filed this week. Primary sponsors for both HB 17 and HB 26 include two of the three chairs of the House Education K-12 Committee.

Bill to Elect SBE Members and Make State Superintendent SBE Chair

HB 17: Elect the SBE/SPI as SBE Chair (primary sponsors: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; David Willis, R-Union) was filed on Wednesday and is similar to a bill filed in the 2022 legislative session. HB 17 is a constitutional amendment that requires 14 State Board of Education (SBE) members to be elected to four-year terms from districts established by the General Assembly. The bill also makes the State Superintendent the chair of the SBE.

The SBE currently has 11 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly for eight-year terms (eight members are from each of the State’s education regions and three members are at-large). Currently, the State Superintendent is elected to a four-year term and is the Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer of the SBE.

A 3/5 vote in each chamber is required for this constitutional amendment to be put on the ballot for consideration by North Carolina’s voters.

Bill to Reform School Accountability Model

HB 26: Education Omnibus (primary sponsors: Representatives John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Mike Clampitt, R-Swain) was filed on Thursday and includes a requirement that the State Superintendent study and evaluate school achievement scores and metrics and report back to the General Assembly by April 15, 2023. The bill also requires DPI to submit a report to the General Assembly by February 15, 2024, on suggested changes to the school accountability model.

As a reminder, DPI’s Testing and Accountability Working Group first convened in September 2022 with the goal of creating recommendations for redesigning the State’s school accountability model. A comprehensive presentation of the Working Group’s recommendations is expected to be given at the SBE meeting next Wednesday, February 1. Additionally, reforming the current school accountability model is included in NCSBA’s Legislative Agenda, and you can access NCSBA’s Accountability Issue Brief by clicking here.

 

In November 2022, the NCSBA Delegate Assembly approved NCSBA’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda, which is used to guide the Association’s advocacy efforts. To provide additional background information on each item in the Legislative Agenda, including NCSBA’s position, the Governmental Relation’s team is publishing issue briefs, which are linked below. The final three issue briefs will be included in next Friday’s Legislative Update.

• Accountability Issue Brief
• School Technology Issue Brief
• Opportunity Scholarship Program Issue Brief
• Retaining Top Talent & Improving Working Conditions Issue Brief
• High School Athletics Issue Brief
• School Safety Issue Brief
• Administrator Ethics Training Issue Brief
• Local School Funding Structure Issue Brief

 

The following are additional education-related bills that were filed this week.

Statewide Bills

• HB 3: UNC Report on Computer Science Credit (primary sponsors: Representatives Erin Pare, R-Wake; Donna White, R-Johnston; Kristin Baker, R-Cabarrus; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke)
  • Requires a study on whether to incorporate one or more computer science courses into the minimum requirements for undergraduate admission for the UNC system
• HB 4: Increasing Engagement in STEM Grant Program (primary sponsors: Representatives Erin Pare, R-Wake; Donna White, R-Johnston; Kristin Baker, R-Cabarrus; Shelly Willingham, D-Edgecombe)
  • Establishes the Increasing Engagement in STEM Program to provide public school units (PSUs) with grants to increase STEM engagement in middle school
• HB 8: Computer Sci. Grad. Requirement (primary sponsors: Representatives Erin Pare, R-Wake; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Jon Hardister, R-Guilford)
  • Allows computer science courses to fulfill one high school science elective credit and requires completion of a computer science course for high school graduation
• HB 11: Schools for the Deaf and Blind (primary sponsors: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Ken Fontenot, R-Wilson; Erin Pare, R-Wake; Dianne Wheatley, R-Cumberland)
  • Upon request, for a student who has applied to a school for the deaf or blind, requires the local superintendent to share current evaluation data and the current or proposed individualized education plan for any child enrolled in that superintendent’s PSU
  • Establishes Boards of Trustees to govern the State’s schools for the deaf or blind, taking away the State Board of Education’s authority as the sole governing agency and DPI’s administrative responsibilities and oversight of these schools
• HB 23: Gooru Contract (primary sponsors: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; John Torbett, R-Gaston; Tricia Cotham, D-Mecklenburg)
  • Requires DPI to contract with Gooru, Inc., to address negative educational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
• SB 3: NC Compassionate Care Act (primary sponsors: Senators Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick; Michael Lee, R-New Hanover; Paul Lowe, D-Forsyth)
  • Legalizes medical marijuana and clarifies that smoking or vaping medical marijuana is prohibited in or within 1,000 linear feet of the property line of a PSU
• SB 4: Eliminate Tax on Gov’t Retirees (primary sponsor: Senator Jim Burgin; R-Harnett)
  • Allows a taxpayer to deduct from their adjusted gross income the amount received from one or more federal, State, or local government retirement plans for at least 20 years of government employment
• SB 15: Hands Free NC (primary sponsors: Senators Jim Burgin, R-Harnett; Kevin Corbin, R-Macon; Mike Woodard, D-Durham)
  • States that a person who uses a cellphone while operating a school bus is subject to penalties and guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor

Local Bill

• HB 27: Elect Thomasville City Bd. of Ed. (primary sponsor: Representative Sam Watford, R-Davidson)
  • Changes the Thomasville City Board of Education from appointed members to elected members

 

Governor Roy Cooper’s Teacher Advisory Commission held a meeting on Tuesday, January 24, which included:

• Governor’s office updates
• Teacher licensure/salary model updates
• School performance grade redesign updates

Updates from the Governor’s office mainly concerned Leandro and the Governor’s plans to continue supporting full implementation of the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan. It was noted that the State Board of Education (SBE) and DPI’s legislative priorities also include support for full implementation of the Plan. For the most recent update on the Leandro case, click here to access our January 6, 2023, Legislative Update.

