A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to implement a recommendation of the house select committee on the education of students with disabilities to direct the board of governors of the university of north carolina to report on the efficacy of the preparation of teachers to teach students with disabilities.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly finds that additional data are needed to determine the adequacy with which the State's teacher education programs are preparing teachers to teach students with disabilities. The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, in consultation with the State Board of Education, shall study the effectiveness of the current teacher education programs in preparing new teachers to educate students with disabilities.
SECTION 2.  The Board of Governors shall report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by May 15, 2008. The report shall include (i) evidence of the effectiveness of the current teacher education programs in preparing students to educate students with disabilities; (ii) documentation that the requirement for including specified demonstrated competencies in G.S. 115C‑296(b) is being met; and (iii) identification of changes needed in teacher education programs to better prepare teachers to teach students with disabilities, and a timeline for the implementation of the changes.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.