§ 115C-312.  Salary supplements for teachers in Advanced Teaching Roles schools.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Adult leadership teacher. - A teacher who meets the following criteria:

a. Works in the classroom providing instruction for at least thirty percent (30%) of the instructional day.

b. Leads a team of between three and eight teachers.

c. Shares responsibility for the performance of the students of all teachers on the team identified in sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision.

d. Is not a school administrator.

(2) Advanced teaching role. - Additional responsibility for a teacher in an Advanced Teaching Roles school, as developed by a local board of education pursuant to G.S. 115C-311.

(3) Advanced Teaching Roles unit. - A local school administrative unit with at least one Advanced Teaching Roles school.

(4) Classroom excellence teacher. - A teacher who meets the following criteria:

a. Is a teacher in an advanced teaching role.

b. Assumes and maintains responsibility for at least twenty percent (20%) of additional students as compared to the most recent prior school year in which the teacher did not receive a salary supplement pursuant to this section.

c. Is a member of a team of teachers led by an adult leadership teacher pursuant to sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(5) Teacher. - A classroom teacher in an Advanced Teaching Roles school who is not instructional support personnel.

(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-311, to the extent funds are made available for this purpose, the State Board of Education shall award funds to local school administrative units for annual salary supplements for teachers in accordance with this section. Advanced Teaching Roles units shall designate up to fifteen percent (15%) of the teachers in each Advanced Teaching Roles school as adult leadership teachers and five percent (5%) of the teachers in each Advanced Teaching Roles school as classroom excellence teachers. Advanced Teaching Roles units shall provide salary supplements for those teachers as follows:

(1) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for adult leadership teachers.

(2) Three thousand dollars ($3,000) for classroom excellence teachers.

(c) The following additional requirements apply to salary supplements received pursuant to this section:

(1) Loss of a salary supplement received pursuant to this section for any reason shall not be considered a demotion under Part 3 of Article 22 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.

(2) A teacher is eligible to continue receiving a salary supplement pursuant to this section as long as he or she remains an adult leadership teacher or a classroom excellence teacher.

(3) A teacher is eligible to receive no more than one annual salary supplement pursuant to this section at any time. (2023-134, s. 7.66.)