Updates on the new teacher licensure/salary model came from the chair of DPI’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) who explained that PEPSC is currently creating pilots to be considered by the SBE. When asked about different ways the new model could be implemented, PEPSC chair Dr. Van Dempsey said he believes different components of the model could be implemented over time, including restoration of master’s pay for teachers. As a reminder, any recommendations brought by PEPSC to the SBE would still require legislative approval prior to implementation. For the most recent update on PEPSC’s work on this new model, click here to access our January 13, 2023, Legislative Update.

Updates on the school performance grade redesign concerned indicators that DPI’s Testing and Accountability Working Group plans to include in its proposed accountability model. These indicators strive to measure school performance in a variety of ways, rather than solely focusing on test scores, and they include:

• Postsecondary preparation inputs
• Postsecondary outcomes
• Improving student group performance
• Extra/intra-curricular activities
• Durable skills
• School climate

The State’s current model calculates school grades based on 80% student achievement and 20% school growth. While the Working Group is continuing to refine its list of indicators that have “valid and reliable measurements”, it is also considering how to weigh growth versus proficiency. The Working Group’s next meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 31, and a comprehensive update will be given at the SBE’s meeting next Wednesday, February 1.

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

January 23, 2023, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • Scotland County Schools Wins Community Violence Prevention Grant
    • The US Department of Education awarded $8 million in grants to 11 school districts across the United States through its Project Prevent The grants help school districts expand their capacity to implement school- and community-based strategies to help prevent community violence. Scotland County Schools won a grant in the amount of $800,000.
  • US Supreme Court Hears Case that Could Change IDEA Dispute Resolution For School Districts
    • Perez vs. Sturgis Public Schools, a case involving how school districts handle dispute resolution under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), was argued before the US Supreme Court last week. At issue is whether individuals who have already entered into an IDEA settlement must exhaust the administrative process before pursuing a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The following are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• EdNC – Here comes the legislative long session. What does that mean for K-12 education?
• EdNC – Your guide to education committees in the NC General Assembly this session
• WRAL – After 30 years of special education funding limits, NC parents want change
• NC Health News – Schools struggle to retain special ed teachers. Advocates say invest more in them.
• WUNC – NC Superintendent Catherine Truitt on staffing shortages, teacher pay, and more
• EdNC – Growing opportunity gaps and culture wars raise the stakes on educational equity this long session
• EdNC – It’s National School Choice Week. Here’s where NC students choose to go
• The Daily News – Onslow school calendar shift could benefit military families, but change in state legislation needed to make it happen

National News

• The New York Times – Families Struggle as Pandemic Program Offering Free School Meals Ends
• K-12 Dive – These 4 charts explain federal fiscal 2023 K-12 spending
• Forbes – A Warrior for Public Education on How to Rebuild After COVID-19 Learning Losses
• Education Week – Want to Take Learning Recovery Seriously? Support and Train Teachers
• Education Week – The IRS Increased the Teacher Tax Deduction. Will it Help?
• Bellwether – Creativity from Necessity: A Practical Toolkit for Leaders to Address Teacher Shortages
• The Wall Street Journal – AI Can Save Education From Itself

 

Tuesday, January 31

1:00 pm – House Education K-12 Committee – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

• HB 11: Schools for the Deaf and Blind

 

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Advocacy Coordinator
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

On Tuesday, House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, announced House Committee assignments for the 2023-24 legislative session. This announcement follows last week’s opening ceremonies for the 2023 long session and the release of Senate Committee assignments (click here to access last week’s Legislative Update for a list of those assignments.) The legislature plans to start conducting business next Wednesday, January 25.

House Committee Assignments

House Education K-12 Committee

• Chairs: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Tricia Cotham, D-Mecklenburg; John Torbett, R-Gaston
• Vice Chairs: Representatives Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford; Diane Wheatley, R-Cumberland; David Willis, R-Union
• Members: Representatives Cynthia Ball, D-Wake; Brian Biggs, R-Randolph; Laura Budd, D-Mecklenburg; Ashton Clemmons, D-Guilford; Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes; Ken Fontenot, R-Wilson; Rosa Gill, D-Wake; Frank Iler, R-Brunswick; Jake Johnson, R-Polk; Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth; Brandon Lofton, D-Mecklenburg; Marvin Lucas, D-Cumberland; Larry Potts, R-Davidson; Dennis Riddell, R-Alamance; James Roberson, D-Wake; Phil Shepard, R-Onslow; Frank Sossamon, R-Granville; Larry Strickland, R-Johnston; Julie von Haefen, D-Wake

House Education Appropriations Committee

• Chairs: Representatives Jon Hardister, R-Guilford; John Torbett, R-Gaston; David Willis, R-Union
• Vice Chair: Representative Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes
• Members: Representatives Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke; Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford; Kevin Crutchfield, R-Cabarrus; Rosa Gill, D-Wake; Zack Hawkins, D-Durham; Marvin Lucas, D-Cumberland; Lindsey Prather, D-Buncombe; Frank Sossamon, R-Granville; Diane Wheatley, R-Cumberland

 

In November 2022, the NCSBA Delegate Assembly approved NCSBA’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda, which will be used to guide the Association’s advocacy efforts. To provide additional background information on each item in the Legislative Agenda, including NCSBA’s position, issue briefs will be published on the NCSBA website in the coming weeks. In the meantime, five of those issue briefs are linked below.

