A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to improve development of the teacher pipeline.
Whereas, due to the extraordinary circumstances of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), building flexible, hybrid education programs is especially critical; and
Whereas, teacher effectiveness is the most important factor in delivering positive student outcomes; and
Whereas, North Carolina is experiencing attrition of experienced, licensed teachers as well as beginning teachers, which may be exacerbated by the COVID‑19 crisis; and
Whereas, there is a particular need for diverse, high‑quality teachers, especially in low‑performing schools and rural schools; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Teacher Cadet Program (NCTCP) is a successful program that encourages high‑achieving high school students to attend college and eventually teach in North Carolina public schools; and
Whereas, building early interest in the teaching profession is critical to building a robust teacher pipeline; and
Whereas, NCTCP actively engages in the following strategies:
(1)	Maintaining strong partnerships with higher education institutions, including The University of North Carolina, and collaborative relationships with local boards of education.
(2)	Offering a curriculum developed by highly qualified, licensed public school teachers, including high school honors credit, approved by the Department of Public Instruction.
(3)	Providing learning through hands‑on teaching methods and field experiences delivered by educators who are required to complete teacher cadet curriculum training; and
Whereas, the NCTCP has a well‑regarded and established record of helping rural and economically distressed counties to grow their own teachers from students who were born, raised, and received a high school education within the same county; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year the sum of seventy‑five thousand dollars ($75,000) in nonrecurring funds to be provided to the nonprofit organization known as the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children for the North Carolina Teacher Cadet Program. The funds shall be used for the following services related to expansion of the educator pipeline:
(1)	Statewide curriculum training workshops for teachers with options for in‑person and online ongoing support.
(2)	Expansion of services in counties designated as Tier 1.
(3)	Continued development and training for persons in underrepresented teaching demographics, including cadets who are male and cadets who are persons of color. To the extent possible, the training shall draw on past and current cadets who are classroom teachers, postsecondary students pursuing a degree in education, and seniors in high school.
SECTION 1.(b)  State Budget Act Applies. – The provisions of the State Budget Act, Chapter 143C of the General Statutes, are reenacted and shall remain in full force and effect and are incorporated in this act by reference.
SECTION 1.(c)  Additional Limitations and Directions. – Except where expressly repealed or amended by this act, the provisions of any other legislation enacted during the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly expressly appropriating funds to an agency, a department, or an institution covered under this act, shall remain in effect.
SECTION 1.(d)  Applicability of House Bill 966, 2019 Regular Session. – If House Bill 966, 2019 Regular Session, becomes law, and any provision of that act or a provision of the Committee Report described in Section 42.2 of that act conflicts with this act, this act shall control.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2020.