§ 115C-302.7.  Salary supplement for highly qualified teaching graduates.

(a) For purposes of this section, a "highly qualified graduate" or "graduate" is an individual entering the teaching profession who has graduated from an approved educator preparation program located in North Carolina who has both of the following:

(1) A grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.

(2) A score of the following or higher on an edTPA assessment or an equivalent score on a nationally normed and valid pedagogy assessment used to determine clinical practice performance:

a. A score of 42 for the World Languages and Classical Languages edTPA assessment.

b. A score of 57 for the Elementary Education edTPA assessment.

c. A score of 48 for all other edTPA assessments.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to the extent funds are made available for this purpose, a highly qualified graduate who is employed by a local board of education shall receive a salary supplement each month at the highest level for which the graduate qualifies as follows:

(1) A graduate who accepts initial employment at a school identified as low-performing by the State Board of Education pursuant to G.S. 115C-105.37 shall receive a salary supplement during the graduate's first three years of employment as a teacher, without a break in service, equivalent to the difference between the State-funded salary of the graduate and the State-funded salary of a similarly situated teacher with three years of experience on the "A" Teachers Salary Schedule, as long as the graduate (i) remains teaching at the same school or (ii) accepts subsequent employment at another low-performing school or local school administrative unit identified as low-performing.

(2) A graduate licensed and employed to teach in the areas of special education, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics shall receive a salary supplement during the graduate's first two years of employment as a teacher, without a break in service, equivalent to the difference between the State-funded salary of the graduate and the State-funded salary of a similarly situated teacher with two years of experience on the "A" Teachers Salary Schedule, as long as the graduate continues teaching in one of those areas.

(3) All other graduates shall receive a salary supplement during the graduate's first year of employment as a teacher, without a break in service, equivalent to the difference between the State-funded salary of the graduate and the State-funded salary of a similarly situated teacher with one year of experience on the "A" Teachers Salary Schedule. (2021-180, s. 7A.2(a).)