Happy Independence Day!
Following Governor Cooper’s Veto of HB 966 Budget Conference Report last week, education bills that have made crossover continue to move quickly as the Budget heads back to chamber floors for a potential veto override. Some of the high profile K-12 education bills that moved through committees this week include HB 107: PED Oversight/EPP Changes, HB 362: 15-Point Scale For School Performance Grades, HB 668: Various Higher Education Changes, and HB 922: Enhance Insurance Coverage/Educ. Buildings. Each of these bills have been placed on the Senate Calendar to be considered next week.
- HB 668 would make the following changes:
- Allow high school graduation in North Carolina to be evidence for students to rebut the presumption that the student’s residence is the same as the parents’ residence.
- This evidence as a factor allows students to receive in-state tuition both at UNC constituent institutions, community colleges, and to qualify for need-based state grants.
- HB 922: Enhance Insurance Coverage/Educ. Buildings
- The Senate Education/Higher Education Committee proposed and passed this Committee Substitute to a former Vacation Rental Act. The amended version of HB 922 would:
- Authorize a Type I transfer and consolidation of the School Insurance Fund Section of the Department of Public Instruction that currently oversees the management and operation of a system of insurance for public education property to the Department of Insurance (DOI).
- Transfer the Public School Insurance Fund to the DOI.
- Require all LEAs, regional schools, and community colleges to purchase flood insurance for all education property.
A high profile bill that has had little movement in the past few months will be considered in House Committee on K-12 Education next week. SB 5: Building North Carolina’s Future would allow community colleges and local school administrative units access to funds for capital projects as well as increase the amount of tax revenue that is deposited into the General Fund. These capital improvements had been included in the budget through bonds, however this bill aims to reduce state debt by providing a pay-as-you-go system.
This week we worked hard in the Superintendent’s Office selecting the districts that would be awarded grants from the Coding & Mobile App Development Grant Program that will be announced after next week. These grants help districts starting up and continuing professional development and certifications to help teachers learn the curriculum and how to teach students these coding and app development software. The most interesting part about this program is it requires that districts have business partners that are committed to helping the students in learning more and possibly offering job interviews one day.
Furthermore, we looked at all the applicants for the State Board of Education Advisor Positions. These are 2 positions that allow a junior and a senior student to represent students on the State Board for the following year. This is a position that allows students to have a voice on the board in decisions that impact them daily. Of the 140 students that applied, the two selected will be announced soon and be honored by the Superintendent!
Numerous K-12 education bills are scheduled to be heard next week in the House and Senate committees and chambers. Additionally, the State Board of Education will hold their monthly meeting next week on Thursday, July 11th at 9:00 am so we will see what has come to discussion since last month’s meeting focused on school safety.
