GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
H	1
HOUSE BILL 1256
     

 
Short Title:	Change the Teacher Portfolio Requirement.	()	
Sponsors:	Representatives Underhill, McLawhorn (Primary Sponsors);  Wainwright, Coates, Holliman, and Harrington.	
Referred to:	Education.	
April 12, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO MODIFY THE PERFORMANCE-BASED LICENSURE PROGRAM TO PERMIT BEGINNING TEACHERS TO SUBMIT portfolios during the third year of teaching.

Whereas, the General Assembly directed the North Carolina State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina, to evaluate and develop enhanced requirements for continuing teacher certification that reflect more rigorous standards for continuing certification; and 
Whereas, the State Board of Education carried out this responsibility by adopting the Performance-Based Licensure Program; and
Whereas, the Policy Manual of the State Board of Education states that this process is designed to offer the beginning teacher the autonomy and responsibility for developing a product that reflects his or her teaching; and
Whereas, the Program requires each initially licensed teacher to prepare a performance-based product, which is a collection of evidence produced in the normal course of teaching, representing the teacher's best work; and
Whereas, this evidence is gathered over time through a systematic process of reflection and is ultimately compiled in a finished product to be submitted for licensure review; and
Whereas, according to the Policy Manual, the product is typically submitted during the second year of teaching; and
Whereas, the expectation that most teachers will submit this product during the second year of teaching undermines a teacher's ability to focus on his or her primary responsibilities, which are the teacher's responsibilities to the students and to improving professional skills; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The State Board of Education shall modify the timetable for the Performance-Based Licensure Program so that initially licensed teachers typically submit a performance-based product during the third year of teaching.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.