A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish a pilot program providing for a bonus DIFFERENTIAL for Math and Science Teachers/Pilot Program.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of five hundred fifteen thousand one hundred fifteen dollars ($515,115) for the 2006‑2007 fiscal year for a pilot program providing for a bonus differential for newly hired teachers (as defined by the State Board of Education) of mathematics or science at the middle or high school level.  The State Board of Education shall develop the pilot program and select three local school administrative units to participate in the pilot program.  In selecting the units, the Board shall target low‑performing local school administrative units and take geographical diversity into account. Selected local school administrative units shall use differential bonus funds at low‑performing schools.
Each of the pilot units shall receive funds to provide for a bonus differential of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to up to 10 newly hired teachers at the middle or high school level who have non‑provisional certification in and are teaching in one or more of the following areas of teacher certification:
(1)	Middle grades mathematics,
(2)	Middle grades science,
(3)	Mathematics (9‑12),
(4)	Science (9‑12),
(5)	Earth science (9‑12),
(6)	Biology (9‑12),
(7)	Physics (9‑12), and
(8)	Chemistry (9‑12).
SECTION 1.(b)  Funds not needed to pay for bonus differentials shall revert to the General Fund.
SECTION 1.(c)  The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the design of the pilot program prior to implementation.  The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the implementation of the pilot program by January 15, 2007.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2006.