Bill > H848

This bill establishes the Cultivation of Excellence Pilot Program for Cleveland County Schools, running from the 2025-2026 to 2030-2031 school years, which provides the local school district with unique flexibilities to address educational challenges. The program allows Cleveland County Schools to modify staffing levels for kindergarten through third-grade classes, hire teachers without traditional licensing (with important restrictions like requiring college graduates and limiting unlicensed teachers to 25% of staff), and employ teaching assistants with more flexible qualifications. Schools must provide comprehensive pre-service training for unlicensed teachers, covering areas such as disability education, student behavior management, and de-escalation techniques. The Cleveland County Board of Education is required to submit annual reports detailing employment information, class sizes, allotment category usage, and how these flexibilities contribute to student success. The State Board of Education can terminate the pilot program if fiscal management standards are not met or if state or federal laws are violated. The General Assembly intends to provide additional funding for teacher compensation and student behavior intervention programs, and the pilot program will be automatically repealed on December 31, 2031.

Education

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H848