• Retaining Top Talent & Improving Working Conditions Issue Brief
• High School Athletics Issue Brief
• School Safety Issue Brief
• Administrator Ethics Training Issue Brief
• Local School Funding Structure Issue Brief

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

January 17, 2023, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • NC Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-5^th) was selected by Republican leadership to be Chair of the renamed Education and Workforce Committee.
  • The rules package approved by the US House of Representatives includes a provision to keep spending for fiscal year 2024 at the same level as fiscal year 2022.
  • No extension of federal funds for home digital connectivity
    • The fiscal year 2023 omnibus spending plan passed by Congress last month did not include extra funding to extend the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF). The ECF was established during the pandemic to provide students and teachers with both internet access and digital devices in their homes. The concern is that without such funding, it is harder to close the “homework gap,” that is a result of students not having home internet access.

 

The following are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• DPI – State Superintendent Truitt and General Assembly Award $3 Million to Support Modernization of CTE Programs
• WCNC – NC school lunch debt has topped more than $1M in just the first few months of school
• WUNC – Where do NC students go after high school? Public schools have a new tool to follow their journey.
• WRAL – Lighting upgrades in NC schools saves hundreds of thousands annually
• The State Port Pilot – School Supt. Oates resigns to take Deputy State position

National News

• The Washington Post – More schools have panic buttons, locks and police, new data shows
• USA Today – Congress got rid of a free lunch for all program. That means some students are going hungry

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Advocacy Coordinator
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

On Wednesday, January 11, the North Carolina General Assembly held opening ceremonies for the 2023 legislative session. The legislature plans to start conducting business on Wednesday, January 25. Committees, however, are likely to begin meeting in February. Committee assignments for the State Senate have been announced and can be found below. Committee assignments for the State House are expected to be announced soon.

State House

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby administered the oath of office for the 120 State House members. After the oath of office, the body elected Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, to serve as Speaker of the House for a record-setting fifth term.

“We will have a number of challenges this year we need to deal with,” Speaker Moore stated in his opening remarks. “We know that learning loss is real. We need to continue to invest in education and make sure that all of our students are getting a quality education whatever that path may be for that child and for that family, and that they have the access to those opportunities.”

The House then adopted temporary rules for the 2023 legislative session.

By unanimous vote, Representative Sarah Stevens, R-Surry, will once again serve as Speaker Pro Tempore. In addition, Speaker Moore re-appointed Representative Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, to serve as Chairman of the House Rules Committee. Finally, Democrats re-elected Representative Robert Reives, D-Chatham, as the Minority Leader.

State Senate

Associate Justice of the State Supreme Court Tamara Barringer administered the oath of office for the 50 State Senate members. After the oath of office, Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, was once again elected as President Pro Tempore, the top operational officer of the Senate, and a position he’s held since 2011. Senator Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, was elected as Deputy President Pro Tempore. Additionally, Senate Leader Berger re-appointed Senator Bill Rabon, R- Brunswick, to serve as Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee. Finally, Democrats re-elected Senator Dan Blue, D-Wake, as Minority Leader.

Upon election for another term as President Pro Tempore, Senator Berger spoke about issues of priority that will be addressed during the legislative session. Concerning education, Berger stated, “We must continue to demand world-class educational opportunities for our students. We’ve made incredible strides, but there is always more to be done. Parents across North Carolina want a greater say in their child’s education — from being involved and knowledgeable about the curriculum, to the opportunity to send their child to a school that fits that child’s educational needs. Our schools must be focused on serving students and parents.”

Berger continued, discussing student outcomes and funding. “There are still far too many students who are struggling to read. We must renew and redouble efforts to improve reading outcomes for all students. We must disabuse ourselves of the notion that more money alone buys positive outcomes for our students. Success in education policy is about more than hitting some arbitrary funding goal. This isn’t a partisan issue. We must come together to ensure that our students can read and have the opportunity for a quality education. Without question, education is a great equalizer in a free society. We fail in our most important task if we fail to recognize and act on that fact.”

Prior to adjournment, the Senate adopted permanent rules for the 2023 legislative session.

Committee Assignments

Senate Education/Higher Education Committee

• Chairs: Senators Michael Lee, R-New Hanover; Amy Galey, R-Alamance
• Members: Senators Lisa Barnes, R-Nash; Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake; Kevin Corbin, R-Macon; David Craven, R-Randolph; Michael Garrett, D-Guilford; Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck; Michael Lazzara, R-Onslow; Natasha Marcus, D-Mecklenburg; Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe; Tom McInnis, R-Moore; Natalie Murdock, D-Durham; Buck Newton, R-Wilson; Brad Overcash, R-Gaston; Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford; Norman Sanderson, R-Pamlico; Benton Sawrey, R-Johnston; Joyce Waddell, D-Mecklenburg

Senate Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee

• Chairs: Senators Amy Galey, R-Alamance; Lisa Barnes, R-Nash; Dean Proctor, R-Catawba
• Members: Senators Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake; Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck; Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe; Brad Overcash, R-Gaston; Joyce Waddell, D-Mecklenburg

 

In November 2022, the NCSBA Delegate Assembly approved NCSBA’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda, which will be used to guide the Association’s advocacy efforts. To provide additional background information on each item in the Legislative Agenda, including NCSBA’s position, issue briefs will be published on the NCSBA website in the coming weeks. In the meantime, three of those issue briefs are linked below.

