GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1579*

Short Title:  Extend Lead Teacher Program.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Redwine; R. Hunter and Diamont.
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Referred to:  Education.
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May 3, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO EXTEND THE LEAD TEACHER PILOT PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 115C-363.28 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-363.28.  Lead teacher pilot program.
(a)	A lead teacher pilot program is hereby established, consisting of 16 county pilot projects, two from each of the eight education regions of the State. The 16 pilot projects shall include the lead teacher pilot projects underway in Haywood, Stanly, and Granville counties. It is intended that the schools participating in the pilot projects shall represent elementary, junior, and senior high school levels. The 13 new pilot projects shall be selected by the State Board of Education from applications received from county units.  Participation of all schools within a unit is not required for the unit to qualify for selection as a lead teacher pilot project.
(b)	Each of the 16 county units shall develop a plan, setting forth the goals to be attained, the strategies for attaining these goals, and the manner in which the pilot program is to be evaluated. The plans developed for the lead teacher projects underway in Haywood, Stanly, and Granville counties shall cover the period from September 1, 1989, through June 30, 1991, and must be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval on or before October 1, 1989. Prior to the plan's implementation, the State Board shall submit the plan to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations of the General Assembly at the Commission's October 1989 meeting. Plans submitted from the Haywood, Stanly, and Granville county projects may provide for extending the project to schools within each county unit that were not part of the original pilot project. The plans developed for the other 13 pilot projects shall cover the period from December 1, 1989, through June 30, 1991, and must be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval on or before January 1, 1990.  Prior to the plan's implementation, the State Board shall submit the plan to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations of the General Assembly at the Commission's January 1990 meeting. If the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations is not scheduled to meet, the plan shall be submitted to the Education Subcommittee of the Commission.
(b1)	The plan developed for each of the 16 pilot projects shall set forth as clearly as possible those aspects of the plan that will be enhanced and improved because of the flexible funding provided in the program.  The goal of the lead teacher pilot program is improved student academic performance.  The plan of each pilot project shall provide for the measurement of progress in achieving this goal, and shall describe how teachers, students, and parents will be involved in efforts to improve student academic performance.  Amendments to the original plan may be submitted as the project counties deem desirable and may be implemented in the absence of objections by the State Board of Education. The implementation of each pilot project's plan shall be monitored and evaluated annually by the Department of Public Instruction to measure progress of the pilot project in meeting the goals and objectives of its plan.  The State Board of Education shall report the Department's findings to the General Assembly on January 1, 1991.
(c)	The faculties and administrators in the pilot schools should be involved in the selection process of the lead teachers.  They should also be involved in developing job descriptions and job functions for the lead teachers.  Job descriptions and job functions should focus heavily on the unique duties of lead teachers.  Lead teacher positions are limited to a two-year time frame and are to be rotated as projects are funded beyond the initial two-year period; provided, however, that for lead teacher projects funded beyond the initial two-year period, lead teacher positions may be extended for one two-year time frame.
(d)	In the 16 project units, broad decision making latitude shall be granted to the local boards of education.  It is expected that lead teachers and faculties will be allowed  broad discretion to experiment with the instructional activities that appear to meet instructional needs in that particular setting.  It is the specific intent of the General Assembly that this flexibility shall not be inhibited by statute or regulation (i) so long as the plans and activities are carried out within total funds available for that purpose, or (ii) so long as the State Board of Education does not find as a fact that the discretionary authority contained in this act is being abused, and so long as any changes in the plan and any potential inconsistencies with statute or regulation are reported to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations or its Education Subcommittee."
Sec. 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Education $5,250,000 for the 1989-90 fiscal year, and $5,250,000 for the 1990-91 fiscal year to be used to implement the lead teacher pilot program and to provide funds for a salary differential for lead teachers, funds for half-time replacements for lead teachers, and funds for training and program development and related costs.
Sec. 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 1989.