GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 701

Short Title:  Algebra/LD Child.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Perdue.

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Referred to:  Education/Higher Education

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April 13, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM ADOPTING OR ENFORCING ANY RULE THAT REQUIRES ALGEBRA I AS A GRADUATION STANDARD OR AS A REQUIREMENT FOR A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS LEARNING DISABLED IN THE AREA OF MATHEMATICS, AND TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SUSPEND THE APPLICATION OF THIS RULE TO THESE STUDENTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 115C-81(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Basic Education Program shall include course requirements and descriptions similar in format to materials previously contained in the standard course of study and it shall provide:
(1)	A core curriculum for all students that takes into account the special needs of children and includes appropriate modifications for the learning disabled, the academically gifted, and the students with discipline and emotional problems;
(2)	A set of competencies, by grade level, for each curriculum area;
(3)	A list of textbooks for use in providing the curriculum;
(4)	Standards for student performance and promotion based on the mastery of competencies, including standards for graduation, that take into account children with special needs and, in particular, include appropriate modifications;
(5)	A program of remedial education;
(6)	Required support programs;
(7)	A definition of the instructional day;
(8)	Class size recommendations and requirements;
(9)	Prescribed staffing allotment ratios;
(10)	Material and equipment allotment ratios;
(11)	Facilities standards; and
(12)	Any other information the Board considers appropriate and necessary.
The State Board shall not adopt or enforce any rule that requires Algebra I as a graduation standard or as a requirement for a high school diploma for any student whose individualized education program (i)	identifies the student as learning disabled in the area of mathematics and (ii) states that this learning disability will prevent the student from mastering Algebra I."
Sec. 2.  The rule adopted by the State Board of Education that establishes Algebra I as a requirement for a high school diploma is hereby suspended in its application to any student whose individualized education program on or after the effective date of this act (i) identifies the student as learning disabled in the area of mathematics and (ii) states that this learning disability will prevent the student from mastering Algebra I.  However, the State Board may modify this rule to require reasonable course substitutions for these students.
Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.