A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow educational professionals to obtain Continuing education units from completing mandatory trainings.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑270.30 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑270.30.  Licensure renewal.
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(b)	Teacher Licensure Renewal. – Rules for continuing licensure for teachers shall include the following:
(1)	For all teachers, at least eight continuing education credits with at least three credits required in a teacher's academic subject area.
(2)	For elementary school teachers, at least three continuing education credits related to literacy. Literacy renewal credits shall include evidence‑based assessment, diagnosis, and intervention strategies for students not demonstrating reading proficiency. Oral language, phonemic and phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension shall be addressed in literacy‑related activities leading to license renewal for elementary school teachers.
(2a)	For all teachers, hours spent attending mandatory training programs shall contribute toward the calculation for continuing education credits if all of the following apply:
a.	The mandatory training program is required by State law or by a local board of education as a condition of employment.
b.	The teacher has otherwise met any applicable requirements for literacy renewal credits, credits required in a teacher's academic subject area, digital teaching or learning, or other licensure renewal requirements adopted by the State Board pursuant to this section.
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(c)	License Renewal Rules Review. – The rules for licensure renewal shall be reviewed at least once every five years by the State Board to do the following:
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(3)	Integrate digital teaching and learning into the requirements for licensure renewal. The State Board of Education shall not require the completion of continuing education credits solely related to digital teaching and learning but may require completion of up to two continuing education credits that include pedagogy on digital teaching and learning as a component of a general or content‑specific continuing education credit."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to licenses renewed on or after that date.