A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to modify teacher licensure REQUIREMENTS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑270.15 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑270.15.  Examination requirements for initial professional licenses.
(a)	Examination Score Requirements. – The State Board of Education shall require an applicant for an initial professional license (IPL) to demonstrate the applicant's academic and professional preparation by achieving a prescribed minimum score on a standard examination appropriate and adequate for that purpose. Elementary education (K‑6) and special education general curriculum teachers shall also achieve a prescribed minimum score on subtests or standard examinations specific to teaching reading and mathematics.
(b)	Establishment of Minimum Scores. – The State Board shall adopt rules that establish the minimum scores for any required standard examinations and other measures necessary to assess the qualifications of professional educators as required under this section. For purposes of this section, the State Board shall not be subject to Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. At least 30 days prior to changing any rule adopted under this section, the State Board shall provide written notice to all recognized educator preparation programs and to all local boards of education. The written notice shall include the proposed revised rule. The State Board of Education shall make any required standard initial professional licensure exam rigorous and raise the prescribed minimum score as necessary to ensure that each applicant has received high‑quality academic and professional preparation to teach effectively.
(c)	Time Line for Completion of Examinations. – The State Board of Education shall permit an applicant to fulfill any such examination requirement before or during the third year of the IPL, provided the applicant took the examination at least once during the first year of the license.
(d)	Monitoring Compliance. – For teachers with an IPL, the State Board shall direct the Department of Public Instruction to monitor the teachers' compliance with this section throughout the duration of the IPL. In the event a teacher is not in compliance with any of the requirements of this section, the Department shall notify the teacher.
(e)	Conversion to Continuing Professional License. – The State Board shall not convert an IPL to a continuing professional license for a teacher who has not fulfilled the examination requirements of this section."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑270.20(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(4a)	Limited license. – A three‑year nonrenewable license issued to an individual who meets the requirements of this subdivision. A limited license shall only be requested by the local board of education currently employing the individual and shall be used for continued employment only in that local school administrative unit. To receive a limited license, the following requirements shall be met:
a.	The individual was issued an IPL but did not qualify for a CPL under G.S. 115C‑270.15(e).
b.	The local board of education submits to the State Board an affidavit stating that the teacher is an effective teacher and will be encouraged to continue to pursue a CPL. The affidavit shall be signed by both of the following individuals for the school to which the teacher is currently assigned:
1.	The principal.
2.	The superintendent.
c.	The local school administrative unit in which the teacher is currently employed is located in one of the following:
1.	A development tier one area, as defined by G.S. 143B‑437.08.
2.	A development tier two area, as defined by G.S. 143B‑437.08.
3.	A development tier three area, as defined by G.S. 143B‑437.08, with a population of less than 100,000, according to the most recent federal census."
SECTION 2.5.  Elementary education (K‑6) or special education general curriculum teachers with an initial professional license that is set to expire June 30, 2019, due to the failure to fulfill the licensure examination requirements pursuant to G.S. 115C‑270.15, shall be granted an extension until June 30, 2020.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law. The State Board shall comply with G.S. 115C‑270.15(d), as enacted by this act, beginning with applicants for teacher licensure on or after July 1, 2019.