• School Safety Issue Brief
• Administrator Ethics Training Issue Brief
• Local School Funding Structure Issue Brief

 

DPI’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) met on Thursday, January 12, and reviewed the next steps for the Commission’s working groups. These working groups will create recommendations on policies and/or rules necessary to implement a pilot program of the new teacher licensure/salary model. As a reminder, PEPSC is developing this model, which would pay teachers based on performance, effectiveness, and years of experience, rather than exclusively on years of experience. The model is expected to provide higher salaries for most, if not all, teachers.

The following are the four working groups’ focus areas:

• Advance teaching and leader roles
• Student impact measures
• New pathway entry points
• New professional learning tools and structures

Each working group is co-chaired by PEPSC members and includes individuals from school districts, DPI, public and private universities, and community colleges. PEPSC Chair Dr. Van Dempsey explained that the goal of the working groups is to focus on the key structural components of a pilot and that operational details will come when pilot school districts have been identified. Each working group has a January and February meeting scheduled. Working group recommendations will be presented at the next PEPSC meeting on February 23, followed by PEPSC presenting recommendations at the State Board of Education (SBE) meeting on March 1 and 2. Any recommendations adopted by the SBE will require legislative approval.

Click here for the presentation, which includes more about the goals of the working groups and lists of working group members.

 

The Union County Board of Education unanimously voted in December 2022 to make August 9 the start date for the 2023-24 school year. On January 9, 2023, two parents from Union County filed a lawsuit in Superior Court against the Union County School Board alleging the Board adopted a school calendar in violation of State law.

Click here for a copy of the filed lawsuit. Click here for an article on the lawsuit.

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

January 9, 2023, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • Federal K-12 COVID-Relief Spending Update: There are less than two years left for school districts to spend $189.5 billion of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money. As of September 30, 2022, North Carolina schools have spent 43.9% of their $8.2 billion allotment.

 

The following are recent news articles and reports on state and national education-related issues.

State News

• WRAL – New NC legislative session brings raft of issues, unpredictable action
• WRAL – How NC’s new tax cuts will save taxpayers billions
• EdNC – State Superintendent Catherine Truitt launches revision of strategic plan Operation Polaris
• EdNC – North Carolina regional teachers of the year announced
• WRAL – NC House Republicans scrap rule to veto override votes

National News

• Education Law Center – Making the Grade 2022 – How Fair is School Funding in Your State?
• Education Week – A Chaotic Start to a New Congress: What Educators Need to Know
• The New York Times – Meeting the Mental Health Challenge in School and at Home

 

 

If your school board is planning to have a function with your legislative delegation, we would be happy for a member of the NCSBA Governmental Relations team to attend. Just let us know! Also, if your school board adopts its own legislative agenda, please forward it to rhoward@ncsba.org.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

 

Rebekah Howard
Governmental Relations Research Specialist
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

 

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

 

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

The State Board of Education (SBE) met this week on January 4 and 5 for its monthly meeting. Board members were presented with the following:

• New State Health Plan administrator
• Budget requests for 2023 legislative long session
• Teacher licensure/salary model blueprint for action update
• K-3 literacy data
• 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data
• Impact of COVID on absences, grades, and grade retention

 

New State Health Plan administrator: State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who is a member of the SBE, notified the Board that Aetna won the contract to administer NC’s health coverage plan for State employees, starting in January 2025. The State Health Plan covers nearly 740,000 people, including teachers. Aetna will replace Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC, which has been the administrator for over 40 years. Blue Cross reportedly said it was “deeply disappointed” by this decision and that the company will pursue a formal appeal.

Treasurer Folwell said the Aetna contract could create $140 million in cost savings over five years. He added, “A change of this magnitude is a great opportunity for a fresh perspective, and we look forward to working closely with Aetna to create new ways to provide price transparency, increase access and quality while lowering the cost of health care for those who teach, protect and serve, and taxpayers like them.”

Budget requests for 2023 legislative long session: The Board approved the DPI/SBE budget requests for the upcoming 2023 legislative long session. Requests include the following:

• $5 million in recurring funds for a school psychologist internship program
• $10 million in recurring funds for master’s level pay for school social workers
• $100 million in recurring funds for a school nurse and school social worker application program to help tier one and tier two districts hire those personnel
• $5 million in recurring funds to eliminate student co-pay for reduced-price meals
• Continuation of non-recurring General Assembly initiatives
  • Needs-Based Capital Grants – totaled more than $800 million over the past two fiscal years
  • School Safety Grants – totaled $41.7 million in FY 2022-23
    • These grants support students in crisis, school safety training, and school safety equipment

Additionally, the Board approved a motion requesting support from the General Assembly and Governor for full implementation of the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan (see next section for most recent Leandro updates), approval of the Board’s 2023 budget requests, and approval of pilot implementation of the new teacher licensure/salary model once dollar amounts are provided (see below for most recent update). Click here for the presentation that includes all budget requests.

Teacher licensure/salary model blueprint for action update: The Board was presented with statutory, rule, and policy changes that would need to be made to establish a pilot program of the teacher licensure/salary model blueprint. The presentation given by SBE General Counsel Allison Schafer includes general recommended changes that will be more narrowly tailored when DPI’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) establishes specifics of the model. PESPC is scheduled to present recommendations for the pilot at the Board’s March meeting. Board Chair Eric Davis reminded the Board that the current plan is to potentially begin pilot implementation in fall 2023, which would require legislative approval. Click here for the presentation, which includes legislative changes needed for pilot implementation on slides 21-31

As a reminder, PEPSC is developing this model, which would pay teachers based on performance, effectiveness, and years of experience, rather than exclusively on years of experience. The model is expected to provide higher salaries for most, if not all, teachers.

