H532 - Modify UNC Laboratory Schools. (SL 2017-117)

Overview: S.L. 2017-117 makes the following modifications to the governance and operation of The University of North Carolina Laboratory Schools (lab schools):

• Increases the number of schools from eight to at least nine and directs that all schools must be in operation by 2018-2019, rather than 2017-2018.
• Requires the UNC Board of Governors to establish a Subcommittee on Lab Schools (Subcommittee) to review and evaluate the proposals, approve at least nine schools, and oversee the operations of the lab schools that are established. The Subcommittee and chancellors of the constituent institutions will replace the board of trustees of each constituent institution in governance of the lab schools.
• Allows chancellors to submit a proposal to the Subcommittee to locate a lab school in a local school administrative unit (LEA) that does not meet the minimum threshold of 25% low-performing schools if it can be shown that the lab school would primarily serve students who did not meet expected growth in the prior school year.
• Allows the Subcommittee to waive the requirement of a minimum number of low-performing schools in a LEA for up to three lab schools only if the proposal is submitted jointly by the chancellor and the LEA in which the lab school will be located and the Subcommittee determines the proposed location would serve the mission and purpose of the lab schools.
• Makes the chancellor of the constituent institution establishing the lab school the administrative head of the lab school rather than the board of trustees of that institution. The chancellor, with advice and input from an advisory board, must adopt policies, operating procedures, and the courses of study for the lab school, and will employ staff.
• Requires the chancellor to establish the advisory board to provide advice and guidance for lab schools. The advisory board will have up to 10 members, including the dean of the constituent institution's educator preparation program, a member of the board of trustees, faculty members, the superintendent of the LEA in which the lab school is located, a member of the community, and others deemed necessary.
• Clarifies that any student residing in a LEA in which a lab school is located is eligible to attend if the student is enrolled in a low-performing school at the time of the student's application to the lab school or if the student did not meet expected growth in the prior school year based on various factors.
• Clarifies that a lab school must enroll eligible students up to the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or building, in the order in which the applications are received.
• Allows the Superintendent of Public Instruction to recommend waiver of licensure requirements for the principal of the lab school and to also recommend waiver of the requirement that at least 50% of the teachers hold teaching licenses, upon a request of the chancellor that is approved by the Subcommittee. Clarifies that employees of lab schools are considered State employees.
• Requires the Subcommittee, rather than the Board of Governors, to evaluate and report on the lab schools annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

This act became effective July 18, 2017.