North Carolina § 115C-156 - 2. Industry certifications and credentials program.

§ 115C-156. 2. Industry certifications and credentials program.

It is the intent of the State to encourage students to enroll in and successfully complete rigorous coursework and credentialing processes in career and technical education to enable success in the workplace. To attain this goal, to the extent funds are made available for this purpose, students shall be supported to earn State Board of Education approved industry certifications and credentials as follows: Students enrolled in public schools and in career and technical education courses shall be exempt from paying any fees for one administration of examinations leading to industry certifications and credentials pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Each school year, at such time as agreed to by the Department of Commerce and the State Board of Education, the Department of Commerce shall provide the State Board of Education with a list of those occupations in high need of additional skilled employees. If the occupations identified in such list are not substantially the same as those occupations identified in the list from the prior year, reasonable notice of such changes shall be provided to local school administrative units. Local school administrative units shall consult with their local industries, employers, business advisory councils, and workforce development boards to identify industry certification and credentials that the local school administrative unit may offer to best meet State and local workforce needs. Beginning in 2019, the State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by November 15 of each year on the following information: The number of students in career and technical education courses who earned (i) community college credit and (ii) related industry certifications and credentials. Implementation of high school diploma endorsements, including adding (i) college, (ii) career, and (iii) college and career endorsements to high school diplomas, through evaluation of at least the following data: Impact on the rates of high school graduation, college acceptance and remediation, and post-high school employment. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the number of students who had to retake a nationally norm-referenced college admissions test to meet the reading benchmark score required by G.S. 115C-12(40) to receive a high school diploma endorsement and the number of students who were not awarded a high school diploma endorsement solely because of the inability to meet the benchmark score for reading required by G.S. 115C-12(40). History (2013-360, s. 8.28(b); 2014-115, s. 83; 2017-57, s. 7.23H(e); 2017-102, s. 48(e); 2019-165, s. 3.2(a).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.6, made this section effective July 1, 2013. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 8.28(c), made this section applicable beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.'" Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2016-94, s. 8.9, as amended by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 8.8B(a), and Session Laws 2018-5, s. 8.10(c), establishes the Industry Certifications and Credentials Teacher Bonus Pilot Program (pilot program) to reward the performance of teachers who teach students earning approved industry certifications or credentials consistent with G.S. 115C-156.2 . Session Laws 2016-94, s. 8.9(b), provides: "(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 135-1 (7a), the compensation bonuses awarded under this section are not compensation under Article 1 of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes, the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System." Session Laws 2017-57, s. 7.23H(k), made the amendment to this section by Session Laws 2017-57, s. 7.23H(e), applicable beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. Session Laws 2017-57, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2017.'" Session Laws 2017-57, s. 39.6, is a severability clause. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2014-115, s. 83, effective August 11, 2014, substituted "September 15" for "September 1" in subsection (b). Session Laws 2017-57, s. 7.23H(e), effective July 1, 2017, in subsection (a), inserted "State Board of Education" and added "as follows" at the end of the introductory paragraph; in subdivision (a)(3), inserted "business advisory councils"; and in subsection (b) substituted "2017" for "2014" and "November" for "September." For applicability, see editor's note. Session Laws 2017-102, s. 48(e), effective July 12, 2017, substituted "November 15" for "September 15" in subsection (b). Session Laws 2019-165, s. 3.2(a), effective July 26, 2019, substituted "2019" for "2017" and inserted "following information" in subsection (b); inserted "(1) The” at the beginning of subdivision (b)(1); and added subdivision (b)(2).