S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 6.8 of S.L. 2021-180 requires the Community Colleges System Office (System Office) to partner with the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association and the Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation to implement the RISE Up credentialing program (Program) for the 2021-2022 fiscal year to teach foundational skills to students attending cooperative innovative high schools (CIHS) for career success in the retail industry, customer service, and sales, including inventory management and profitability, as well as supply chain warehouse, inventory, and logistics.

The Program must be offered to students at CIHS through each partner community college with the opportunity for up to four different levels of the RISE Up credentials that include the following:

• Retail Industry Fundamentals.
• Customer Service and Sales.
• Operations and Profit.
• Supply Chain: Warehouse, Inventory, and Logistics.

The System Office, in collaboration with the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association and the Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation, must submit an initial report by October 1, 2022, and a final report by October 1, 2023, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and various other entities on the results of implementing the Program at partner community colleges for students at CIHS, including the number of students who received credentials, by type of credential, and student outcomes related to the credentialing, such as subsequent internships or job placements.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.