GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	2 

SENATE BILL 89*
Education/Higher Education Committee Substitute Adopted 3/16/95

Short Title:  Study/Minority Teachers.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  Appropriations

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January 30, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION/BOARD OF GOVERNORS LIAISON COMMITTEE TO STUDY HOW TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MINORITY TEACHERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO STUDY THE USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION ACTIVITIES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The  State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee shall conduct the following studies:
(1)	A study of methods by which the TEACH Program and teacher education scholarship programs administered by the Department of Public Instruction can be improved to increase the teacher education scholarship availability, preparation, and recruitment for minority students.  The study shall include complete historical analyses of minority teacher recruitment efforts, including results of Project TEACH and all other teacher recruitment and retention programs.
(2)	A comprehensive teacher supply and demand study for the period covering 1995 through 2005.  The study shall include trend comparisons of North Carolina with all other southeastern states.  The study also shall include trend analyses and projections specific to minority teachers in North Carolina and those same southeastern states. 
Sec. 2.  The State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee also shall conduct the following studies in consultation with the other appropriate agencies:
(1)	In consultation with the State Board of Community Colleges the State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee shall study and develop a comprehensive plan to initiate at each constituent institution and at each community college, outreach programs designed to recruit and retain minority students in teacher education programs.  In developing the comprehensive plan, the State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee and the State Board of Community Colleges shall collaborate and consult with each respective constituent institution and respective community college, and in particular each institution and community college that has: 
a.	A strong identification and connection with minority students; 
b.	A demonstrated high level of success in graduating minority students in teacher education programs; or
c.	A commitment to recruit, retain, and graduate larger numbers of minority students qualified for teaching careers or to transfer into four-year teacher preparation programs.
(2)	The State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction shall study and develop a comprehensive plan to provide professional development opportunities for public school counselors in a manner that will positively influence the academic preparation and college-going rate of minority students.  The plan shall include methods to improve counseling practices and attitudes toward interesting minority students in teaching careers.
(3)	The State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee in consultation with the Teaching Fellows Commission and the State Board of Community Colleges shall study and recommend methods by which more minority students can benefit from experiences such as those offered by the Teaching Fellows Program.
(4)	The State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction shall study and recommend methods that allow, encourage, and promote, to the extent possible, the use of school facilities after regular school hours and on weekends by:  (i)  community-based organizations, and (ii) collaborative college and community outreach programs for activities that promote educational, social, and civic development for students and their families.  The recommended methods shall incorporate meaningful input from local school administrative units and community colleges.  The recommendations also shall include ways to enhance accessibility of the activities to students who attend the particular schools and those who reside in neighborhoods in which the schools are located.
(5)	The State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee in consultation with the State Board of Community Colleges shall study and develop a plan to recruit additional students, especially minority candidates, who complete community college course work and who transfer into teacher education programs at the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina.  The study shall include comprehensive trend analyses of student transfer patterns into teacher education programs and factors that will attract students after completing course work in the community colleges to become teachers.  These factors shall include transfer scholarship opportunities that are similar in stipend and repayment options as are now contained in the Teaching Fellows Program.
Sec. 3.  The State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee shall report its findings, recommendations, and plans to the Minority Males Study Committee, if reauthorized, and to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 1, 1996. 
Sec. 4.  Members of the State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee who are not State employees shall be reimbursed as provided by G.S. 138-5.  All other members shall be reimbursed as provided by G.S. 138-6.
Sec. 5.  All administrative and staff assistance shall be provided by the State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee.
Sec. 6.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education/Board of Governors Liaison Committee the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for the 1995-96 fiscal year to conduct these studies. 
Sec. 7.  For purposes of this act, the term "minority" means "racial minority".  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.