H986 - Various Changes to Education Laws. (SL 2018-32)

Overview: S.L. 2018-32 does all of the following:

• Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to report annually on the implementation of the statutory requirements regarding cursive writing and multiplication tables.
• Directs that students who score a level five on end-of-year math tests must be placed in advanced math classes the following year.
• Requires the SBE to provide information from annual performance reports for educator preparation providers in a user-friendly format that allows comparability of data and provides that the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina is not required to incorporate that information into the Teacher Quality Dashboard.
• Directs the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to study and make recommendations on ways to reduce testing not otherwise required by State or federal law.
• Directs the DPI to develop content standards for a mental health training program and model program, and minimum requirements for a suicide risk referral protocol and model protocol.
• Creates a "Renewal School System" model that authorizes a qualifying local school administrative unit to become a renewal school system and therefore be subject only to certain statutes and SBE rules and policies.

This act became effective June 22, 2018, but please see the full summary for specific effective dates for the various Parts of the act.