K-3 literacy data: State Superintendent Catherine Truitt presented K-3 literacy data from the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, which shows improvement at each grade level. For example, at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, 45% of third graders were ready for core literacy instruction compared to 51% at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. The data also shows that NC students had higher percentages of growth compared to other states using the same assessment. Click here to access DPI’s press release on this K-3 literacy data. The press release says, “State education leaders are encouraged by the latest assessment outcomes, which they say indicate that schools across the state are implementing science of reading-based practices even as many teachers are still learning about the instructional approach…”

2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data: The Board was presented with 2021 YRBS data. DPI deploys the survey in every odd numbered year to help assess youth behaviors that impact their health now and in the future. This was the first YRBS since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. This data was presented in December at a meeting of the Child Fatality Task Force, and we included data points in our December 16, 2022, Legislative Update. In case you missed it, here are some data points for high school students.

• 49% of students reported feeling good about themselves, compared to 60% in 2019
• 43% of students reported feeling sad or hopeless, compared to 36% in 2019
• 34% of students reported being physically active at least one hour per day, compared to 38% in 2019
• 30% of females reported they seriously considered suicide, compared to 14% of males
• 21% of gay, lesbian, or bisexual students reported they attempted suicide during the past year, compared to 6% of heterosexual students
• 42% of students reported their teachers really care about them and give them encouragement, compared to 51% in 2019
• 60% of students reported there is at least one teacher or adult in their school they can talk to if they have a problem

Click here for the presentation that includes more YRBS data (slides 15-35), as well as data from the 2021 Healthy Active Children Policy Report (slides 3-11).

Following Board member discussion, DPI staff said they will work on comparing social media use with mental health issues that have increased among students. Chair Davis noted the need for more mental health support personnel in schools and referenced the Board’s legislative budget priorities that aim to fill those positions (see above). Additionally, on Wednesday, DPI announced the State was awarded approximately $17 million in federal grant funding to increase mental health support in public schools. Click here to access DPI’s press release.

Impact of COVID on absences, grades, and grade retention: The Board was presented with results of a State-funded study assessing the impact of COVID on student attendance and grades. The report found, “In 2020-21, students had more absences and lower course grades, were more likely to be chronically absent, to fail at least one course, and to be retained in grade.” Those most impacted by chronic absenteeism include students in the lowest quartile of prior achievement (42.4%), economically disadvantaged students (35.6%), black students (33.3%), and English learners (32.9%). In the 2020-21 school year, 39.6% of middle school students failed at least one course, compared to 15.5% pre-pandemic, and 34.9% of high school students failed at least one course, compared to 21.7% pre-pandemic. Regarding students who enrolled in summer 2021 programs, the study found that enrollees were less likely to repeat failed courses. Click here to access the presentation, which includes more disaggregated data.

New Local School Board Advisor: At this month’s meeting, Chair Davis recognized Henry Mercer of Wilson County Schools as the new Local School Board Advisor. Mr. Mercer is the 2022-23 recipient of the Raleigh Dingman Award for Outstanding Boardsmanship.

Click here to access all meeting materials. Click here to access an article on the meeting.

 

The decades-old Leandro case has a new presiding judge. On December 29, 2022, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby reassigned the case to Superior Court Judge James Ammons of Cumberland County. This follows Superior Court Judge Michael Robinson’s November 30, 2022, letter to Chief Justice Newby requesting the case be reassigned to another judge because of Robinson’s workload and demands on his docket as a Business Court Judge.

The following is a recent timeline leading up to the reassignment of the Leandro case to Judge Ammons.

• On November 4, 2022, the State Supreme Court ruled that certain State officials must transfer funds necessary to comply with years two and three of the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan. Prior to that transfer, the Court required the trial court to recalculate the transfer amount based on what was accounted for in the 2022 State budget.
• On December 12, 2022, a report was filed with the court that includes the following timeline:
  • “On or before 19 December 2022, Defendant State of North Carolina shall file with the Court an accounting showing the recalculations, if any, of the amount of funds to be transferred in light of the State’s 2022 Budget.
  • “On or before 20 January 2023, Plaintiff Parties and any other party shall respond.”
  • The report also says the State Controller opposes the proposed timeline because “additional procedures are needed to assure an accurate and responsible handling of any money which the Controller authorizes.”
• On December 19, 2022, an affidavit was filed by the Office of State Budget and Management that says, “The analysis reveals that 63% of the Year Two Action Items of the Comprehensive Remedial Plan, and 60% of the Year Three Items of the Comprehensive Remedial Plan have been funded. This means that approximately $257,679,390 of Year Two Action Items remain unfunded, while $420,121,777 of Year Three Action Items remain unfunded.”

Click here for an article with more information on these Leandro updates.

 

JROTC programs across North Carolina (and the country) won an important victory just before the New Year as Congress passed and President Biden signed legislation to ease the requirements on the type of military personnel that can be hired as instructors for the program. Previously, those instructors were limited to retired military. Under the new law, active reservists and the honorably discharged with at least eight years of service may now be employed as instructors. This makes it much easier for schools with JROTC programs to staff the instructor positions.

