A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO EXPAND ACTIVITIES QUALIFYING FOR CONTINUING LICENSURE OF RETIRED TEACHERS, EXEMPT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHERS, AND ALLOW SCHOOL BOARDS TO HIRE RETIRED EDUCATORS TO SERVE AS INTERIM PRINCIPALS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑296(b)(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	Licensure standards.
a.	The licensure program shall provide for initial licensure after completion of preservice training, continuing licensure after three years of teaching experience, and license renewal every five years thereafter, until the retirement of the teacher. The last license renewal received prior to retirement shall remain in effect for five years after retirement. The licensure program shall also provide for licensure based on teaching experience as follows:
1.	Continuing licensure of a teacher as defined in G.S. 115C‑325(6) who has met all of the following requirements:
I. 	The teacher has 30 or more years of teaching experience in North Carolina upon the date of the teacher's retirement.
II. 	The teacher has been employed by a local school administrative unit after retirement as any of the following:
A.	A substitute teacher.
B.	A part‑time position providing any of the following services: classroom instruction, tutoring, mentoring teachers, modeling demonstration lessons for teachers, writing curricula, developing and leading staff development programs for teachers, or working in after‑school programs.
2.	Lifetime licensure after 50 years of teaching.
b.	The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, shall evaluate and develop enhanced requirements for continuing licensure. The new requirements shall reflect more rigorous standards for continuing licensure and shall be aligned with high‑quality professional development programs that reflect State priorities for improving student achievement. Standards for continuing licensure shall include the following:
1.	For all teachers, at least eight continuing education credits with at least three credits required in a teacher's academic subject area.
2.	For elementary and middle school teachers, at least three continuing education credits related to literacy. Literacy renewal credits shall include evidence‑based assessment, diagnosis, and intervention strategies for students not demonstrating reading proficiency. Oral language, phonemic and phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension shall be addressed in literacy‑related activities leading to license renewal for elementary school teachers.
3.	For retired teachers seeking a continuing license who qualify under sub‑subdivision a. of this subdivision, at least 640 hours of documented employment in a local school administrative unit each renewal cycle and eight hours of annual professional development approved by a local school administrative unit.
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SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑296(b)(1) is amended by adding a new sub‑subdivision to read:
"e.	A member of the General Assembly is exempt from the continuing education credit requirements for teachers during any five‑year licensure renewal cycle in which the member serves a term or some portion thereof in the General Assembly as long as the member notifies the Department of Public Instruction of the exemption during that five‑year licensure renewal cycle."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 115C‑284 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(b2)	Notwithstanding the requirements for licensure as a professional educator, a local board of education may select a retired principal, retired assistant principal, or retired teacher to serve as an interim principal for the remainder of any school year regardless of the school administrator certification status of the retired principal, retired assistant principal, or retired teacher."
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law. Section 1 of this act applies to applications for continuing licensure on or after that date. Section 3 of this act applies beginning with the 2017‑2018 school year.