A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to implement a pilot project to develop more "homeGrown" TEachers who will teach in underserved areas of the state and to appropriate funds.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  There is created the "Homegrown" Teachers pilot project (Pilot) within the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office (NCCC). The NCCC shall be the lead agency tasked with implementing the Pilot. The goal of the Pilot is to determine effective mechanisms to increase the ongoing supply of teachers who will teach in the underserved areas distributed across the State. The Pilot shall use collaboration and 2+2 articulation agreements between selected constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina (UNC System) and nearby community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System to accomplish this goal. The Pilot shall consider incorporating best practices developed through the existing collaboration between North Carolina State University and Johnston County Community College and others identified by the NCCC. In addition, participants shall complete a minimum of 60 credit hours while enrolled in their hometown community college.
SECTION 1.(b)  The UNC System shall select five constituent institutions with colleges of education to participate in the Pilot and, in consultation with the NCCC, shall identify community colleges that are in close proximity to the selected constituent institutions.
SECTION 1.(c)  The NCCS shall study the outcomes of the pilot and shall report on all of the following to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by July 1, 2021:
(1)	Determine articulation agreements that will provide for more students graduating with 210 credit hours without losing credits earned while enrolled in a community college.
(2)	Mechanisms to increase the number of teachers that are certified to teach STEM, Special Education, English, and Elementary Education.
(3)	Mechanisms to increase the teaching and learning experiences of students enrolled in the Pilot within their hometown schools.
(4)	Determine additional financial costs which students, community colleges, and universities would have to incur to provide high quality experiences.
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2019‑2020 and the 2020‑2021 fiscal years. The funds shall be used to implement the Pilot required under Section 1 of this act and may be used to hire additional necessary staff.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2019.