GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE BILL 1212
     

 
Short Title:	Notify Parents of Writing Curriculum & Results.	()	
Sponsors:	Representatives Shubert; and Harrington.	
Referred to:	Education.	
April 12, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to notify parents about the use of an experimental writing curriculum and about the results of state writing tests.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C-47.  Powers and duties generally.
In addition to the powers and duties designated in G.S. 115C-36, local boards of education shall have the power or duty:
(39)		To Notify Parents About An Experimental Writing Curriculum. –To require all schools that are continuing to use the experimental writing curriculum that encourages "inventive spelling" and discourages explicit instruction in grammar, usage, punctuation and the mechanics of writing to notify all parents prior to the beginning of classes.  These schools shall also furnish parents with a set of charts showing the percentage of 10th grade students proficient in the mechanics of writing (spelling, sentence formation, usage of grammar) over the last 10 years.
All parents of students who do not test as proficient on the 4th or 10th grade writing test shall also be furnished a copy of the charts, and the charts shall be prominently posted on the Department of Public Instruction website and disseminated to all news media.
If a parent objects to the use of the experimental "integrated language arts curriculum" in instructing his or her child, the child shall be instructed using a traditional approach to teach writing.
State writing tests shall not be released by the Department of Public Instruction without giving the sub-skill errors the same prominence as the "holistic" score."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2001.