The legislation passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. NCSBA alerted districts across the State to contact their members of Congress and urge support of the bill. One of the early leaders in the fight was William “Bill” Sharpe, Nash County Board of Education Chair. Sharpe worked with Senator Thom Tillis’ office to monitor the legislation as it progressed through both chambers of Congress.

“This is a great victory for districts across North Carolina,” said Sharpe. “JROTC programs have benefitted so many students by not only teaching them leadership but providing them with real career opportunities. The challenge has been to keep the instructor positions staffed and with this important legislation passing, that task is much easier. I’m thankful to all the other districts who contacted their member of Congress and told them how important this was.”

 

The following is the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education report.

December 19, 2022, Weekly Report

Headlines for this edition include:

• National Center for Education Statistics Releases Results from National Teacher and Principal Survey
  • The survey produced four reports centered on reported characteristics of teachers, principals, schools, and the impact of COVID on public and private education. The teacher report notes that K-12 instructors are putting in 13 more hours per week on average than their contracts require. The principals’ report noted similar long hours.
• Congress Passes Omnibus Spending Bill for Fiscal Year 2023
  • On December 23, 2022, President Biden signed the omnibus spending bill for the 2023 fiscal year. The legislation contains important education-related items including:
    • Title 1 increases of $850 million to a total of $18.39 billion, assisting more than half the nation’s public schools.
    • A 100% increase for Full Service Community Schools, which went from $75 million to $150 million.
  • For a more detailed analysis of the education-related items in the omnibus spending bill, click here.

 

The 2023 legislative long session kicks off with a ceremonial day on Wednesday, January 11. Legislators will then have a two-week break, and return to Raleigh on Wednesday, January 25 to begin their work. Unlike the circus we’ve been seeing in the US House these past few days, we expect House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, to easily be reelected into their leadership positions next Wednesday.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Governmental Relations Research Specialist
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

House Select Committee on An Education System for North Carolina’s Future

On December 12, the Committee approved its final report, which includes summaries of the Committee’s meetings and six findings/recommendations for consideration by the 2023 General Assembly. The report does not include any draft legislation.

School Calendar: As we mentioned in our December 2 Legislative Update, the Committee’s Senior Chair, Representative John Torbett, R-Gaston, said the report will “suggest a Labor Day to Memorial Day calendar.” Instead, the report says, “the mandatory school calendar law should be adjusted to better fit the needs of students and educators” and “local boards of education should be given greater calendar flexibility” (see page 25). The report does not provide a clear solution to the local school calendar issue, and Chair Torbett stated that he wants to continue looking at the possibility of a Labor Day to Memorial Day calendar because it would be beneficial to keep students on the same statewide school calendar. Committee member, Representative David Willis, R-Union, said consideration should be given to aligning the traditional public-school calendar with the community college calendar to allow more students to participate in dual enrollment programs.

State Board of Education & State Superintendent: The report also includes a recommendation regarding the division of authority between the appointed State Board of Education (SBE) and the elected State Superintendent: “The Committee recommends that the General Assembly pass a constitutional amendment to allow the voters to determine the division of authority between the SBE and the Superintendent of Public Instruction” (see page 25). Committee member, Representative Rachel Hunt, D-Mecklenburg, cautioned against asking citizens to vote on this constitutional amendment because many people do not understand the responsibilities of the SBE and State Superintendent. Hunt said there would need to be a lot of public educatoin prior to placing this on the ballot.

Click here to access the final report, which includes these additional findings/recommendations:

• All students should receive a high-quality standard education
• NC should continue to increase educator pay, allow educators to focus on instructional duties, and provide educators with growth and advancement opportunities
  • Chair Torbett noted he is watching the teacher pay/licensure work of the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) and SBE
• All children deserve a safe place to learn free from distraction
• The NC student assessment system should be designed to generate useful data to help ensure students’ post-secondary success

Chair Torbett said this is the beginning of a long course of building a better education system in the State. He said he will be asking for the Committee to have more time next year to further develop these findings. Click here for an article on the meeting and the report.

Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee

The Committee met on December 13 and approved its final report, which includes summaries of the Committee’s hearings and testimony, along with seven recommendations for consideration by the 2023 General Assembly. The report does not include any draft legislation. The K-12 education-related recommendations include:

• Competency Based Education
  • DPI should conduct a statewide survey to determine what schools are implementing regarding competency-based education
• Special Education Funding Formula
  • The State should move toward a service level model rather than a disability category model to ensure students are not over identified or placed in high-cost funding tiers
• Excellent Public Schools Act/Read to Achieve/Literacy
  • DPI should partner with the UNC system and independent colleges and universities as they incorporate the science of reading into educator preparation programs (EPPs)
  • DPI should focus on incorporating highly effective interventions in low-performing schools
  • The General Assembly should continue supporting evidence-based early literacy practices and interventions
• Schools That Lead
  • Schools That Lead, which provides professional development to school administrators and teachers, and the UNC system’s EPPs should collaborate to better equip beginning teachers

Click here for an article on the meeting and the report.

House Select Committee on Advancing Women in STEM

On December 6, the Committee approved its final report, which includes summaries of the Committee’s meetings and draft legislation for consideration in the upcoming 2023 long session (see pages 25-27). The draft legislation requires the State superintendent to establish a new STEM Program for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. The purpose of the Program is to provide grant funds to public school units to engage in experiential science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education programs.

Child Fatality Task Force

At its meeting on December 12, the Task Force was presented with 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data (see slides 54-73). DPI deploys the survey in the spring of every odd numbered year to help assess youth behaviors that impact their health now and in the future.

