AN ACT prohibiting any public institution of higher education  from soliciting or using information regarding the accreditation of a secondary school located in North Carolina that is attended by a student as a factor affecting admissions, loans, scholarships, or other educational activity at the Public institution, unless the accreditation was conducted by a state agency; authorizing the state board of education to accredit schools in a local school administrative unit at the request of and at the expense of that unit; and modifying the budget of the department of public instruction accordingly.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 116‑11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 116‑11.  Powers and duties generally.
The powers and duties of the Board of Governors shall include the following:
…
(8b)	The Board of Governors shall adopt a policy that prohibits any constituent institution from soliciting or using information regarding the accreditation of a secondary school located in North Carolina that a person attended as a factor affecting admissions, loans, scholarships, or other educational activity at the constituent institution, unless the accreditation was conducted by a State agency. For purposes of this subdivision, the term 'accreditation' shall include certification or any other similar approval process."
SECTION 2.  Article 1 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115D‑1.3.  Accreditation of secondary school located in North Carolina shall not be a factor in admissions, loans, scholarships, or other educational policies. 
(a)	For purposes of this section, the term 'accreditation' shall include certification or any other similar approval process.
(b)	The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a policy that prohibits any community college from soliciting or using information regarding the accreditation of a secondary school located in North Carolina that a person attended as a factor affecting admissions, loans, scholarships, or other educational activity at the community college, unless the accreditation was conducted by a State agency."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 115C‑12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C‑12.  Powers and duties of the Board generally.
The general supervision and administration of the free public school system shall be vested in the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall establish policy for the system of free public schools, subject to laws enacted by the General Assembly. The powers and duties of the State Board of Education are defined as follows:
…(38)	Power to accredit schools. – Upon the request of a local board of education, the State Board of Education shall evaluate schools in local school administrative units to determine whether the education provided by those schools meets acceptable levels of quality. The State Board shall adopt rigorous academic standards for accreditation after consideration of (i) the standards of regional and national accrediting agencies, (ii) the Common Core Standards adopted by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, and (iii) other information it deems appropriate.
The local school administrative unit shall compensate the State Board for the actual costs of the accreditation process."
SECTION 4.  The receipts collected by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C‑12(38), as enacted by Section 3 of this act, are hereby appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2011‑2012 fiscal year and the 2012‑2013 fiscal year. These funds are in addition to other funds appropriated to the Department for the biennium.
The Department of Public Instruction shall use funds available within its budget to establish a position to coordinate the accreditation process provided for in Section 3 of this act.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law. Sections 1 and 2 of this act apply to academic semesters beginning on or after July 1, 2011.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 15th day of June, 2011.

	s/	 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Thom Tillis
			 Speaker of the House of Representatives

This bill having been presented to the Governor for signature on the 16th day of June, 2011 and the Governor having failed to approve it within the time prescribed by law, the same is hereby declared to have become a law.  This 27th day of June, 2011.

	s/	 Karen Jenkins
	 Enrolling Clerk