Bill Summary for S 571 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

Apr 7 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
Senate Bill 571 (Public) Filed Tuesday, April 6, 2021
AN ACT TO CODIFY AND EXPAND THE RENEWAL SCHOOL SYSTEM OPTIONAL PROGRAM FOR LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS.
Intro. by Lee.

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Bill summary

Repeals Section 6 of SL 2018-32, as amended, which authorizes local school administrative units to submit renewal school system plans to the State Board of Education (State Board) that, upon approval, permits the local board to decide all matters related to the operation of the schools under its control within the local school administrative unit, including use of State funds, curriculum, and operating procedures. Replaces the uncodified provisions with the following statutory provisions. Effective July 1, 2021. 

Enacts Part 12, Renewal School Systems, to Article 16, GS Chapter 115C, with provisions similar to those of Section 6, SL 2018-32, as repealed. Authorizes an eligible local board of education to submit a renewal school system plan to the State Board to permit the eligible local board to decide all matters related to the operation of the schools under its control within the administrative unit, including the use of State funds, curriculum, and operating procedures, for the purpose of designing and creating a comprehensive, innovative strategic vision for sustainable school improvement and student achievement through the delivery of instruction and resources tailored to the needs of the students and the community. Defines eligible local board of education to be a local board that either (1) for data applicable to the 2017-18 school year, the administrative unit is the greatest percentage of restart model schools in the State approved by the State Board, eligible for low-wealth supplemental funding with an average daily membership of more than 10,000 students, or (2) for data applicable to the 2021-22 school year, the administrative unit is designated as located in a development tier two area, not eligible for low-wealth supplemental funding, and less than 50 schools located in the unit governed by the local board. 

Requires for application submission prior to July 1 to begin operation of the renewal school system plan (plan) for the next school year. Details required plan components, including a resolution adopted by the eligible local board to implement the plan in the administrative unit. Provides for approval by the State Board within 30 days upon recommendation by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Allows the State Board to establish a proposed initial term of operation for the plan with a schedule for extensions. Exempts renewal school systems from statutes and rules applicable to other administrative units, but deems a renewal school system an administrative unit for purposes of federal law and administration of State law. Lists 31 specified Articles and sections of GS Chapter 115C which are applicable to renewal school systems, including Parts 1A and 1B of Article 8 (NC Read to Achieve Program and School Performance) and Article 31 (School Budget and Fiscal Control Act, except for disbursement of State money and related reporting and violation provisions).

Requires renewal school systems to require, at least, (1) instruction each year for at least 185 days or 1,025 hours over nine calendar months, (2) design to meet student performance standards adopted by the State Board and the student performance goals contained in the plan, and (3) conduct student assessments required by State law. Directs the State Board to identify low-performing and continually low-performing schools in the renewal school system on an annual basis, as specified. Requires the renewal school system to provide a system of transportation for students in the administrative unit. Encourages the adoption of an anti-bullying or harassing behavior policy consistent with Article 29C, with provision of the policy to staff, students, and parents at the beginning of each year. Requires reporting to comply with the Uniform Education Reporting System requirements established by the State Board. Requires annual reporting to the State Board. Provides for renewal school system principal responsibilities with regard to driving eligibility certificates. Provides for renewal school system employment, requiring at least 50% of the teachers to hold teacher licenses and all core subject teachers to be college graduates. Authorizes employment of necessary support employees and contracting for services.

Directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to calculate and distribute State funds to be allocated to a renewal school system in the same manner as other administrative units, subject to State Board policy regarding guaranteed positions conversion. Establishes that the funds are unrestricted except as to restrictions imposed by federal law, federal or State conditions for grants, or State Board rules providing for federal compliance. Provides for disbursement. Allows withholding when reporting is more than 30 days overdue, or to cover delinquent contributions due to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System. Allows the State Board to require financial reporting. Directs the State Board to issue a warning for violations of applicable laws and regulations of the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act, and authorizes the State Board to assume control of financial affairs and appointment of an administrator upon persistent willful or negligent noncompliance after the warning. Deems the adoption of a resolution to divest the financial powers conferred. 

Requires the State Board to conduct a review of the operation and student performance of a renewal school system at least every three years during the operation of the plan. Authorizes termination of a plan after review for failure to meet the requirements for student performance contained in the plan, or if the majority of schools in the system have been identified as low-performing in the two school years immediately preceding the review. Also authorizes termination upon failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management or violation of State or federal law, with termination allowed prior to any established term of operation in the plan. Requires the State Board to develop transition plans upon termination. Establishes annual reporting requirements for renewal school system to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, including reporting on student assessments and staffing. Authorizes the Superintendent to recommend termination upon finding that satisfactory progress is not being made after reviewing the reports. 

Provides for continued operation of administrative units operating under an approved renewal school system plan pursuant to Section 6, of SL 2018-32, since repealed, as of the date the act becomes law, subject to new Part 12, Article 16, GS Chapter 115C, as enacted, beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

Applies beginning with the 2021-22 school year. 

Appropriates $500,000 for 2021-22 and 2022-23 from the General Fund to DPI to be allocated to administrative units operating under an approved renewal school system plan pursuant to Section 6 of SL 2018-32 as of the date the act becomes law for operating expenses. Effective July 1, 2021.