A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allocate additional funds to constituent institutions DESIGNATED as historically black colleges and universities to address underfunding at those institutions, to allocate additional funds to north Carolina agricultural and technical state university and north carolina central university to support their doctoral programs, and to add certain institutions to the teaching fellows program.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly finds that, due to the historical and continued inequality in funding provided to constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina designated as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and to provide enhancement funding for the purpose of ensuring these institutions are comparable and competitive with other constituent institutions in all facets of their operations and programs, there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in additional recurring funds to be allocated to each of the following constituent institutions for 10 fiscal years, beginning with the 2020‑2021 fiscal year until the 2029‑2030 fiscal year:
(1)	North Carolina Central University
(2)	North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
(3)	Fayetteville State University
(4)	Winston‑Salem State University
(5)	Elizabeth City State University
These funds may be used for scholarships, faculty recruitment, course development, and general operational support.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in additional recurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to be allocated to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to support its doctoral programs. These funds shall support new faculty and graduate student services for the doctoral programs, including computer science, various engineering fields, energy and environmental systems, education, and rehabilitation counseling.
SECTION 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in additional recurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to be allocated to North Carolina Central University to support its doctoral programs. These funds shall support new faculty and graduate student services for the doctoral programs, including arts and sciences, behavioral and social sciences, business, education, library and information sciences, and law.
SECTION 4.  G.S. 116‑209.62 reads as rewritten:
"§ 116‑209.62.  North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program established; administration.
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(f)	Program Selection Criteria. – The Authority shall administer the Program in cooperation with institutions of higher education with approved educator preparation programs selected by the Commission that represent both postsecondary constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina and private postsecondary institutions operating in the State. At a minimum, the Commission shall select for participation in the Program at least (i) one constituent institution of The University of North Carolina and one private postsecondary institution that are designated as Historically Black Colleges and Universities and (ii) one women's college that primarily enrolls a female student population. The Commission shall adopt stringent standards for selection of any other institutions for the most effective educator preparation programs, including the following:
(1)	Demonstrates high rates of educator effectiveness on value‑added models and teacher evaluations, including using performance‑based, subject‑specific assessment and support systems, such as edTPA or other metrics of evaluating candidate effectiveness that have predictive validity.
(2)	Demonstrates measurable impact of prior graduates on student learning, including impact of graduates teaching in STEM or special education licensure areas.
(3)	Demonstrates high rates of graduates passing exams required for teacher licensure.
(4)	Provides curricular and co‑curricular enhancements in leadership, facilitates learning for diverse learners, and promotes community engagement, classroom management, and reflection and assessment.
(5)	Requires at least a minor concentration of study in the subject area that the candidate may teach.
(6)	Provides early and frequent internship or practical experiences, including the opportunity for participants to perform practicums in diverse school environments.
(7)	Is approved by the State Board of Education as an educator preparation program.
(g)	Awards of Forgivable Loans. – The Program shall provide forgivable loans to selected students to be used at the selected institutions for completion of a program leading to initial teacher licensure as follows:
(1)	North Carolina high school seniors. – Forgivable loans of up to four thousand one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($4,125) per semester for up to eight semesters.
(2)	Students applying for transfer to a selected educator preparation program at an institution of higher education. – Forgivable loans of up to four thousand one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($4,125) per semester for up to six semesters.
(3)	Individuals currently holding a bachelor's degree seeking preparation for teacher licensure. – Forgivable loans of up to four thousand one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($4,125) per semester for up to four semesters.
(4)	Students matriculating at institutions of higher education who are changing to enrollment in a selected educator preparation program. – Forgivable loans of up to four thousand one hundred twenty‑five dollars ($4,125) per semester for up to four semesters.
Forgivable loans may be used for tuition, fees, the cost of books, and expenses related to obtaining licensure.
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SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2020. Section 4 of this act applies beginning with the 2021‑2022 academic year.