A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT permitting the community college system to provide coursework to persons entering the teaching profession by lateral entry.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑296(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	It is the policy of the State of North Carolina to encourage lateral entry into the profession of teaching by skilled individuals from the private sector. To this end, before the 1985‑86 school year begins, the State Board of Education shall develop criteria and procedures to accomplish the employment of such individuals as classroom teachers. Regardless of credentials or competence, no one shall begin teaching above the middle level of differentiation. Skilled individuals who choose to enter the profession of teaching laterally may be granted a provisional teaching certificate for no more than five years and shall be required to obtain certification before contracting for a sixth year of service with any local administrative unit in this State.
The State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Community Colleges, shall develop and implement policies permitting individuals with at least a bachelors degree to complete at a community college all or part of the coursework necessary for lateral entry into the teaching profession.
It is further the policy of the State of North Carolina to ensure that local boards of education can provide the strongest possible leadership for schools based upon the identified and changing needs of individual schools. To this end, before the 1994‑95 school year begins, the State Board of Education shall carefully consider a lateral entry program for school administrators to ensure that local boards of education will have sufficient flexibility to attract able candidates."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115D‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(o)	The North Carolina Community College System may offer courses, in accordance with policies adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑296(c), to individuals who choose to enter the teaching profession by lateral entry. The Community College System and the regional alternative licensing centers established by the Department of Public Instruction shall jointly identify the community college courses that are necessary and appropriate for lateral entry."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.