A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to establish a pilot professional development center in eastern north carolina.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year to establish a pilot center for the purpose of coordinating and assisting in delivery of leadership and professional development for Eastern North Carolina school systems. The professional development shall be based on assessed needs of school leaders and teachers.
The funds may be used to hire personnel to work with universities and nonprofit organizations in delivering services. Funds also may be used to contract with entities such as The Center for Quality Teaching and Learning to deliver professional development about the use of technology in teaching and learning. A focus of this center is to coordinate and align the potential services of professional development providers with the needs of Eastern North Carolina school districts, especially those identified as low-performing.
The center's effectiveness and efficiency shall be evaluated prior to July 2009 on specific educational outcomes. That evaluation shall be used to determine the feasibility of establishing other leadership and professional development centers in the State.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.