Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

H.B. 1014
                          GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                                              May 2, 2024
                                      SESSION 2023                                      HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
     H                                                                                                 D
                                  HOUSE BILL DRH30470-MTa-225A
     Short Title:   Sixth & Ninth Grade Academy Pilot/Funds.                                     (Public)
     Sponsors:      Representative Quick.
     Referred to:
                                     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A SIXTH AND NINTH GRADE
     ACADEMY PILOT PROGRAM.
 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
             SECTION 1. Establish; Purpose. – The Department of Public Instruction shall
 establish a Sixth and Ninth Grade Academy Pilot Program for up to 10 local school
 administrative units to establish sixth and ninth grade academy programs. The purpose of the
 pilot program is to provide comprehensive support for sixth and ninth grade students transitioning
 from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school. The pilot program
 shall be for five years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2029-2030
 school year.
             SECTION 2. Applications. – By September 15, 2024, the Department of Public
 Instruction shall develop criteria and procedures for a local school administrative unit to apply
 to participate in the pilot program. A local school administrative unit shall submit an application
 that includes at least the following information:
             (1)      Model design for sixth and ninth grade academy programs, including
                      enhanced instructional and support strategies.
             (2)      Estimated cost of establishing sixth and ninth grade academy programs,
                      including additional staff, facilities, and support services.
             SECTION 3. Selection. – By December 15, 2024, the Department of Public
 Instruction shall select up to 10 local school administrative units to participate in the pilot
 program that represent the geographic diversity of North Carolina, including both urban and rural
 areas, to the extent possible from the pool of applicants.
             SECTION 4. Pilot Evaluation; Reports. – The Department of Public Instruction shall
 contract with an independent research organization for the duration of the pilot program to
 evaluate the implementation and success of the sixth and ninth grade academy programs,
 including at least the following:
             (1)      The use of funds by local school administrative units participating in the pilot
                      program.
             (2)      Student outcome data, including student proficiency data, change in dropout
                      rates or promotion rates, and attendance.
             (3)      A comparison among the program models used by participating local school
                      administrative units and sixth and ninth grade academy program models
                      operated in North Carolina that are not operated as part of the pilot program.
             (4)      Other information the Department deems necessary.
                                 *DRH30470-MTa-225A*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                 Session 2023
             The independent research organization shall report by August 15 of each year,
 beginning with the initial report by August 15, 2026, and ending with a final report by August
 15, 2030, to the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction on all aspects
 of the evaluation of the pilot program. By October 15 of each year, beginning with the initial
 report by October 15, 2026, and ending with a final report by October 15, 2030, the Department
 of Public Instruction shall report on the evaluation of the pilot program, and any legislative
 recommendations, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.
             SECTION 5. State Funds. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the
 Department of Public Instruction the sum of one million four hundred forty-two thousand five
 hundred sixty dollars ($1,442,560) in recurring funds for the 2024-2025 fiscal year to support
 implementation of the Sixth and Ninth Grade Academy Pilot Program established by this act.
 The Department may use up to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) of the funds
 appropriated in this section to contract with an independent research organization for the pilot
 evaluations. Any remaining funds may be used to award funds to selected local school
 administrative units for the implementation of the programs in accordance with this act.
             SECTION 6. This act becomes effective July 1, 2024.
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