A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT directing the state board of education to implement a pilot program facilitating interlocal cooperation by contiguous local school administrative units.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The State Board of Education shall develop and implement a pilot program facilitating interlocal cooperation by contiguous local school administrative units. The Board may authorize two pilots of up to three contiguous local school administrative units each to participate in the program. 
The purpose of the program is to encourage local school administrative units to integrate services, personnel, facilities, and other resources to provide educational options that they could not afford or accomplish alone. Local school administrative units within each pilot may enter into interlocal cooperative undertakings with each other under Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes to accomplish the purpose of the program. Local school administrative units within the pilots may also enter into agreements with the State Board of Education regarding integration of State‑funded resources, State reporting requirements, and other State rules and policies that may impede interlocal cooperation.
The program shall remain in effect for three years, beginning July 1, 2008.  The State Board of Education shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the program.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.