A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make state funds available to the NATIONAL Math and Science INITIATIVE to conduct a PILOT project to deploy highly effective teachers for training and enhanced educational technology capabilities to military‑connected school systems with specific focus on K‑8 learners.
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 five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year and five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for the 2020‑2021 fiscal year to provide a grant‑in‑aid to the National Math and Science Initiative, Inc., (NMSI) to conduct the K‑8 Military‑Connected Schools Pilot Project Initiative for Wayne County Schools and Onslow County Schools. NMSI is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the delivery of programs that have a demonstrated impact on math and science education in the public schools. Through the pilot project, NMSI shall deploy (i) highly effective teachers to train teachers in the school systems and (ii) enhanced educational technology capabilities to provide increased science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) opportunities for military‑connected students with a specific focus on students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
SECTION 2.  NMSI, in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction, shall report by April 15, 2020, and each April 15 of a year in which NMSI expends State funds, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, on the implementation of the K‑8 Military‑Connected Schools Pilot Project Initiative in accordance with Section 1 of this act. The report shall include any data on student outcomes related to the implementation of the pilot project and the expenditure of State funds made available pursuant to this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.