JOINT LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
The General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee held its second meeting of the interim on December 5.
Notable Presentation Topic – Lab Schools
Members received an update on the progress of Lab Schools, experimental schools UNC has been mandated to create in partnership with some LEAs around NC. Two Lab Schools have already opened – a grade 2-4 school in Pitt County run by ECU; and a grade 6-8 school in Jackson County run by Western Carolina. Three Lab Schools are in planning stages to open in Fall 2018- one in Winston-Salem/Forsyth run by Appalachian State; one in New Hanover County run by UNC Wilmington; and one in Rockingham County run by UNC Greensboro. Plans are being developed for opening Lab Schools in 2019 in Robeson (run by UNC Pembroke), Charlotte-Mecklenburg (run by UNC Charlotte), and one to be run by NC State (location to be determined). The presentation also reviewed data on the types of students enrolled in Lab Schools along with areas of the law that may need tweaking.
To see the presentation materials click here and here.
Note that Lab Schools will be one of the presentation topics at NCSBA’s upcoming Public Policy Conference. See below for more information.
Notable Presentation Topic – Teaching Fellows
An update was provided on the implementation of the reestablished and redesigned Teaching Fellows program.
To see the presentation materials click here
Next Meeting – Tuesday, January 9 at 10:00 AM in Room 643 LOB
JOINT LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION FINANCE REFORM
The Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Finance Reform met on December 13 and heard DPI’s response to the PED report’s critique of the school funding system as well as information about the School Business Division process.
Adam Levinson, DPI’s Chief Financial Officer, pointed out some areas where DPI disagreed with the PED report findings (click here for the full report) but acknowledged that there are still some areas where the school funding system can be improved. “Clearly some improvement is possible,” he told the Committee. “But the extent of that improvement should be considered very carefully.”
Alexis Schauss, Director of School Business at DPI, reviewed how the school business process at DPI operates.
Click here to see Mr. Levinson’s presentation materials.
Click here to see Ms. Schauss’ presentation materials.
Click here to read more about this meeting from the News & Observer.
Next Meeting – Thursday, January 18 at 10:00 AM in Room 643 LOB
*At this meeting the Committee will hear from 3 LEA superintendents, 3 LEA finance officers, and NCSBA Director of Governmental Relations Leanne Winner.
UPCOMING SESSION NEWS
Special Session
The General Assembly will convene on Wednesday, January 10 for a special session. Lawmakers could take up several different items during this session, including: judicial redistricting, constitutional amendments, vetoes, pending conference reports, bills responding to legal challenges and local bills that passed the originating chamber.
NCSBA’s primary advocacy efforts this special session will be discussing and urging lawmakers to alter the implementation of the K-3 class size reductions as well as addressing several concerns with the new principal pay and bonus program. NCSBA is urging lawmakers to address both these issues prior to the start of the May short session. Be sure to check the NCSBA Governmental Relations Twitter feed for important updates during the special session (@NCSBAGovtRel).
The NCSBA Board of Directors passed a resolution on the K-3 class size reduction implementation in November. This resolution was sent to all members of the General Assembly after Thanksgiving. If your board has passed a locally tailored version of this resolution please be sure to send it to your local delegation and Speaker Moore and Senate leader Berger, if you have not already done so.
NCSBA Appearance on Education Matters
Bruce Mildwurf, NCSBA Assistant Director of Governmental Relations, will be appearing on the next episode of the NC Public School Forum’s television program Education Matters. We encourage you to catch this episode as Mr. Mildwurf talks about the K-3 class size issue and some of the other items being discussed at the General Assembly that are of concern to local school districts.
How/when can you watch Education Matters?
– Saturday, January 6 at 7:30 PM, WRAL-TV (Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville)
– Sunday, January 7 at 8:00 AM, FOX 50 (Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville)
– Sunday, January 7 at 6:30 AM and Wednesday, January 10 at 9:30 AM, UNC-TV’s North Carolina Channel (Statewide). The North Carolina Channel can be found on Time Warner Cable/Spectrum Channel 1277.
You can now also listen to Education Matters as a Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, PodBean, Overcast and Google Play Music.
NCSBA PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCE
NCSBA’s January Public Policy conference is only a few weeks away! Registration remains open for the January 25-26, 2018, conference in Raleigh. We have an exciting agenda covering several important public policy topics for local school districts.
Click here register. Click here to find the draft agenda and hotel recommendations.
NOTABLE UPCOMING MEETINGS
The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee will next meet on January 9 at 10:00 AM in Room 643 LOB.
The Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Finance Reform will next meet on January 18 at 10:00 AM in Room 643 LOB.
Leanne E. Winner
Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919)747-6686 direct dial
Bruce Mildwurf
Associate Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919) 606-3916 mobile
Richard Bostic
Assistant Director of Governmental Relations
N.C. School Boards Association
(919)747-6677 direct dial