Bill Summaries: S219 MODIFY TEACHER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

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  • Summary date: Jul 8 2019 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO MODIFY TEACHER LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS. SL 2019-71. Enacted July 1, 2019. Effective July 1, 2019, and, except as otherwise provided, applies beginning with applications for teacher licensure submitted on or after the eighteenth day following the effective date of this act.


  • Summary date: Jun 20 2019 - View Summary

    Conference report makes the following changes to the 4th edition.

    Makes organizational changes, moving proposed GS 115C-270.20(a)(4a) set forth in Part I, establishing a limited license, to Part II of the act.

    Part II.

    Modifies proposed GS 115C-270.20(a)(4a) as follows. Expands the restrictions on who can request a limited license (LL) to now include local boards of education currently employing or seeking to employ the individual. Prohibits the State Board of Education from requiring individuals to demonstrate preparation through standardized testing for a limited license. Now provides two avenues to receiving an LL: (1) for IPL (initial professional license) licensees, the individual must meet the previously prescribed requirements, with the modification that the local board must include in its affidavit submitted to the State Board that the teacher is currently employed by that local board and (2) for out-of-state licensees, the individual must hold current teacher licensure in another state that is in good standing and have the local board submit an affidavit signed by the local board superintendent seeking to employ the teacher stating that that local board seeks to employ the teacher, the teacher has been employed as a licensed teacher in another state for at least three years, and that the teacher will be encouraged to pursue an IPL or CPL as appropriate.

    Eliminates proposed GS 115C-270.20(a)(7), which established a transitional license (TL) for out-of-state teachers.

    Modifies the proposed changes to GS 115C-270.25 to provide that an individual who does not include evidence of that teacher's effectiveness with the initial application for a continuing professional license (CPL) is only eligible for an IPL or LL (previously, limited eligibility to a transitional license, now eliminated by the conference report, for three years).

    Makes conforming changes to proposed GS 93B-15.1, concerning requests for LLs for a military spouse currently licensed in another jurisdiction.

    Part III.

    Makes organizational changes to move proposed GS 115C-302.1(b3) in Part II, which sets forth payment provisions for teachers with a TL, to Part III. Modifies proposed subsection (b3) to instead provide for pay for newly employed teachers with experience credit (TLs are eliminated by the conference report). Now requires a local board to determine experience credit for a teacher in that teacher's first year of employment with the board for purposes of paying the teacher with State-allotted funds in accordance with the State salary schedule. Makes conforming changes to make the provisions applicable to newly employed teachers. Adds that the local board is responsible for the repayment of overpayment of State funds if it did not use due diligence to verify prior employment (existing provisions hold the local board and the teacher not responsible for repayment for overpayment if misapplication of experience credit was in good faith). Further adds that a teacher paid under the new provisions is not deemed demoted under Part 3, Article 22, if the State Board's determination of experience credit results in a reduction in salary in subsequent years of employment. 

    Makes conforming organizational changes to the remainder of the act.


  • Summary date: Jun 10 2019 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 3rd edition makes the following changes.

    Part II.

    Adds to proposed GS 115C-270.20(a)(7), which establishes a transitional license (TL) for out-of-state teachers. Provides that transitional licensees are not required to demonstrate preparation through achieving a minimum score on a standardized exam.

    Part III.

    Adds to the proposed changes to GS 115C-270.20(a)(4), which allows for issuance of a lifetime license after 30 or more years of teaching as a licensed teacher. Clarifies that a teacher has completed 30 or more years of teaching as a licensed teacher when the teacher holds a current NC teaching license and has completed 30 or more years of creditable service with the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System.

    Part V.

    Makes a technical change.


  • Summary date: Jun 5 2019 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Makes organizational changes. Places the previous provisions into Part I. Modifies the proposed requirements for a limited license under GS 115C-270.20 to no longer require the local school administrative unit to be located in a development tier one or tier two area, or a development tier three area with a population of less than 100,000. Makes technical and clarifying changes.

    Part II.

    Amends GS 115C-270.20(a) (teacher licensure requirements) to add new subsection (7) creating a three-year nonrenewable transitional license (TL) for teachers from other states in good standing. Restricts the request for a TL to local boards of education. Allows a teacher holding a TL to begin the application process for a continuing professional license as an out-of-state applicant.

    Amends GS 115C-270.25 (out-of-state license applicants) by adding that an individual who does not include evidence of effectiveness with the initial application for a continuing professional license (CPL) is only eligible for a TL until the teacher has completed three years of licensed teaching in the state (was, only eligible for an initial professional license [IPL]). No longer gives priority to applications that include evidence of effectiveness.

