A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to restore funding to the north carolina center for the advancement of teaching and to support the distinguished Leadership in practice and future‑ready principal and Assistant Principal programs.
Whereas, North Carolina's teachers, principals, and assistant principals are critical to the success of student learning; and
Whereas, thousands of teachers leave the profession, drained by the demands of the public school classroom and lack of professional support; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) is a recognized national leader in professional development programming for teachers, established by the State legislature in 1985; and
Whereas, NCCAT provides a year‑round curriculum of intensive cross‑disciplinary seminars in the sciences, arts, humanities, technology, leadership, communication, and health and wellness; and
Whereas, each year, nearly 5,000 teachers participate in residential seminars and professional development programs at NCCAT's campus locations in Cullowhee and on Ocracoke, returning to their schools with recharged interest and a more positive attitude toward teaching, which in turn improves the quality of public education in North Carolina; and
Whereas, the Distinguished Leadership in Practice (DLP) program for practicing school principals aligns leadership training to the new North Carolina performance evaluation standards for school leaders as established by the State Board of Education; and
Whereas, DLP integrates the State standards to improve student results by using a problem‑based, real‑world, application‑based approach; and
Whereas, DLP coaches participants through a proven continuous improvement approach for their schools and uses a blended approach that combines face‑to‑face, online, and small‑group sharing sessions; and
Whereas, DLP trains participants to identify needs and establish priority goals, align all school improvement efforts to the vision, mission, and goals of the school, maximize teaching and learning, create a student‑focused culture, connect with the external community, and lead and manage change; and
Whereas, the Future‑Ready Leadership (FLP) program for practicing assistant principals provides participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the North Carolina Standards for School Executives, as established by the State Board, and their application to the assistant principal and principal roles; and
Whereas, FLP guides participants in gaining an awareness and understanding of the leadership competencies necessary for effective school leadership and in identifying their strengths and areas for growth and engages participants in role clarification with their principals to assure that they are making significant contributions in each of the North Carolina Standards for School Executives; and
Whereas, FLP aids assistant principals in developing a plan with their principals for their own professional growth as school leaders and in becoming part of a statewide network and community of learners; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for the 2013‑2014 fiscal year in recurring funds and three million dollars ($3,000,000) for the 2014‑2015 fiscal year in recurring funds to restore funding to the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) to provide professional development to teachers. These funds may be used to restore up to 40 staff positions.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of ten million seven hundred thousand dollars ($10,700,000) for the 2013‑2014 fiscal year in recurring funds and ten million seven hundred thousand dollars ($10,700,000) for the 2014‑2015 fiscal year in recurring funds to provide funds for the Distinguished Leadership in Practice and Future‑Ready Leadership programs that provide leadership training and professional development to principals and assistant principals, respectively. These funds shall be used to support the programs currently offered in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Wilmington and to add another location at the NCCAT facility situated near the campus of Western Carolina University so that more principals and assistant principals throughout the State shall have the opportunity to participate in the programs.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2013.