A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to teach critical foreign languages in the public schools.
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 one million dollars ($1,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to expand the critical foreign language pilot program. Of these funds, a minimum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) shall be used each year to provide grants to local school administrative units to hire faculty to teach critical foreign languages.  The remainder shall be used to support the development and piloting of online and traditional high school courses in critical foreign languages; develop certification standards for teachers of critical foreign languages; and develop a lateral entry program for heritage speakers.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2008.