A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT directing the state board of education to develop a framework for a Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) scholars PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The State Board of Education, in cooperation with The University of North Carolina Board of Governors and the State Board of Community Colleges, shall develop a framework for a Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars Program. The purpose of the ROPE Scholars Pilot Program shall be (i) to strengthen middle grades education in order to provide students with the opportunity to graduate from high school with the core academic skills needed for postsecondary education and high‑skilled employment, and (ii) thereby to reduce the high school dropout rate, increase high school and college graduation rates, and decrease the need for remediation in institutions of higher education.
The framework for the ROPE Scholars Program shall require participating schools to have or be afforded access to high speed, broadband Internet resources and to use SAS EVAAS (Education Value Added Assessment System) or a comparable software system to track student academic progress over time.
SECTION 1.(b)  It is the intent of the ROPE Scholars Program to:
(1)	Reduce class size to one teacher to every 17 students;
(2)	Provide annual salary increments of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) to teachers certified in the fields of mathematics, science, or special education;
(3)	Provide a coordinator position at each participating school to assist in community and parental support;
(4)	Encourage students participating in the program, through agreements executed between the local school administrative unit and students and their parents or guardians, to:
a.	Maintain a ninety-five percent (95%) attendance rate each year;
b.	Achieve a minimum of a "B" average;
c.	Take the PSAT and the SAT or the ACT and achieve an adequate score, as determined by the State Board of Education;
d.	Meet the standards for admission established by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina;
e.	Engage in community service work each month during the school year for the number of hours determined by the State Board of Education; and
f.	Evidence good character by not engaging in unlawful conduct.
(5)	Provide students who successfully participate in the program with college scholarships.
SECTION 1.(c)  The State Board of Education shall develop a competitive process through which local school administrative units may apply to participate in the pilot program. The State Board shall select three units from different geographic areas of the State, one of which shall be urban and one of which shall be rural. The Program shall be implemented beginning with the 2009‑2010 school year.  
SECTION 1.(d)  The State Board of Education shall develop a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program.
SECTION 1.(e)  The State Board of Education shall deliver a draft proposed framework to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by October 15, 2007, and a final proposal to the same committee by December 15, 2007. The report shall include the cost of implementing the pilot program and shall indicate the State laws, rules, and policies that would preclude the implementation of the pilot.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.