GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2009

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 1028

Short Title:        Encourage Volunteerism in Schools.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Senators Albertson;  Allran, Atwater, Davis, Dorsett, Foriest, Goss, Hartsell, Hoyle, Jenkins, Jones, Malone, Preston, Queen, Snow, Tillman, and Weinstein.
Referred to:	Education/Higher Education.

March 31, 2009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT directing the state board of education to adopt guidelines and policies for chartered community groups to tutor public school students.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑206 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑206.  State Board of Education; duties; responsibilities.

(a)        The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare and present to the State Board of Education recommendations for general guidelines for encouraging increased community involvement in the public schools and use of public school facilities. These recommendations shall include, but shall not be limited to provisions for:

(1)        The use of public school facilities by governmental, charitable or civic organizations for activities within the community.

(2)        The utilization of the talents and abilities of volunteers within the community for the enhancement of public school programs including tutoring, counseling and cultural programs and projects.

(3)        Increased communications between the staff and faculty of the public schools, other community institutions and agencies, and citizens in the community.

Based on the recommendations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate policies and guidelines for encouraging increased community involvement in the public schools and use of the public school facilities.

(b) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall also prepare and present to the State Board of Education recommendations for general guidelines for independent community efforts to provide volunteers to tutor in the public schools. The guidelines shall authorize a community group or other entity to organize and adopt a charter committing itself to provide tutoring services. The charter shall set out the intent of the members of the group to (i) provide to a public school the level of support traditionally reserved for student athletic programs and student athletes, (ii) commit a minimum number of hours per participant to tutoring, (iii) focus on critical periods in students' educational development such as during the fourth grade or Algebra I, and (iv) provide other services to the school that the community group or other entity deems appropriate. The guidelines shall encourage the commitment of all age groups to the effort, including retired citizens and college students.

Based on the recommendations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board Education shall adopt appropriate guidelines and policies for independent community efforts to provide tutors for the public schools."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.