AN ACT directing local boards of education to adopt and implement policies that encourage high school to work partnerships.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C‑47.  Powers and duties generally.
In addition to the powers and duties designated in G.S. 115C‑36, local boards of education shall have the power or duty:
…
(34a)	To Encourage High School to Work Partnerships. – Each local board of education shall encourage high schools and local businesses to partner, specifically target students who may not seek higher education, and facilitate high school to work partnerships. Local businesses shall be encouraged to work with local high schools to create opportunities for students to complete a job shadow, internship, or apprenticeship. Students may also be encouraged to tour the local business or clinic, meet with employees, and participate in career and technical student organizations. Waiver forms may be developed in collaboration with participating businesses for the protection of both the students and the businesses.
Each local board of education shall encourage high schools to designate the Career Development Coordinator or other designee of the local Career and Technical Education administrator to be the point person for local businesses to contact. If the person selected is a teacher, the teacher shall work with the principal and the local Career and Technical Education administrator to find time in the school day to contact businesses and develop opportunities for students. The high school shall include a variety of trades and skilled labor positions for students to interact with and shadow and shall encourage students who may be interested in a job-shadowing opportunity to pursue and set up the job shadow. 
Each local board of education shall develop a policy with provisions for students who are absent from school while doing a job shadow to make up the work. Students shall not be counted as absent when participating in these work‑based learning opportunities or in Career and Technical Education student organization activities. Local boards may determine maximum numbers of days to be used for job‑shadowing activities."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2011‑2012 school year.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 16th day of May, 2011.

	___________________________________________
		 Walter H. Dalton
	 President of the Senate

	___________________________________________
		 Dale R. Folwell
	 Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives

	___________________________________________
		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2011