NC budget’s education proposals include required arts class and Teaching Fellows expansion
Some significant education changes in the new state budget have nothing to do with spending money.
The new education budget presented Friday included a number of “special provisions” that would change policy on areas such as how North Carolina public schools are graded, how teachers are trained and what classes students need to take to graduate.
State lawmakers have historically used the budget to make education changes without including them in separate legislation that needs to be passed.
Changing how schools are graded
The budget would change how schools are evaluated under the state’s A-F school performance grading system.
The grades are currently based on a scale in which 80 percent is from passing rates on state tests and 20 percent is on growth on those exams. The budget would change the formula to make it 50 percent growth and 50 percent achievement.
School districts have been clamoring for changes to the grading system, saying the current formula is biased against low-income schools that tend to have the lowest grades.
The budget would also make permanent the 15-point scale used for grading schools, where a 85 to 100 is an A. Some television news stations had incorrectly reported earlier this year that lawmakers were trying to change the grading scale that students use.
Adding a new arts requirement for graduation
North Carolina public school students could be required to take an arts class before they graduate.
The budget would require students to complete an arts education credit between sixth grade and 12th grade. The new requirement would go into effect with students entering sixth grade in 2022.
Arts groups have for years lobbied for an arts requirement for students.
Expanding the N.C. Teaching Fellows Program
Three more North Carolina colleges and universities could be added to a program to train future teachers.
The budget would expand the number of University of North Carolina schools and private institutions in the N.C. Teaching Fellows to eight programs. Teaching Fellows provides scholarships to people who want to teach in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math or special education.
Some have complained about how the program now only has five schools, none of whom are historically black colleges and universities. The budget directs the N..C. Teaching Fellows Commission to choose a “diverse selection” of schools for the program.
More notice on school materials
North Carolina parents would get more notice about the materials used in classes, including the option to borrow or buy them or object to their use.
The budget gives parents the right to request for free home use the instructional materials that their child’s school is using. They’d also have the option to purchase the material from the district.
Some parents have complained for years about their children not having textbooks and other materials they can use at home.
When adopting, selecting or modifying materials used in health class, the budget would require districts to give adequate notice and hold a public hearing. Each year at least 14 days before the health class is taught, parents would be given notice so they could review the materials.
Some families have complained about what’s used in health classes.
Easing requirements for schools receiving voucher students
Private schools that receive voucher money will have lower reporting requirements.
The budget drops the requirement that private schools that enroll at least 25 students in the Opportunity Scholarship program have to report their test results for those students annually to the state. The program provide states funds to help families pay part of the cost of attending private schools.
Supporters say the program provides choices for families. Critics complain about the lack of accountability and the diversion of funds from public schools.
This story was originally published April 26, 2019 at 3:27 PM with the headline "NC budget’s education proposals include required arts class and Teaching Fellows expansion."
