Chapter 115C

(a) Any local board of education may enter into agreements with the governing body of any county, city, or town, or with any State agency, or any agency established or identified pursuant to Public Law 89-73, Older Americans Act of 1965, to provide for the use of school buses to …

(a) The superintendent or superintendent's designee shall assign the pupils and employees who may be transported to and from school upon the bus or buses assigned to each school and shall implement and enforce the plan developed under G.S. 115C-246. No pupil or employee shall be …

(a) Each local board, which elects to operate a school bus transportation system, shall employ the necessary drivers for such school buses. The drivers shall have all qualifications prescribed by the regulations of the State Board of Education herein provided for and must be at l…

(a) The superintendent of the local school administrative unit shall, prior to the commencement of each regular school year, prepare a plan for a definite route, including stops for receiving and discharging pupils, for each school bus so as to assure the most efficient use of su…

The several local boards of education in the State are hereby authorized and empowered to take title to school buses purchased with local or community funds for the purpose of transporting pupils to and from athletic events and for other local school activity purposes, and common…

(a) The superintendent of each local school administrative unit, shall cause each school bus owned or operated by such local school administrative unit to be inspected at least once each 30 days during the school year for mechanical defects, or other defects which may affect the …

(a) To the extent that the funds shall be made available to it for such purpose, a local board of education is authorized to purchase from time to time such additional school buses and service vehicles or replacements for school buses and service vehicles, as may be deemed by suc…

(a) Definitions. - The following terms apply in this section: (1) Critical tire information. - Tire brand name, tire line name, tire identification numbers, load and pressure markings, tire size designation, service descriptions such as load and speed ratings, and other informati…

(a) The State Board of Education and local boards of education may expend public funds for transportation of children with disabilities who are unable because of their disability to ride the regular school buses and who have been placed in programs by a local school board as a pa…

(a) There is established the Extraordinary Transportation Costs Grant Program (Program). The Program shall use funds from the Special State Reserve Fund (SSRF) to cover extraordinary costs associated with the transportation of high-needs students with disabilities. (b) The Depart…

(a) There is established the Transportation Reserve Fund for Homeless and Foster Students to provide for a grant program to cover extraordinary school transportation costs for homeless and foster students. For the purposes of this section, "homeless" is defined in accordance with…

The State Board of Education shall from time to time adopt such rules and regulations with regard to the qualifications of persons employed by local boards of education as chief mechanic or supervisor of transportation as it shall deem necessary or desirable for the purpose of as…

(a) When, by reason of road conditions or otherwise, any local board of education, which shall elect to operate a school bus transportation system, shall find it impracticable to furnish to a pupil transportation by school bus to the school in which such pupil is enrolled, or to …

Any local board of education may, in lieu of the operation by it of public school buses, enter into a contract with any person, firm or corporation for the transportation by such person, firm or corporation of pupils enrolled in the public schools of such local school administrat…

When requested to do so by the Governor, the board of education of any local school administrative unit is authorized and directed to furnish a sufficient number of school buses to the North Carolina State Defense Militia or the North Carolina National Guard for the purpose of tr…

The securing of liability insurance and the waiver of immunity as to certain torts of school bus drivers, school transportation service vehicle drivers and school activity bus drivers, is subject to the provisions of G.S. 115C-42, except when such vehicles are operated with funds…

Awards to school bus drivers under the Workers' Compensation Act shall be made pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 115C-337(b). (1981, c. 423, s. 1.)

The Attorney General is hereby authorized to pay reasonable medical expenses, not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000), incurred within one year from the date of accident to or for each pupil who sustains bodily injury or death caused by accident, while boarding, riding on, …

The claims authorized herein may be paid, regardless of whether the injury received by the pupil was due to negligence on the part of the school bus driver, the injured pupil, or any other person. To the extent of payments made under this Article, the Attorney General shall be su…

The right to payment as authorized herein shall be forever barred unless a claim be filed with the Attorney General within one year after the accident. (1955, c. 1372, art. 22, s. 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; c. 576, s. 1.) §

Liability insurance and tort liability of local boards of education for actions arising out of activities conducted pursuant to this Part, are subject to the provisions of G.S. 115C-42. (1981, c. 423, s. 1.) Part 2. School Nutrition.

(a) As a part of the function of the public school system, local boards of education shall provide to the extent practicable school nutrition services in the schools under their jurisdiction. All school nutrition services made available under this authority shall be provided in a…

(a) Local boards of education operating school nutrition programs shall participate in the National School Lunch Program established by the federal government. School nutrition programs shall be under the jurisdiction of the Division of School Nutrition of the Department of Publi…

(a) In addition to any requirements established by the United States Department of Agriculture under the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, or other federally supported food service programs, local boards of education shall give preference in purchasing …

(a) Each school may, with the approval of the local board of education, sell to students beverages in vending machines during the school day if the following requirements are met: (1) Soft drinks are not sold (i) during the breakfast and lunch periods, (ii) at elementary schools,…

A local school board may develop and implement policies and procedures to facilitate and maximize to the extent practicable, purchases of food grown or raised in North Carolina, including, but not limited to, policies that permit a percentage price preference for the purpose of p…

