A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that teacher assistants receiving funds to attend an educator preparation program under the pilot program authorized by S.L. 2016‑94 continue to receive pay while student teaching and that they receive ten percent of the tuition award towards the cost of books.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 8.29 of S.L. 2016‑94 reads as rewritten:
"TEACHER ASSISTANT TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PILOT PROGRAM
"SECTION 8.29.(a)  Purpose. – The purpose of this section is to establish a pilot program for the local boards of education of the Anson County, Franklin County, Moore County, Richmond County, and Scotland County school administrative units to provide tuition assistance awards to part‑time or full‑time teacher assistants working in those local school administrative units to pursue a college degree that will result in teacher licensure. Tuition assistance awards under the program may be provided for part‑time or full‑time coursework. A local board of education may grant a teacher assistant academic leave to pursue coursework that may only be taken during working hours. A teacher assistant receiving an award under the program shall fulfill the student teaching requirements of an educator preparation program by working in the teacher assistant's employing local school administrative unit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in G.S. 115C‑310, the teacher assistant shall continue to receive salary and benefits while student teaching in the local school administrative unit.
"SECTION 8.29.(b)  Selection of applicants. – Each local board of education participating in the pilot program may select up to five teacher assistants to receive an award of up to four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) per academic year for a period of up to four years to be used towards the cost of tuition, books, and materials, including electronic and hard copy materials, and fees for a teacher assistant to attend an educator preparation program at an institution of higher education. The local board of education shall provide ten percent (10%) of the award amount to the teacher assistant to cover the cost of required books and materials for the educator preparation program. A teacher assistant who (i) withdraws from the institution of higher education prior to the end of a term or (ii) is terminated by the local board of education shall return the funds awarded for the cost of required books and materials to the local board on a pro rata basis. The remainder of an award to a selected teacher assistant shall be remitted to the institution of higher education as provided for in subsection (c) of this section.
Priority for awards shall be given to a teacher assistant who received a tuition assistance award for the previous academic year and who is making satisfactory academic progress towards achieving teacher licensure. The local board of education shall set criteria for the application and selection of teacher assistants to receive tuition assistance awards that includes at least the following:
(1)	The teacher assistant shall be employed by the local board of education in the local school administrative unit.
(2)	The teacher assistant shall be enrolled or provide a statement of intent to enroll in an accredited institution of higher education in North Carolina with an educator preparation program approved by the State Board of Education to pursue teacher licensure.
(3)	The teacher assistant shall be a resident of North Carolina. For purposes of this subdivision, residency shall be determined by the same standard as residency for tuition purposes pursuant to G.S. 116‑143.1.
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SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2017, and applies to awards given to a teacher assistant on or after that date.