GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 917

Short Title:  Literacy Restoration Act of 1995.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Decker; Aldridge, Barbee, Bowie, Brawley, J. Brown, Cansler, Capps, Cocklereece, Davis, Eddins, Hiatt, Justus, Kiser, Linney, McMahan, K. Miller, Nichols, Pate, Rayfield, Sharpe, and Weatherly.

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Referred to:  Education.

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April 12, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENACT THE LITERACY RESTORATION ACT OF 1995.
Whereas, English is the official language of the United States of America; and
Whereas, it is a fundamental fact that written English (English Language) is based on the alphabetic principle and is a phonetic language; and
Whereas, the philosophy that learning to read is just like learning to speak is accepted by no responsible linguist, reading psychologist, or cognitive scientist in the research community; and
Whereas, educational research clearly supports systematic phonics instruction as the most effective and efficient way to teach an individual to read; and
Whereas, recent surveys conducted by the United States Department of Education continue to show a serious decline in the ability of elementary and secondary students to read in the United States in general and in North Carolina in particular; and
Whereas, almost all teacher colleges, universities, and public schools teach reading using "whole language" methods or some derivative of "whole language" methods; and
Whereas, the reading competency level required of students graduating from North Carolina high schools is now at only the sixth grade level; and
Whereas, the illiteracy rate for North Carolina stands at 28%;  Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  This act shall be known as the "Literacy Restoration Act of 1995".
Sec. 2. G.S. 115C-81(a1) reads as rewritten:
"(a1)	The Basic Education Program shall describe the education program to be offered to every child in the public schools. It shall provide every student in the State equal access to a Basic Education Program.  Instruction shall be offered in the areas of arts, communication skills, physical education and personal health and safety, mathematics, media and computer skills, science, second languages, social studies, and vocational education.  Instruction in the language arts component of communications skills in kindergarten through the third grade shall be through the use of intensive systematic phonics.
Instruction in vocational and technical education under the Basic Education Program shall be based on factors including:
(1)	The integration of academic and vocational and technical education;
(2)	A sequential course of study leading to both academic and occupational competencies;
(3)	Increased student work skill attainment and job placement;
(4)	Increased linkages, where geographically feasible, between public schools and community colleges, so the public schools can emphasize academic preparation and the community colleges can emphasize specific job training; and
(5)	Instruction and experience, to the extent practicable, in all aspects of the industry the students are prepared to enter."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 115C-296(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The State Board of Education shall have entire control of certifying all applicants for teaching positions in all public elementary and high schools of North Carolina; and it shall prescribe the rules and regulations for the renewal and extension of all certificates and shall determine and fix the salary for each grade and type of certificate which it authorizes:  Provided, that the State Board of Education shall require each applicant for an initial certificate or graduate certificate to demonstrate his academic and professional preparation by achieving a prescribed minimum score at least equivalent to that required by the Board on November 30, 1972, on a standard examination appropriate and adequate for that purpose:  Provided, further, that in the event the Board shall specify the National Teachers Examination for this purpose, the required minimum score shall not be lower than that which the Board required on November 30, 1972:  Provided, further, that the State Board of Education shall not decrease the certification standards for physical education teachers or health education teachers below the standards in effect on June 1, 1988.
The State Board of Education shall require all teachers who teach reading in the public schools to receive in-service training in intensive systematic phonics.  The State Board of Education shall also require all teachers who teach reading in the public schools to pass a competency test that includes the elements of intensive systematic phonics.  The certification of teachers who do not successfully complete the in-service training or pass the competency test within a two-year period shall be revoked."
Sec. 4.  G.S. 115C-298 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C-298.  Colleges may assist teachers in certification.
Each and every college or university of the State is hereby authorized to aid public school teachers or prospective teachers in securing, raising, or renewing their certificates, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.  The rules of the State Board of Education shall require prospective reading teachers to complete a one-year course in intensive systematic phonics as a prerequisite for graduation."
Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.