GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1199

Short Title:  Monetary Incentive/Acad. Excellence.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Shubert; Morris, Preston, and G. Wilson.

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Referred to:  Education, if favorable, Appropriations.

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May 1, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE MONETARY INCENTIVES FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
  The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
“ARTICLE 35A.
"State Funds to Encourage Academic Excellence.
"§ 115C-496.  State funds to pay advancement costs.
Since it is the desire of the State to encourage academic excellence and to encourage high school students to take more demanding classes, the Department of Public Instruction shall pay the cost of the Advanced Placement exam for any student who takes  and completes an Advanced Placement class with a passing grade, unless the Advanced Placement instructor indicates that the student cannot be expected to pass the test.
"§ 115C-496.1.  Funds prorated for part-time students attending high school.
The Department of Public Instruction shall use funds available from the Public School Fund to pay any high school who has students who are enrolled in a class at the school, but who are not full time students, an appropriate prorata amount for the students based on the period of time the students are attending the high school.
"§ 115C-496.2. State pays tuition for high school student   taking college classes.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a student who is eligible to attend a public high school completes the student's high school course requirements prior to completing 12 years of schooling (plus kindergarten and prekindergarten if applicable) and enrolls in a college level class at an institution of higher education, the Department of Public Instruction shall pay for the student's tuition at the institution of higher education.  The amount set aside for payment of tuition shall be the amount that would have been given to the LEA for the student had the student completed 12 years of schooling (plus kindergarten and prekindergarten if applicable) in the public schools.  These funds may be used to pay tuition at any institution of higher education that the student may choose to attend for up to four years of instruction.
Should a student not complete all high school graduation requirements but be advanced in certain subjects to the point that university or community college courses would be more beneficial than those available at the student's high school, the normal allotment to the LEA will be apportioned based upon courses taken in the LEA, and the LEA will be paid for the portion of the day that the student attends class in the public school.  The balance of the funds will be available for use to pay university or community college tuition, to the extent that funds are available after payment to the LEA."
Section 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of four million six hundred eighty-seven thousand two hundred twelve dollars ($4,687,212) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of four million nine hundred seventy-four thousand six hundred forty dollars ($4,974,640) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to assist with the costs of taking the Advanced Placement tests, including the costs of the exams, materials and supplies for the exam, and the education of teachers who instruct and prepare students for the exam.
Section 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.