A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make changes to the laws governing charter schools.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. charter schools may provide REMOTE instruction
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 115C‑218.85(a)(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	The school shall provide instruction each year for at least 185 days or 1,025 hours over nine calendar months. The school may meet this requirement by providing in‑person or blended instruction. For purposes of this section, the term "blended instruction" refers to a combination of remote and in‑person classroom instruction."
SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 115C‑218.8 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(4)	Provide blended instruction in accordance with G.S. 115C‑218.85(a)(1)."

PART II. Authorize counties to provide capital funds to charter schools
SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑218.100(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Distribution of Assets. – Upon dissolution of a charter school, all net assets of the charter school purchased with public funds shall be deemed the property of the local school administrative unit in which the charter school is located, except capital‑sourced assets. For purposes of this subsection, capital‑sourced assets include (i) capital funds provided to a charter school by one or more counties pursuant to G.S. 115C‑218.105(b1) and (ii) net assets purchased or improved with such funds, up to the total amount of the funds provided. Capital‑sourced assets shall be deemed the property of the county or counties providing the funding and, if applicable, divided between the counties in proportion to the funds provided."
SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑218.105 is amended by adding the following new subsections to read:
"(b1)	Counties may provide funds to charter schools by direct appropriation as set forth in G.S. 153A‑460. These funds shall be used only for the following purposes:
(1)	The acquisition of real property for school purposes, including, but not limited to, school sites, playgrounds, and athletic fields.
(2)	The acquisition, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, renovation, or replacement of buildings and other structures, including, but not limited to, buildings for classrooms and laboratories, physical and vocational educational purposes, libraries, auditoriums, and gymnasiums.
(3)	The acquisition or replacement of furniture and furnishings, instructional apparatus, technology, data processing equipment, business machines, and similar items of furnishings and equipment.
(b2)	If a charter school uses funds provided in subsection (b1) of this section to acquire or improve property, the amount provided by the county shall be evidenced by a promissory note and secured by a deed of trust on the property acquired or improved by the funds. The county may subordinate the deed of trust to other liens to facilitate the acquisition or improvement of the property secured by the deed of trust. In the event that a charter school repays the county in the amount of the capital funds provided, the county shall, for the property acquired or improved by the funds, execute and file a deed of release or other documentation of satisfaction showing the charter school repaid the county in the amount of the capital funds provided."
SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 153A‑149(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Each county may levy property taxes for one or more of the purposes listed in this subsection up to a combined rate of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) appraised value of property subject to taxation. Authorized purposes subject to the rate limitation are:
…
(8a)	Charter Schools. – To provide capital funds for charter schools as authorized by G.S. 153A‑460.
…."
SECTION 2.(d)  Article 23 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑460.  Charter schools.
Each county is authorized to appropriate funds and lease real property to schools chartered under Article 14A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes. Counties may provide funds only for the purposes set forth in G.S. 115C‑218.105(b1)."

PART III. Funding comparability among charter schools and other public school units
SECTION 3.  Article 14A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑218.107.  Charter school funding parity.
It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure that all State funds for public school students attending charter schools are provided in amounts on a basis comparable to funds provided for public school students attending other public school units."

part Iv. permit charter school teachers to receive residency licensure
SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 115C‑270.20(a)(5) reads as rewritten:
"(5)	Residency License or RL. – A one‑year license, renewable twice, that meets both of the following requirements:
a.	Is requested by the governing board of a public school unit and accompanied by a certification of supervision from the recognized educator preparation program in which the individual is enrolled.
b.	The individual for whom the license is requested meets all of the following requirements:
1.	Holds a bachelor's degree.
2.	Has either completed coursework relevant to the requested licensure area or passed the content area examination relevant to the requested licensure area that has been approved by the State Board.
3.	Is enrolled in a recognized educator preparation program.
4.	Meets all other requirements established by the State Board, including completing preservice requirements prior to teaching."
SECTION 4.(b)  This section applies to individuals seeking licensure on or after the effective date of this act.

part v. effective date
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and, except as otherwise provided, applies beginning with the 2021‑2022 school year.