Agenda Item 3a - CHCCS and OCS Joint Legislative Strategy

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NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION 2019-2020 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA The North Carolina School Boards Association(NCSBA) is a volunteer membership association representing all 115 local boards of education in North Carolina and the board of the Cherokee nation. NCSBA provides advocacy, leadership, and services that enable school boards to govern at the highest level. For the general improvement and betterment of public education in North Carolina,NCSBA will advocate for the following items during the 2019-20 biennium legislative session. Ensurinz Student Success School Calendar: Given North Carolina's recent experiences with Hurricanes Florence, Michael and Matthew, along with numerous annual snowstorms, locally elected officials could better plan and prepare for weather related school closings if they had more control to set local school calendars. Additionally, calendar flexibility is currently granted to public charter schools and low-performing (Restart) schools because it can positively impact student achievement. By allowing similar flexibility to ALL public schools, local school boards can choose to: - Schedule first semester exams before winter break - Align K-12 calendars with Community College and University calendars School Technology: Dating back to a 2008 court judgment of$748 million, the State still owes public schools $730 million in technology funding. An arrangement to settle the debt has not yet been established. The ongoing transition among NC's public schools into the digital age is a widely supported investment. NCSBA is committed to working with the General Assembly to reach a mutually beneficial resolution. K-3 Class Size: The State Board of Education should be granted authority to provide waivers to school districts for K-3 class size requirements if the local board of education can demonstrate that space is not available in the school district and/or demonstrate that the necessary certified teachers are not available for employment. Low-Performing Schools: Revise the definition of a low-performing school because a school that"meets expected growth" should not be labeled as such. Additionally, a grant program should be established to implement new innovative programs in low-performing schools. Providinm a Safe Learning Environment Student Support Personnel(School Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and Nurses): It is critical to properly staff public schools with the necessary support structure for the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students. The General Assembly should provide sufficient allotments to meet the nationally recommended staff to student ratios for these positions. School Resource Officers: The General Assembly should provide the appropriate funding to have a full-time resource officer in each school. Additional pay, training, and education should be provided for this unique law enforcement position.