A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT DIRECTING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO conduct a study to DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR A NORTH CAROLINA BOARD CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, shall conduct a study to develop a framework for a North Carolina Board Certified Principal and Assistant Principal Program.  The purpose of the program shall be (i) to strengthen the leadership and professional skills of principals and assistant principals, (ii) to assist with the State's efforts to attract and retain highly qualified school leaders, and (iii) thereby enhancing the learning environment in public schools to promote student achievement.
SECTION 1.(b)  In developing the framework, the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors shall consult with the Center for School Leadership Development, the Principals Executive Program, the North Carolina Association of School Administrators, the N. C. Principals/Assistant Principals Association, Inc., and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
SECTION 1.(c)  As part of its study, the State Board of Education shall ensure that the framework for the program:
(1)	Aligns continued professional development with the North Carolina Standards for School Executives;
(2)	Supports the development of principals and assistant principals as 21st century leaders;
(3)	Models the principal certification program after the teacher certification program developed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;
(4)	Attracts and retains principals and assistant principals to address the growing shortage of highly qualified leaders in North Carolina public schools; and
(5)	Provides principals and assistant principals who have successfully participated in the program with a supplementary salary incentive commensurate with the increased demands and responsibilities of the principalship.
SECTION 1.(d)  The State Board of Education shall develop the principal certification program that shall be implemented beginning with the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
SECTION 1.(e)  The State Board of Education shall develop a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program.
SECTION 1.(f)  The State Board of Education shall deliver a draft proposed framework to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 1, 2008, and report on the cost of implementing the Program for the 2009‑2010 fiscal year.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to implement the provisions of this act.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.