House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Part I

Deletes proposed changes to GS 115C-270.5.

Amends GS 115C-284.1, Administrator Preparation Programs (APP) as follows. Specifies that for an APP to recommend candidates for licensure it must be approved by the State Board of Education (Board). Specifies that an APP is an entity that meets all of the following: (1) prepares, trains, and recommends candidates for administrator licensure; (2) leads to Master's of School Administration (MSA) or Master's of Education in Educational Leadership unless the candidate already holds a master's or doctoral degree in an education-related field; and (3) is accredited by a programmatic accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education pursuant to federal law or was approved by the Board as a school administrator preparation program before April 1, 2023. Requires the Board to adopt rules for approval of an APP that ensure: (1) a rigorous approval process that requires that the criteria in GS 115C-284.1 are met; (2) an application process, peer review, and technical assistance provided by the Board; and (3) an approval period of five years and process for renewal. Grants the Board authority to approve an APP that meets the rules for approval set forth in GS 115C-284.1. Specifies nine additional minimum approval standards for APPs, in addition to already existing requirement that the rules for approval must incorporate the criteria developed in accordance with assessing proposals under the School Administrator Training Program. Directs the Board to develop rules to determine whether an applicant who completed an administrator preparation program outside the State meets or exceeds the requirement to hold a State administrator license.  Makes conforming change to GS 115C-270.1 (definitions section of licensure provisions pertaining to personnel for elementary and secondary education school systems) by adding defined term approved administrator preparation program or approved APP.

Amends GS 115C-270.20 (licensure requirements) to change the proposed licensure requirements for administrators and provisional assistant principals and to add a student services personnel license, as follows. Now establishes the requirements for a five-year renewable license to administrators as: (1) a bachelor's degree; (2) successful completion of an approved APP; (3) at least four years of experience as a licensed professional educator; and (4) submission of a portfolio to the Board for approval that meets criteria adopted by the Board. (Was: (1) submission of a complete application to the Board; (2) payment of the applicable fee; (3) a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; (4) complete an accredited school administrator preparation program listed in GS 115C-284(c2) as amended by the act (discussed below) or approved by the Board; (5) at least four years of experience as a licensed professional educator and certain graduate degrees; (6) submission of a portfolio to the Board for approval.) Changes the licensure requirements for a provisional assistant principal license to: (1) a determination by the local board of education that there is a demonstrated need for administrators and the employee enrolls in an approved APP by the end of the first year of the provisional license and (2) the employee is participating in an internship required for completion of an APP. (Was, (1) the local board determines there is a demonstrated need for administrators and the employee enrolls in an approved school administration program leading to a master’s degree in school administration or educational leadership before the provisional license expires; or (2) the employee is enrolled in an approved master’s program in school administration and participates in the required internship under the master’s program.) Moves the requirement that continuing licensure for administrators include education in digital teaching to GS 115C-270.30 (licensure renewal).

Removes amendments to GS 115C-284 that would change the school administrator internship requirement from a yearlong internship to 1,000 hours in duration and which would require the Board to issue rules to determine whether or not applicants who completed a school administrator program outside the State meet or exceed the requirements to hold a State license. Moves bar on provisional licenses for principals to GS 115C-284(e).

Exempts individuals who are eligible for the principal license requirement waiver under Section 1 of SL 2021-170, as amended (making various changes to laws affecting principal licensure and other matters). 

Makes Part I applicable beginning July 1, 2024 (was, applied beginning with applications for administrator licenses submitted on or after July 1, 2025). 

Deletes Part III in its entirety, which was the requirement that the Department of Public Instruction, in consultation with the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission, to study ways to improve school administrator licensure and preparation processes to ensure that all school administrators in the State are prepared to lead schools that provide high-quality instruction to all students.

Makes conforming, technical, and organizational changes. Makes conforming changes to the act’s long title.