A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO require instruction on climate change in grades kindergarten through five and to APPROPRIATE FUNDS to local school administrative units for professional development of school personnel.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑81.83.  Instruction on climate change.
(a)	The State Board of Education shall review and revise as necessary the standard course of study for grades kindergarten through five in the core academic area of science to ensure that age‑appropriate lessons on climate change and its impacts on the environment, the economy, and society are taught in each grade level between grades kindergarten and five.
(b)	The Department of Public Instruction shall provide or cause to be provided curriculum content on climate change, and local boards of education shall provide or cause to be provided professional development on climate change to ensure that the intent and provisions of this section are effectively implemented."
SECTION 1.(b)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in recurring funds for the 2019‑2020 fiscal year to restore and expand funding that was eliminated for staff development in the State budget for the 2011‑2013 fiscal biennium, S.L. 2011‑145. These funds shall be allocated to local school administrative units for professional development of school personnel in grades kindergarten through five and subject to all laws and policies not inconsistent with this section that are in effect regarding the allocation of staff development funds, including G.S. 115C‑105.30, G.S. 115C‑417, Section 7.34 of S.L. 2003‑284, and any applicable policy adopted by the State Board of Education. The professional development provided pursuant to this act shall include instruction on methods of teaching climate change as part of the science curriculum pursuant to G.S. 115C‑81.83, as enacted by this act.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019. Section 1(a) of this act applies beginning with the 2020‑2021 school year.