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

Amends the short and long titles.

Deletes all of the provisions of the previous edition and replaces it with the following.

Amends SL 2015-241 by adding new Section 8.49, which authorizes the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to use appropriated funds for the 2015-16 fiscal year and following fiscal years for the purposes of (1) a statewide purchasing agreement for office productivity software for students, teachers, and other staff of NC public schools and (2) for the provision of technical support and professional development involving the use of the software. 

Amends Section 11.9 of SL 2015-241, concerning the competitive grant program for NC public schools, to establish the Office of Principal Preparation (Office) within the State Education Assistance Authority (Authority) for the purposes of (1) the awarding competitive grants; (2) developing and overseeing the selection and on-going process, renewal, and reporting components; (3) building a portfolio of approved technical assistance providers to grantees; and (4) working with educational communities across North Carolina for the implementation of the specified programs. Sets out provisions governing the Office director and staff, including specified administrative policies and information. Provides that the Office will issue an initial RFP with guidelines and criteria for the grants no later than January 1, 2016. Also provides that by March 1, 2016, the Office must recommend to the Authority recipients of the grants.

Adds new section 11.9(m) concerning the extension of deadlines for the competitive grant program, allowing extension of the specified deadlines for good faith effort to meet the deadlines, given that the deadlines can only be extended by an additional 30 days. 

Sets out how the $500,000, beginning with the 2016-17 fiscal year, allocated to the Authority can be used, with (1) $475,000 used to hire the Office director and staff and for operating expenses and (2) $25,000 used by the Authority for administrative costs regarding the creating of the program.

Deletes all provisions previously found in this section which detailed the contracting by the Authority with a nonprofit for administration for the competitive grant program. Makes conforming changes, deleting or updating references to such a nonprofit. 

Amends GS 115C-112.6(b1)(1), as enacted by Section 11.11(a) of SL 2015-241, deleting language previously found in subdivision (1) and adding new language concerning the process for tuition endorsements and reimbursements for scholarships, requiring the Authority to disburse scholarship funds, for endorsement by a student's parent or guardian, at least twice each school year for tuition for attendance to a nonpublic school that meets certain specified criteria.  Provides that the parent or guardian must restrictively endorse the funds for deposit into the account of the school. Noncompliance with such requirements can result in a forfeiture of scholarship amounts. Also provides processes for reimbursement for tuition for eligible students that enroll in one of two specified types of schools: (1) a NC public school other than the public school to which the student was assigned or (2) a nonpublic school that meets certain specified requirements and does not participate in the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Provides that if enrollment totals less than 75 days of the semester, then reimbursement will be on a pro rata reimbursement. Applies to scholarships awarded for the 2015-16 school year and each subsequent school year.

Enacts GS 116-235.5, Advanced courses, which provides that students at the NC School of Science and Mathematics or in high school courses at the NC School of the Arts must have access and be encouraged to enroll in rigorous advanced courses, with the ends being success in achieving a postsecondary education. Defines advanced course as an AP class or an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme course. Sets out process for exempting fees for examinations for advanced courses and reimbursement to the UNC system for such fees. Amends GS 116-69 to provide that the NC School of the Arts can offer advanced courses such as those described above. 

Effective July 1, 2015.