    Amends GS 115C-302.1 to add new subsection (b3) authorizing local boards of education to determine experience credit for purposes of paying teachers with a TL in accord with the state salary schedule during the fist year of license.  Exempts local boards of education and the teacher from having to repay an overpayment that was made due to misapplication of experience credit where the credit was determined in good faith.

    Amends GS 93B-15.1(i) to authorize local boards of education to request a three-year transitional license for a military spouse who holds a current teaching license in another jurisdiction.

    Applies to applications for teacher licensure submitted on or after the date law becomes effective.

    Part III.

    Amends GS 115C-270.20(a)(4) to now allow a lifetime license to be issued to a teacher after 30 or more years (was 50 or more years) of teaching as a licensed teacher, requiring no license renewal.

    Repeals GS 115C-270.20(a)(6) and GS 115C-270.30(b)(3), thereby eliminating retirement licensure.

    Part IV.

    Directs the State Board of Education to adopt emergency rules to implement the act no more than 10 calendar days after the act becomes law. 

    Part V.

    Maintains the act's effective date provisions, adding that the act applies beginning with applications for teacher licensure submitted on or after the 18th day following the date the act becomes law.


  • Summary date: May 1 2019 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition deletes the previous provisions and now provides the following.

    Amends GS 115C-270.15 to require the State Board of Education (State Board) to permit an applicant to satisfy any exam requirement of the initial professional license (IPL) before or during the second year of the IPL so long as the applicant took the exam at least once during the first year of the license (previously referred to years of teaching rather than licensure and testing rather than exam requirements). Adds a new mandate for the State Board to direct the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to monitor teachers' compliance with IPL requirements. Directs DPI to notify teachers found to not be in compliance with any of the requirements. Prohibits the State Board from converting an IPL to a continuing professional license until a teacher satisfies the exam requirements of the statute.

    Amends GS 115C-270.20 to create a three-year nonrenewable limited license for certain teachers. Requires the license to be requested by the local board currently employing the individual and limits its use for continued employment of the individual at that local school administrative unit. Details the requirements of the license, including that the individual was issued an IPL but is not qualified for a CPL due to failure to satisfy the exam requirement; the local board submits a signed affidavit to the State Board stating that the teacher is effective and will be encouraged to continue to pursue a CPL; and the local unit is located in a development tier one or tier two area, or a development tier three area with a population of less than 100,000.

    Extends the initial professional licenses of K-6 or special education general curriculum teachers that are set to expire on June 30, 2019, due to failure to fulfill the exam requirements, to June 30, 2020. 

    Requires the State Board to comply with the monitoring compliance in GS 115C-270.15 beginning with applicants for teacher licensure on or after July 1, 2019.


  • Summary date: Mar 11 2019 - View Summary

    Amends GS 115C-270.1 to define accredited educator preparation program or accredited EPP, defining the term to mean an entity that is located in the US and accredited to prepare, train, and recommend students for educator licensure by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. 

    Amends GS 115C-270.10, adding a fee for an initial application for a new graduate from any accredited EPP to the fees that may be set forth in the fee schedule for professional educator licensure by the State Board of Education (State Board). Amends the permitted fees to include application for an out-of-state applicant, rather than initial application for an out-of-state applicant. Makes conforming changes. 

    Amends GS 115C-270.15, making the examination scores set out for initial professional licenses permissive rather than mandatory. Changes the timeline for an applicant to meet the minimum scores for testing before or during the applicant's third year of teaching (was, before or during the applicant's second year of teaching, provided the applicant took the exam at least once during the first year of teaching). Makes conforming and clarifying changes.

    Amends GS 115C-270.20, which requires the State Board to adopt rules for the issuance of certain classes of teacher licenses. Sets forth criteria for rules adopted pursuant to the statute, including requirements for out-of-state applicants consistent with GS 115C-270.25, as amended, and an alternative method of an applicant demonstrating academic and professional preparation if the applicant does not meet minimum scores for standard examinations but meets specified administrative requirements. Makes conforming changes to the classes of licenses to include satisfaction of administrative requirements and enrollment or completion of an accredited EPP, as specified. 

    Replaces the existing language of GS 115C-270.25 regarding out-of-state applicants. Now requires an out-of-state applicant with a full license in good standing be issued a continuing professional license by the State Board immediately upon the applicant meeting any administrative requirements established by the State Board. Requires out-of-state applicants who have successfully completed or are enrolled in an accredited EPP in another state but has not received a full teaching license in another state to meet the same requirements of an applicant who successfully completed or is enrolled in a recognized EPP located in the State. 

    Amends GS 93B-15.1(j), providing that for military spouses holding a current teaching license in another jurisdiction, GS 115C-270.25, as amended, applies when issuing teacher licenses. Excepts from the general provision deeming the State Board the occupational licensing board provisions of the statute regarding military spouses who hold a current teaching license from another jurisdiction.