H681: CCS/Teacher In-State Tuition Pilot. Latest Version

Session: 2021 - 2022

House
Passed 1st Reading



AN ACT to establish a teacher recruitment pilot program in craven county schools for out‑of‑state teachers holding a residency license to be charged in‑state tuition at certain constituent institutions of the university of north carolina.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Program Established. – There is established the out‑of‑state residency license teacher recruitment pilot program (Program) to be implemented in Craven County Schools for the purpose of attracting high‑quality teachers to a local school administrative unit serving military‑connected students so that the unit can establish a reliable pipeline of effective educators. The Program shall operate for a term of five years, beginning with the 2021‑2022 academic year and ending with the 2025‑2026 academic year. Notwithstanding G.S. 116‑143.1, the Program shall provide for a teacher employed by the Craven County Board of Education to be charged the in‑State tuition rate for the courses the teacher completes towards an educator license if the teacher meets the following criteria:

(1)        Holds a residency license pursuant to G.S. 115C‑270.20.

(2)        Does not qualify as a resident for tuition purposes under G.S. 116‑143.1.

(3)        Is enrolled in an educator preparation program at one of the following constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina:

a.         East Carolina University.

b.         University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

c.         Elizabeth City State University.

d.         Fayetteville State University.

SECTION 2.  Program Goals. – The goal of the Program shall be to (i) make completion of a teacher's education preparation program more affordable as an incentive to work in a highly transient, underserved area of the State while creating a connection for the teacher to the local community and (ii) determine the feasibility of expanding the Program to other local school administrative units that serve military‑connected student populations or hard‑to‑staff areas. Teachers shall only be charged in‑State tuition while employed with Craven County Schools pursuant to this act until otherwise eligible under G.S. 116‑143.1 as a resident for tuition purposes during the Program.

SECTION 3.  Limitations. – No student who does not qualify as a resident for tuition purposes under G.S. 116‑143.1 and is eligible for in‑State tuition due only to the Program set forth in this act shall displace a North Carolina resident eligible for in‑State tuition who is seeking to enroll in the educator preparation program offered by a constituent institution participating in the Program.

SECTION 4.  Report. – Beginning September 15, 2022, and annually thereafter for the duration of the Program, Craven County Schools shall report the results of the Program to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly. This report shall include information about the number of nonresident students who enrolled in the educator preparation programs at participating constituent institutions, by institution, at the in‑State tuition rate from the Program, any teachers that were unable to receive the in‑State tuition rate due to potential displacement of students eligible for in‑State tuition under G.S. 116‑143.1, and the number of teachers who received the in‑State tuition rate who remained employed in Craven County Schools after completing the educator preparation program.

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.