North Carolina § 115C-157 - 1. Adjunct CTE instructors.

§ 115C-157. 1. Adjunct CTE instructors.

Adjunct Hiring Criteria. - The State Board of Education shall develop minimum criteria of relevant education or employment experience to qualify to contract as an adjunct instructor in each career and technical education career cluster. The criteria shall weigh work experience and industry recognized licenses or credentials over educational attainment level. The State Board shall make the minimum criteria available to local boards of education. Contracting with Adjunct Instructors. - Notwithstanding Article 20 and Part 3 of Article 22 of this Chapter, a local board of education may contract with an individual to serve as an adjunct instructor who meets the adjunct hiring criteria established by the State Board of Education for a specific career and technical education career cluster. The local board of education may contract with an adjunct instructor on an annual or semester basis, subject to the following requirements: An adjunct instructor may be employed for no more than 20 hours per week or no more than five full consecutive months of employment. An adjunct instructor shall not be eligible to earn paid leave, participate in the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, or receive or purchase health benefits through the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees. An adjunct instructor shall be subject to a criminal history check, to ensure that the person has not been convicted of any crime listed in G.S. 115C-332. An adjunct instructor shall not be required to hold or apply for licensure as a teacher. An adjunct instructor must complete preservice training in all of the following areas prior to beginning instruction: The identification and education of children with disabilities. Positive management of student behavior. Effective communication for defusing and deescalating disruptive or dangerous behavior. Safe and appropriate use of seclusion and restraint. History (2016-94, s. 8.32(c); 2019-185, s. 2(a).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2016-94, s. 8.32(j), made this section effective July 14, 2016, and applicable beginning with the 2016-2017 school year. Session Laws 2016-94, s. 1.2, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2016.'" Session Laws 2016-94, s. 39.7, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2019-185, s. 2(b), (c), provides: "(b) The State Board shall develop and report the minimum criteria developed in accordance with G.S. 115C-157.1(a) , as amended by subsection (a) of this section, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by April 15, 2020. The State Board of Education shall consider the criteria established in subsection (c) of this section for individuals who do not possess an associate or baccalaureate degree as part of the development of minimum criteria. G.S. 115C-157.1(a) , as amended by subsection (a) of this section, shall apply to employment contracts beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. "(c) Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-157.1(a) , for the 2019-2020 school year, an individual who does not possess an associate or baccalaureate degree shall be deemed to meet the minimum criteria for employment as an adjunct instructor if the individual (i) can clearly demonstrate a minimum of six years in the last 10 years of professional experience in the relevant skill or trade and (ii) possesses a recognized industry credential or an active professional license that is required for each subject area or course." Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2019-185, s. 2(a), effective August 1, 2019, rewrote subsection (a), which formerly read: "The State Board of Education shall develop minimum criteria of relevant education or employment experience to qualify to contract as an adjunct instructor in each career and technical education career cluster and shall make such criteria available to local boards of education"; and rewrote subdivision (b)(1), which formerly read: "An adjunct instructor may be employed for no more than 10 hours per week."