A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to implement a recommendation of the joint legislative education oversight committee to encourage the constituent institutions of the university of north carolina to redesign their mathematics and science teacher preparation programs, and to make an appropriation.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The purpose of this act is to encourage the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina to redesign their teacher preparation programs so that they better prepare the individuals who must acquire in‑depth content knowledge and well‑honed skills to teach mathematics or science, or both, in the public schools, whether in elementary, middle, or high school. In light of the rapidly changing global economy, these redesigned programs must prepare teachers who can challenge North Carolina's students with rigorous content standards so that when these students ultimately enter the workforce, they will have the skills and knowledge required in the future. 
SECTION 2.(a)  The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina shall develop and implement a competitive proposal process and criteria for assessing proposals to establish rigorous, innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative teacher preparation programs for individuals who will teach mathematics or science, or both, whether in elementary, middle, or high school.  To facilitate the development of the programs, program criteria, and the proposal process, the Board of Governors shall convene a task force of mathematicians, scientists, and individuals with teacher preparation expertise to assist it in designing the proposal process and criteria for assessing the proposals.  The Task Force shall consult with the State Board of Education, persons familiar with mathematics and science education in other countries, members of business and industry, and any other persons the Task Force considers appropriate.
SECTION 2.(b)  The Task Force shall identify which departments, schools, or other programs within constituent institutions may submit a proposal under this act. The Task Force also shall determine whether proposals to develop a multicampus, regional, distance, or joint program will be eligible for consideration. The Task Force shall develop criteria for assessing the proposals submitted under this act. Submitted proposals shall include the extent to which the proposed programs:
(1)	Reflect a vision for preparing teachers who have a strong foundation of the content knowledge and skills needed to teach mathematics or science, or both, whether in elementary, middle, or high school.
(2)	Are interdisciplinary in design and involve more than schools of education.
(3)	Reflect collaboration with local school administrative units, professional associations, mathematics and science organizations, and business and industry.
(4)	Meet content standards proposed by mathematicians or scientists, or both.
(5)	Demonstrate a significant commitment and sharing of campus resources.
(6)	Employ entrance standards and criteria that will attract outstanding applicants who reflect the racial and economic composition of the State.
(7)	Can serve as models for other mathematics and science teacher preparation programs in the State.
(8)	Include other elements that the Board of Governors and Task Force consider appropriate and necessary.
SECTION 2.(c)  The Board of Governors shall develop a budget for the programs established under this section that reflects the resources necessary to establish and operate redesigned mathematics and science teacher preparation programs.
SECTION 3. The Board of Governors shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the budget developed under Section 2(c) of this act and on the design for the programs and the proposal process created under Section 2(b) of this act by December 1, 2006. 
SECTION 4.  Requests for proposals shall be disseminated to the constituent institutions no later than January 15, 2007. Proposals shall be submitted to the Board of Governors no later than June 1, 2007. The Board of Governors shall then reconvene the Task Force to screen the submitted proposals. After its screening, the Task Force shall make its recommendations to the Board of Governors by September 1, 2007. The Board of Governors shall choose the institutions that shall have the redesigned mathematics and science teacher preparation programs no later than November 1, 2007.
SECTION 5.  Institutions chosen to have programs under Section 4 of this act shall plan for the implementation of the programs.  Programs shall begin operating no later than September 1, 2008.
SECTION 6.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to implement Section 2 of this act.
SECTION 7.  Section 5 of this act shall not become effective unless sufficient funds are appropriated for this purpose. Nothing in this act shall require the General Assembly to appropriate any funds to implement it.
SECTION 8.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.