GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 215

Short Title:  St. Bd. of Educ./Funding Request.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Winner and Lee.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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February 24, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE EXPANSION BUDGET REQUEST OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of twenty-eight million six hundred fourteen thousand seventy-seven dollars ($28,614,077) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of twenty-eight million six hundred fourteen thousand seventy-seven dollars ($28,614,077) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to reduce class size in grade 3 from one teacher and one teacher assistant for 26 students to one teacher and one teacher assistant for 23 students.
Section 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of eighteen million seven hundred fifty thousand six hundred nine dollars ($18,750,609) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of eighteen million seven hundred fifty thousand six hundred nine dollars ($18,750,609) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to reduce student to adult ratio in grades 1 and 2 by funding one teacher assistant for each 23 students.
Section 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of forty-nine million seven hundred nine thousand four hundred sixty-two dollars ($49,709,462) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of fifty million four hundred twenty-four thousand five hundred twelve dollars ($50,424,512) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to award incentives to schools that meet exemplary growth in student performance.
Section 4.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of three million eighty-five thousand nine hundred dollars ($3,085,900) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of three million nine hundred sixty-four thousand eight hundred thirty-four dollars ($3,964,834) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to provide supporting funds for assistance teams and technical services to help low-performing schools.
Section 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to improve services for students with limited English proficiency.
Section 6.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of twenty-eight million eight hundred fifty-nine thousand one hundred sixty-six dollars ($28,859,166) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of fifty-seven million seven hundred eighteen thousand three hundred thirty-two dollars ($57,718,332) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to increase funds for school safety and violence prevention through additional funds for the At-Risk Student Services/Alternative Schools allotment.
Section 7.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of twenty-nine million eight hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred eighty-eight dollars ($29,853,688) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of sixty million one hundred eighty thousand seven hundred forty-two dollars ($60,180,742) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to fund exceptional children's areas at levels closer to needs, including the areas of Handicapped, Gifted, Willie M., and the Governor's Schools.
Section 8.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to fund special projects including the Geographic Alliance, Math/Science Centers, Writing Projects, and Athletic Trainers.
Section 9.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the  State School Technology Fund the sum of seventy-one million dollars ($71,000,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of seventy-two million dollars ($72,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to fund three to five networked computer systems and accompanying software for every classroom in kindergarten through grade five.
Section 10.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to support initiatives to improve student achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics basic skills.
Section 11.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of two hundred thirty-one million six hundred seventy-nine thousand thirty-nine dollars ($231,679,039) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of four hundred eighty-seven million five hundred one thousand one hundred fifty dollars ($487,501,150) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to support salary increases for teachers to bring their salaries to the national average in four years.
Section 12.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of sixty-three million seven hundred twenty-one thousand five hundred thirty-five dollars ($63,721,535) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of sixty-three million seven hundred twenty-one thousand five hundred thirty-five dollars ($63,721,535) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to provide for three days of extended staff development time for all teachers and to extend the months of employment for some teachers.
Section 13.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of thirty-six million dollars ($36,000,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of thirty-six million dollars ($36,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to provide laptop computers, software, and related training for all teachers in grades four through eight.
Section 14.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of one million nine hundred seventy-five thousand four hundred eighty-five dollars ($1,975,485) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of three million eighteen thousand four hundred forty-seven dollars ($3,018,447) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to reward teachers who receive national certification through the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.
Section 15.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of one million seven hundred forty-seven thousand four hundred sixty-five dollars ($1,747,465) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to increase the number of scholarships available for prospective teachers.
Section 16.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of two million three hundred eighty-two thousand three hundred seventy-five dollars ($2,382,375) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of two million three hundred eighty-two thousand three hundred seventy-five dollars ($2,382,375) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to provide a comprehensive support program for new teachers during the initial certification period.
Section 17.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of five hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($575,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of five hundred seventy-five thousand dollars ($575,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to support State services for charter schools.
Section 18.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of four hundred ninety-eight thousand eight hundred dollars ($498,800) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of two hundred eighty-three thousand nine hundred dollars ($283,900) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to support State services for school facility incentives.
Section 19.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of Education the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year to upgrade the Uniform Education Reporting System.
Section 20.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.