This was the first YRBS since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The following are data points for high school students:

• 49% of students reported feeling good about themselves, compared to 60% in 2019
• 43% of students reported feeling sad or hopeless, compared to 36% in 2019
• 30% of females reported that they seriously considered suicide, compared to 14% of males
• 49% of LGBTQ+ students reported purposefully hurting themselves without wanting to die, compared to 13% of heterosexual students
• 13% of students reported experiencing physical dating violence, compared to 7% in 2019
• 14% of students reported being bullied on school property, compared to 19% in 2019

Click here for an article on the YRBS survey data.

 

DPI’s Testing and Accountability Working Group met on December 12 and continued its work of creating recommendations for redesigning the State’s school accountability model. The current model calculates school grades based on 80% student achievement and 20% student growth.

The Working Group was presented with updates to academic and school quality indicators, which will be included in the Working Group’s proposed accountability model. These lists of indicators were created based on feedback from a public statewide survey and input from education groups. During the meeting, DPI staff explained that some indicators were collapsed to provide more aligned metrics, and some indicators were removed because they had minimal agreeance (e.g., discipline and per-pupil expenditures) and because they had little to no valid and reliable measurements (see slides 6-12).

Click here to read more about the meeting. DPI staff will continue to refine the list of indicators and engage in stakeholder feedback. The next Working Group meeting is scheduled for January 31, 2023.

 

DPI’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) met on December 8 and reviewed the motion approved by the State Board of Education earlier this month regarding the teacher licensure/salary model blueprint for action. As a reminder, this model would pay teachers based on performance, effectiveness, and years of experience, rather than exclusively on years of experience. It would also provide higher salaries for most, if not all, teachers.

The motion directs PEPSC to make recommendations on how to implement pilots for the following areas of the model:

1. Advance teaching and leader roles
2. Student impact measures
3. New pathway entry points, such as apprenticeships
4. New professional learning tools and structures for beginning and experienced teachers

This draft working document provides guidance on how PEPSC is to create these recommendations. PEPSC Vice Chair, Dr. Aaron Fleming, explained that Commission members will break into four working groups based on the above key areas and that each group will hold an initial meeting prior to the holiday break.

The next PEPSC meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2023. Click here for an article on the December 8 meeting.

 

The following are the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education reports.

December 5, 2022, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • US Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee held a hearing to discuss the mental health needs of students and how the federal government can better support and ease the transition from high school to college. To watch the hearing, click here.

December 12, 2022, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): The US Department of Education Office of Special Education Policy issued guidelines to help highly mobile children – those who are experiencing frequent moves into new school districts – receive special education services.

 

The 2023 legislative long session kicks off with a ceremonial day on Wednesday, January 11. Legislators will then have a two-week break, and return to Raleigh on Wednesday, January 25 to begin their work.

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Governmental Relations Research Specialist
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org

 

On November 14, the NCSBA Delegate Assembly approved NCSBA’s 2023-2024 Legislative Agenda, which will be used to guide the Association’s advocacy efforts. We are currently working on issue briefs for each item on the Legislative Agenda, so be on the lookout for those. Click here to access NCSBA’s Legislative Agenda.

 

The State Board of Education (SBE) met this week on November 30 and December 1 for its December monthly meeting. Board members were presented with the following:

• Teacher licensure/salary model – blueprint for action
• NC school performance grades redesign
• DPI’s Portrait of a Graduate update
• Legislative requests for the 2023 long session

Teacher licensure/salary model – blueprint for action: On Thursday, the Board approved a blueprint of the draft teacher licensure/salary model, which would most likely be implemented as a pilot rather than a statewide revamp. Last month, Board members heard a presentation from the chair of DPI’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) on this blueprint. As a reminder, this draft model would pay teachers based on performance, effectiveness, and years of experience, rather than exclusively on years of experience. The draft model would also provide higher salaries for most, if not all, teachers.

At its November 10, 2022, meeting, PEPSC approved a version of this blueprint to be sent to the SBE for approval. On Thursday, the Board unanimously approved a motion acknowledging receipt of the blueprint, which includes 10 items. The motion also does the following:

1. Requires the State Superintendent to identify how the blueprint aligns with the Board’s Strategic Plan and DPI’s Operation Polaris
2. Directs SBE General Counsel to determine statutes and policies that would be impacted by the work of PEPSC
3. Requests PEPSC to make recommendations to implement field testing or piloting for specific parts of the blueprint

The State Superintendent and SBE General Counsel are required to report back to the Board at the next monthly meeting on January 4 and 5, 2023, and PEPSC is required to report back to the Board no later than the monthly meeting on March 1 and 2, 2023. Board Chair Eric Davis explained that this approved motion precedes a motion for a formal legislative ask.

Click here for an article on the presentation and the Board’s discussion. Click here for an article on PEPSC’s November 10, 2022, meeting, which provides more information on PEPSC’s approval of this blueprint and the work still to be done.

NC school performance grades redesign: The Board was presented with an update on the work of the Testing and Accountability Working Group, which is in the process of creating recommendations for redesigning the current school accountability model. Earlier this fall, the Working Group launched a public survey to gain stakeholder feedback. The presentation to the Board included top academic and school quality indicators based on that feedback, as well as feedback gathered from various education groups including the NCSBA Board of Directors.

