S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 7.20 of S.L. 2021-180 requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to adopt the TeachNC recruitment initiative as a comprehensive web platform for future teachers to find information and connect with resources on the following:

• The teaching profession.
• Opportunities for educators in North Carolina.
• The process of obtaining an educator's license in the State.

DPI must report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and various other entities by March 15, 2022, and annually thereafter, on the implementation of the platform, including integration of the technology with outside entities and data on user outcomes, including at least the following:

• The number of user accounts, visitors to the website, and web-initiated chats.
• The number of users seeking teacher licensure who applied to educator preparation programs (EPPs) after visiting the TeachNC web platform, and of those users, the number who successfully enrolled into EPPs and completed teacher licensure programs.
• The number of users who applied for employment in public schools after visiting the TeachNC web platform and the number of teachers who continue to teach in the public schools after finding employment by using TeachNC.

The first report submitted in 2022 must also include any recommendations by DPI on potential cost-sharing arrangements or public-private partnerships with outside entities for ongoing sustainability or continued growth of the recruitment initiative.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.