AN ACT to appropriate funds to study and report on programs focused on increasing the socioeconomic and geographic diversity of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  No later than March 15, 2024, the Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration of the Department of Public Instruction, in collaboration with the North Carolina Policy Collaboratory, shall study and report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on ways to increase the representation of teachers from diverse socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds in public elementary and secondary schools. The report shall include at least the following information:

(1)        A survey of the following programs and their impact on the socioeconomic and geographic diversity of individuals enrolled in educator preparation programs and employed as teachers in public elementary and secondary schools:

a.         The Call Me MiSTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role models) program at Western Carolina University.

b.         The Marathon Teaching Institute at North Carolina Central University.

c.         Effective programs in other states.

(2)        Recommendations to increase the number of individuals from diverse socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds enrolled in educator preparation programs and employed as teachers in public elementary and secondary schools, including expanding the programs identified in subdivision (1) of this section, establishing new programs, and developing a statewide program.

SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2023‑2024 fiscal year for the study and report required by Section 1 of this act.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2023.