A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ESTABLISH a pilot program using stem‑focused educational technology for expansion of career and technical education programs in certain local school ADMINISTRATIVE units and to APPROPRIATE funds for that purpose.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Program established. – The North Carolina Education and Workforce Innovation Commission (Commission), established pursuant to G.S. 115C‑64.15, shall administer a pilot program (pilot) in up to 25 local school administrative units to promote access to innovative digital and personalized learning solutions for high school students that bridge the gap between chemistry and physical science classes and career and technical education (CTE) career pathways. The local school administrative units shall incorporate the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) focused educational software program developed by Plasma Games, Inc., in select STEM classes and their CTE programs to encourage student interest and workforce development for chemistry‑dependent industries located in North Carolina, including careers in the pharmaceutical, agricultural technology, biotechnology, textile, material science, energy, minerals and mining, and chemical manufacturing fields. The pilot shall be conducted for two school years, beginning with the 2019‑2020 school year and ending with the 2020‑2021 school year. The pilot shall include the following local school administrative units: Ashe County Schools, Avery County Schools, Beaufort County Schools, Bertie County Schools, Cabarrus County Schools, Caldwell County Schools, Carteret County Schools, Cleveland County Schools, Columbus County Schools, Edgecombe County Schools, Granville County Schools, Harnett County Schools, Haywood County Schools, Iredell‑Statesville Schools, Johnston County Schools, McDowell County Schools, New Hanover County Schools, Person County Schools, Randolph County Schools, Richmond County Schools, Rockingham County Schools, Rowan‑Salisbury Schools, Union County Schools, Wayne County Schools, and Wilkes County Schools.
SECTION 2.  Plans for pilot implementation. – A local school administrative unit participating in the pilot shall provide the Commission with a plan for the placement of the STEM‑focused educational technology developed by Plasma Games, Inc., in its schools. The plan shall include implementation of the educational game as a teaching tool for classroom teachers and a new learning platform for students to increase student engagement and discussion, enrich lessons with real‑world applications and purpose in STEM fields, and create moments of connection for students with lasting impact on their career pathways. The plan shall also include provisions for professional development and training for teachers, administrators, and other school personnel to facilitate the implementation and success of the pilot.
SECTION 3.  Funds for the pilot. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year and the sum of an additional one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to be provided to the Commission for allocation to local school administrative units participating in the pilot. These funds shall be used for licensing fees for the educational software, Plasma Games' operating costs, and for implementation of the pilot by the local school administrative units.
SECTION 4.  Reporting requirements. – The local school administrative units participating in the pilot shall provide an interim report by May 1, 2020, and a final report by May 1, 2021, to the Commission on implementation of the pilot for that school year, including (i) the use of State funds, (ii) the number of students impacted by the pilot and the number of students pursing STEM‑related CTE career pathways as a result of the pilot, measured by the number of students declaring interest in a career with a chemistry‑dependent industry located in North Carolina and the number of students pursuing higher education in a chemistry‑related major or technical certification at a school in North Carolina, (iii) demand and feedback by teachers on the use of the STEM‑focused educational technology, and (iv) any other information requested by the Commission.
The Commission shall provide an interim report by June 1, 2020, and a final report by June 1, 2021, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the implementation of the pilot and the information reported by participating local school administrative units pursuant to this section. The report shall include any data on student outcomes related to implementation of the pilot, the expenditure of State funds provided for by this act, and recommendations by the Commission on modification or expansion of the pilot to apply statewide, including the need for continued support with State funds.
SECTION 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.