S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: S.L. 2017-57, Sec. 7.20 (SB 257, Sec. 7.20) expands the pilot program providing tuition assistance awards to part-time or full-time teacher assistants working in certain local school administrative units (LEAs) to pursue a college degree that will result in teacher licensure. The pilot program will be available beginning in 2017-2018 in Alamance-Burlington Schools, Beaufort County Schools, Bertie County Schools, Duplin County Schools, Edenton-Chowan Schools, Edgecombe County Schools, Guilford County Schools, Halifax County Schools, Nash-Rocky Mount Schools, Northampton County Schools, Randolph County Schools, Tyrrell County Schools, Vance County Schools, and Washington County Schools. All local boards of education participating in the pilot program must jointly report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by September 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, on results of the pilot program.

Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, teacher assistants must continue to receive salary and benefits while student teaching in the same LEA where they are employed as a teacher assistant.

This section became effective July 1, 2017.