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Legislative Changes Coming to Our Schools? Community Conversation

Welcome and Introduction Introduction of Panelists Overview of SB 361, Panel Comments, Q&A Overview of HB 719, Panel Comments, Q&A Overview of HB 902, Panel Comments, Q&A Overview of HB 935, Panel Comments, Q&A Overview of HB 944, Panel Comments, Q&A Overview of SB 337, Panel Comments, Q&A Call to Action – Contact legislators (hand-out) Rally parents, SLTs, PTAs Open Q&A Agenda

Panelist Introductions Jonathan Sink, Associate General Counsel, CMS Wes Jones, Principal, ai Design Group and Chair, Workforce Development & Education Committee, Charlotte Chamber Rhonda Lennon, CMS Board of Education Natalie English, SVP, Public Policy, Charlotte Chamber

Overview of SB 361: Excellent Public Schools Act of 2013 This bill has number of recommendations related to teacher tenure being replaced with one- to four-year contracts. It also promotes the ranking of schools with A - F letter grades. However, it should be noted this grade will only reflect schools’ annual performance scores, not their growth scores. Many schools will be given a grade of D or F, even if they have shown significant student growth over a given school year. Adding student growth to the school performance grading process gives parents and other members of the public a more accurate picture of how schools are actually performing.

Overview of HB 719: 2013 Education Improvement Act The House has responded to the Senate with its own bill that would also eliminate teacher tenure as we know it and implement the Colorado model in North Carolina. HB 719 would make it extremely difficult to terminate ineffective teachers, as principals would second-guess their evaluations, because teachers would be given the right to petition the local BOE for a hearing on any negative evaluation. Charter schools would be exempt from the personnel and due process consequences found in HB 719, which would allow charters to continue firing teachers without any hearing rights. This bill is preferred to SB 361, because (1) it includes a school performance grading model that includes a student growth model and (2) it has well-defined teacher evaluation definitions and ratings.

Overview of HB 902: Education and Workforce Innovation Act This is a bi-partisan bill that would provide strong incentives to K-12 public schools to partner with institutions of higher learning and the business community through a matching grants program. This is a comprehensive, positive approach to improving schools in a meaningful tech- and business-savvy manner. It unites schools, businesses, and the community to collaborate and better prepare students to graduate high school and be either college- or career-ready. However, HB 902 must be adequately funded in order to have any real impact.

Overview of HB 935: NC Pre-K Law Changes This bill will cut eligibility for Pre-K services in NC from the current level of 67,000 children to an estimated 30,000. Research shows investment in early childhood education yields significant results; in fact cost-benefit analysis shows return ranging from $3 to $9 for every dollar invested. The definition of “at risk” needs to be consistent in HB 935 and HB 944 (the Voucher bill.)

Overview of HB 944: Opportunity Scholarship Act The voucher bill would provide a $4,200 voucher, per student, per year. As currently written, up to 65 percent of current North Carolina children will qualify for these vouchers, which will channel much-needed funds away from public schools. Voucher, opportunity scholarships, and tuition tax credits are all different names for putting public taxpayer dollars into private schools. The bill lacks accountability parameters for private school recipients of taxpayer dollars. Private schools are not required to hire licensed teachers and are not subject to the same academic standards imposed on public schools. The bill will cost $90 million over the next two years, which is challenging at a time when funding for public education has been down for years.

This bill would allow a newly appointed NC Charter Advisory Board to be formed. It would exempt charter schools from hiring certified teachers. It would exempt charter schools from conducting background checks on teachers. Many law experts question the constitutionality of such legislation, because charter schools are publicly funded. Overview of SB 337: NC Charter Schools Board

Call to Action

Open Q&A

Thank you for coming!