A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO authorize COMMUNITY COLLEGES to TEACH DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES AND COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS COURSES AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE SUMMER TERM, and to earn budget fte for the courses.
Whereas, approximately 25% of the new jobs created in North Carolina over the next 10 years will require at least a four‑year college degree, and an additional 13% are predicted to require an associate degree; and
Whereas, only 19% of entering ninth graders in North Carolina complete high school and college within 150% of program time; and
Whereas, slightly over 50% of recently graduated North Carolina high school students require remediation in the form of one or more developmental classes before beginning college‑level work at a North Carolina community college; and
Whereas, having to take remediation greatly reduces the likelihood that students will complete college programs on time, as well as overall success rates; and
Whereas, students requiring remediation could get a jump start and improve the likelihood of program completion by taking those classes in the summer prior to enrolling in college‑level courses; and
Whereas, since the 2001‑2002 recession year, community colleges have not been funded to provide summer school classes; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115D‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(u)	Community colleges may teach developmental courses and college success skills courses at any time during the year, including the summer term. Membership hours produced from these courses shall be counted when computing full‑time equivalent students (FTE) for use in budget funding formulas at the State level."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.