North Carolina § 115C-85 - Textbook needs are determined by course of study.

§ 115C-85. Textbook needs are determined by course of study.

When the State Board of Education has adopted, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, a standard course of study at each instructional level in the elementary school and the secondary school, setting forth what subjects shall be taught at each level, it shall proceed to select and adopt textbooks. As used in this part, "textbook" means systematically organized material comprehensive enough to cover the primary objectives outlined in the standard course of study for a grade or course. Formats for textbooks may be print or nonprint, including hardbound books, softbound books, activity-oriented programs, classroom kits, and technology-based programs that require the use of electronic equipment in order to be used in the learning process. Textbooks adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Part shall be used by the public schools of the State except as provided in G.S. 115C-98(b1) . History (1955, c. 1372, art. 24, s. 1; 1959, c. 693, s. 1; 1969, c. 519, s. 1; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 677, s. 20; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 716, s. 18.) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2013-12, provides in its preamble: "Whereas, local school administrative units (LEAs) have used a number of approaches to provide or access digital learning devices; and "Whereas, these approaches include the diversion and restructuring of current funding, use of private grants, parental contributions, local funding, and 'bring-your-own-device' policies; and "Whereas, educational materials in the form of digital textbooks and instructional resources have also become increasingly available and can benefit North Carolina students in elementary, middle, and high school grades by providing high-quality, up-to-date information that can be customized for individual students throughout their educational experience; and "Whereas, LEAs may currently use textbook funding for digital instructional materials and digital textbooks; and "Whereas, digital textbooks and instructional resources have proven to be tools that, when used effectively, can raise the level of academic performance of the State's students; and "Whereas, the use of online and blended courses can provide greater access to courses for students in subject areas that might otherwise be unavailable in many regions of the State; and "Whereas, online courses and blended instruction may also provide students with opportunities for credit recovery, earning college credit, and coursework in career and technical education; and "Whereas, LEAs should explore the competitive environment for innovative practices, including virtual learning, that blend technology, digital devices, online learning, and traditional resources in classroom instruction; and "Whereas, LEAs should implement available and appropriate high-quality virtual, digital, and instructional resources that align with the curriculum; Now, therefore," Session Laws 2013-12, s. 1, provides: "It is the intent of the General Assembly to transition from funding for textbooks, both traditional and digital, to funding for digital materials, including textbooks and instructional resources, to provide educational resources that remain current, aligned with curriculum, and effective for all learners by 2017." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 8.18(a), (b), provides: "(a) Effective July 1, 2015, the existing Textbooks funding allotment in the State Public School Fund shall be designated as the Textbooks and Digital Resources funding allotment in the State Public School Fund. "(b) The State Board of Education shall establish the purposes for which the funds within the new Textbooks and Digital Resources funding allotment may be used for as follows: (i) to acquire textbooks as defined in G.S. 115C-85 , which includes technology-based programs, and (ii) only for allowable expenditures as were permitted under the Textbooks funding allotment as of June 30, 2015." Legal Periodicals. - For comment, "The State and Sectarian Education: Regulation to Deregulation," see 1980 Duke L.J. 801 (1980).