Local boards of education shall strive to ensure that one hundred percent (100%) muscadine grape juice is made available to students in every school in the local school administrative unit as a part of the school's nutrition program or through the operation of the school's vendin…

(a) The State Board of Education is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the distribution of library/media personnel funds, on the basis of average daily membership (ADM), to each local school administrative unit of the State. (b) Each local school administrative un…

(a) Commission. - There is created the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (Commission). The purpose of the Commission is to involve stakeholders in establishing high standards for North Carolina educators. The Commission shall make rule recommendations reg…

(a) Duties. - The Commission shall: (1) Develop and recommend to the State Board of Education rules related to all aspects of educator preparation programs in accordance with Article 17D of this Chapter. These rules shall include the following: a. Requirements for appropriate ped…

As used in this Article, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Approved EPP. - An EPP that has been approved by the State Board as meeting the requirements established by rule, as provided in G.S. 115C-269.10. (2) Authorized EPP. - An EPP that (i) has met the accountability …

(a) State Board Authority. - The State Board shall have authority to approve an EPP that meets the requirements established by rule as provided in subsection (b) of this section. (b) Rules for Granting State Approval. - The State Board shall adopt rules for granting approval to E…

(a) Testing. - A recognized EPP shall not admit a student until that student has met one of the following criteria: (1) Attained a passing score or prescribed minimum score set by the State Board for a preprofessional skills test. (2) Achieved the appropriate required scores, as …

(a) Content and Pedagogy Requirements. - To ensure that EPPs remain current and reflect a rigorous course of study that is aligned to State and national standards, the State Board shall require at least the following minimum requirements with demonstrated competencies in its rule…

(a) Collaborative Partnerships With Elementary and Secondary Schools. - EPPs shall establish and maintain collaborative, formalized partnerships with elementary and secondary partner schools that are focused on student achievement, continuous school improvement, and the professio…

(a) Program for Teacher Assistants. - The State Board shall adopt a program to facilitate the process by which teacher assistants may become teachers. Teacher assistants who participate in this program shall meet the following requirements: (1) Be enrolled in a recognized EPP. (2…

(a) Purpose. - The Department of Public Instruction shall establish the Teacher Assistant Tuition Reimbursement Grant Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to provide tuition assistance to part-time or full-time teacher assistants working in local school administrative…

(a) Definitions. - The following definitions shall apply in this section: (1) Eligible high school graduate. - A graduate of a high school in a local school administrative unit who was enrolled in a Career and College Promise Transfer Pathway Program leading to an associate degre…

(a) Performance Measures. - The State Board shall adopt rules necessary to establish standards of performance to govern the continuing accountability of all EPPs. At a minimum, the performance standards shall be based on the following information that is disaggregated with respec…

(a) Risk Factor Rules. - The State Board shall adopt rules establishing risk factors for assessment of the overall risk level of each EPP. The set of risk factors shall include the following: (1) A history of the EPP's compliance with State law and rules, with consideration given…

(a) Accountability Statuses. - The State Board shall at least annually review the accountability status of each EPP. The State Board shall adopt rules necessary for the sanction of EPPs that do not meet accountability standards or comply with State law or rules. The rules shall p…

(a) Role of EPPs. - An EPP shall prepare students for educator licensure and meet the standards and requirements set forth in this Article. To recommend students for licensure, an EPP shall be recognized by the State Board. (b) State Board Authority. - The State Board shall initi…

The State Board shall create an annual report card for each EPP that, at a minimum, summarizes the information collected in the annual performance reports, as set forth in G.S. 115C-269.35(b). The report cards shall provide user-friendly access to the public, and shall provide th…

(a) Authority. - The State Board shall adopt rules necessary to establish a process for a student to report a violation of this Article to the State Board. (b) EPP Notice to Students. - The State Board by rule shall require an EPP to notify students of the complaint process adopt…

As used in this Article, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Administrator. - An administrator or supervisor who serves in general and program administrator roles, as classified by the State Board. Administrators shall include superintendents, assistant or associate superi…

(a) Fee Schedule. - The State Board of Education shall establish by rule a schedule of fees for professional educator licensure and administrative changes. The fees established under this section shall not exceed the actual cost of providing the service. The schedule may include …

(a) Examination Score Requirements. - The State Board of Education shall require an applicant for an initial professional license (IPL) or a residency license (RL) to demonstrate the applicant's academic and professional preparation by achieving a prescribed minimum score on a st…

(a) Teacher Licenses. - The State Board shall adopt rules for the issuance of the following classes of teacher licenses, including required levels of preparation for each classification: (1) Continuing professional license or CPL. - A five-year renewable license issued to a teach…

(a) Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education shall enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians specifying the criteria that must be met in order for individuals to teach Cherokee…

The State Board of Education shall grant a CPL to a teacher licensed in another state with substantially similar licensure requirements who has at least three years of teaching experience and is in good standing with the other state. (2017-189, s. 3(c); 2019-71, s. 2.2; 2023-134,…