DPI presenters stated that there is consensus among education groups to recommend separate accountability models for elementary, middle, and high schools. Going forward, DPI will continue to refine the list of indicators based on feedback, review indicators to determine measurements of validity and reliability, and provide findings to the Working Group at its December 12, 2022, meeting. DPI staff stated that a recommendation from the Working Group will most likely be brought to the Board in February 2023.

Click here for an article on the presentation to the Board. Click here for an article on the Working Group’s November 7, 2022 meeting, which includes a review of the survey results and discussion about which indicators should be prioritized.

DPI’s Portrait of a Graduate update: The Board heard two presentations on DPI’s newly released State Portrait of a Graduate. The Portrait identifies seven competencies that students need for success after high school (click here for the list). State Superintendent Catherine Truitt explained the “why” behind the creation of the Portrait, saying that employers seek durable skills almost four times more than the top five technical/hard skills. Following a study over the past two years of 2.8 million job postings across 20 industries, DPI staff found that 2.1 million NC jobs demand durable skills. Truitt also presented the Portrait Playbook, which is meant to familiarize school districts with Portrait competencies. The Playbook is a living document that allows educators to provide feedback.

The other presentation on the Portrait was a request to continue using federal COVID reserve funds to roll out phases II and III, during which rubrics and performance assessments around the seven competencies will be created to guide the work of school districts in implementing the Portrait. The Board approved the funding request.

Click here for the Portrait FAQ and click here for the Portrait webpage.

Legislative requests for the 2023 long session: The Board received a brief update on DPI’s and SBE’s draft legislative requests. Minimal changes had been made since the November monthly meeting presentation, but Chair Davis said that more work will be done on the requests prior to the Board’s vote for approval at the January 2023 monthly meeting.

Click here to access all meeting materials. Click here for an article on the meeting.

 

House Select Committee on An Education System for North Carolina’s Future

During the November 15 meeting, Committee Chair, Representative John Torbett, R-Gaston, hinted at a few items that will be included in the Committee’s forthcoming report. Torbett said the report will “suggest a Labor Day to Memorial Day calendar” and recommend realigning the responsibilities of the State Superintendent, State Board of Education, and General Assembly. The report will also include a recommendation for increased teacher pay and advancement opportunities for teachers that will keep them in the classroom. Torbett said the report will be discussed and voted on at the Committee’s next meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.

Click here for a list of Committee members to contact if you have concerns about the upcoming report. (Click on individual Committee member pictures to access their contact information.)

The Committee also heard two presentations:

• Developing Excellent Leaders for Effective Schools
  • Bonnie Fusarelli, Director of NC State’s Leadership Academies, NC State University
  • Karen Anderson, Cohort Director of Wake Cohort
• NC Annual Testing Program
  • Tammy Howard, Senior Director of Accountability and Testing, DPI

Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee

The Committee met on November 29 and heard four presentations, two of which focused on K-12 education. DPI presented the Excellent Public Schools Act 2021-22 State Summary. Most notably among the findings, NC’s literacy growth in K-2 students outpaces all other states. Additionally, DPI is placing one Early Literacy Specialist in each of the State’s 115 school districts.

Schools That Lead presented on its efforts to provide professional development for teachers and principals. The organization focuses on improvement efforts at the classroom level, in order to elevate student outcomes. Their Networked Improvement Community initiative works with 52 schools across 15 districts and charters to increase on-time graduation, reduce ninth grade retention, and reduce the number of students with early warning indicators in attendance, behavior, and course performance. The network serves 30,000 students, 70% of whom live in poverty. According to the presentation, graduation rates and chronic absenteeism in these schools generally improved.

Click here for an article on the meeting.

 

As Congress wraps up its business before the end of the year, there’s an opportunity to help schools operating JROTC programs. The US Senate’s version of the annual Defense Authorization Bill contains language that broadens the pool of military professionals that schools may employ as JROTC instructors. Previously, those instructors were limited to retired military. The new language would allow active reservists and the honorably discharged with at least eight years of service to also be employed as instructors, thereby making it easier for schools to staff these positions.

NOW is the time to call and email members of the NC Congressional delegation to urge the inclusion of this important language in the final version of the Defense Authorization Bill. To find out who represents you and obtain contact information, click here.

 

The following are the Consortium of State School Boards Association’s (COSSBA) most recent federal education reports.

November 7, 2022, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • States receive additional $50 million in federal funding for the Community Learning Centers grant program, providing before and after-school, weekend, and summer school academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools.
  • 2022 Across the Aisle Report: What Voters and Parents Want In Education

November 14, 2022, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • USDA Launches $50 Million School Nutrition Grants

November 21, 2022, Weekly Report

• Headlines for this edition include:
  • National Council on Teacher Quality: Analysis of State Policies on Teacher and Principal Evaluations

 

The Committee met on November 29 and worked on goal setting and planning for 2023. The Committee broke into groups and discussed the following:

• What State policies the Committee should inform
• How the Committee can use its platform to elevate the teaching profession
• What local education issues need to be highlighted
• Who to partner with to advance the Governor’s priorities

Click here to read more about the Committee’s discussion. The Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for January 24, 2023.

 

Tuesday, December 6

3:00 pm – House Select Committee on Advancing Women in STEM – Legislative Offices Building, rm 643 (livestream)

 

 

 

Bruce Mildwurf
Director of Governmental Relations
NC School Boards Association
bmildwurf@ncsba.org

Rebekah Howard
Governmental Relations Research Specialist
NC School Boards Association
rhoward@ncsba.org

Madison Skeens
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
mskeens@ncsba.org

Rob Black
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
rblack@ncsba.org