AN ACT to APPROPRIATE funds to support teachers participating in the NORTH CAROLINA new teacher support program.

Whereas, recent graduates of North Carolina educator preparation programs (EPPs) are being impacted by the extraordinary circumstances due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19); and

Whereas, many recent EPP graduates were unable to complete clinical internships, pedagogy assessments, and other components of their programs prior to entering the workforce; and

Whereas, teacher effectiveness is the most important factor in delivering positive student outcomes; and

Whereas, on‑the‑job learning and comprehensive induction into the teaching profession between their first and second years of teaching is where the most gains in teacher effectiveness are realized; and

Whereas, half of North Carolina's teachers leave the profession after five years, and the personnel costs associated with teacher attrition are $12,500 per teacher; and

Whereas, the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP), a program of The University of North Carolina and administratively coordinated by East Carolina University, is a comprehensive induction program providing research‑based curriculum and multiple services to increase teacher effectiveness, enhance skills, and reduce attrition among beginning teachers; and

Whereas, as of March 8, 2021, NC NTSP has sustained induction support, recording over 25,400 supportive contacts with teachers, delivered distanced professional development to partners, and continues to innovate novel ways to support teachers during school closures; and

Whereas, teachers participating in NC NTSP were significantly more likely to return (i) to North Carolina public schools overall, (ii) to the same local school administrative unit, and (iii) to the same school in the following year than other beginning teachers working in similar schools; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of two million one hundred twenty‑eight thousand dollars ($2,128,000) in nonrecurring funds for each fiscal year of the 2021‑2023 fiscal biennium for the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program (NC NTSP) to enable additional qualifying new graduates of traditional pathway NC educator preparation programs (EPPs) teaching in North Carolina public schools to participate in NC NTSP without cost to local school administrative units. New teachers eligible for funding shall be teaching in the following local school administrative units: Anson County Schools, Duplin County Schools, Nash‑Rocky Mount Schools, Northampton County Schools, Onslow County Schools, Public Schools of Robeson County, Tyrell County Schools, and Washington County Schools.

SECTION 2.  The funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act shall be used in programs designed to address the specific and various needs of traditional pathway NC EPP graduates who will begin their teaching careers in North Carolina public schools through a blended model of support to include:

(1)        Participation in the 2021‑2022 e‑Institute hosted by NC NTSP, a professional conference event for early career educators.

(2)        An assigned instructional coach familiar with the region and local school context to guide improvements in the teachers' proficiency in planning, instruction, and assessment.

(3)        Access to and participation in ongoing, career‑embedded professional development to meet their emerging needs with consideration of their professional context.

SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2021.