Attention in the House of Representatives turned again this week towards our increased high school dropout prevention efforts.
House Speaker Joe Hackney joined with about three dozen other legislators to announce his intentions to keep his dropout initiative operating through the next two years.
The House will again hold a series of public hearings throughout the state and will also visit some of the roughly 120 programs that have active grants. The programs are spread throughout the state and address dropout prevention in a variety of ways.
This program, and the many others run by both public and private groups in our state, will help our state remain competitive. Education is increasingly important in a poor economy, when jobs are at a premium and employers have a greater pool of workers from which to choose.
According to the State Board of Education, the overall dropout rate in North Carolina fell from 5.24 percent during the 2006-2007 school year to 4.97 percent during the 2007-2008 school year. This was the first decline after two years of increase, and we must work to keep pushing that number lower.
The following information highlights some of the bills that have been filed in recent days to help improve our education system and keep more students in school.
Dropout Prevention
Money would be appropriated for additional Learn and Earn high schools in North Carolina under legislation filed in the House this week (HB 184). The Learn and Earn initiative is a free program that allows high school students to get a jump start on their college education or to gain career skills. At this time, there are 60 Learn and Earn high schools across the state. The proposed money would be used for 11 additional Learn and Earn high schools that will be operational in 2009-2010. This bill was filed based on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation.
Communities in Schools of North Carolina, Inc (CIS) would be allocated more than $6 million in recurring funds according to a bill proposed this week (HB 185). CIS would be directed to use the money for programs and services, and to place no fewer than 100 graduation coaches in either middle or high schools statewide. CIS would be instructed to give priority to placing graduation coaches in schools that have a four-year cohort graduation rate of less than 65 percent. Last year, more than 21,000 students at-risk of dropping out were provided case managers by CIS, and 98 percent of them stayed in school.
State lawmakers have filed a bill (HB 187) that would direct local boards of education to work with business leaders and chambers of commerce to encourage employers to allow their employees time off to attend conferences with their children’s teachers. The legislation would also encourage local boards of education to adopt policies that would (1) implement programs to provide students with a successful transition between middle school and high school years, (2) increase parental involvement in student achievement and graduation preparation, and (3) reduce suspension and expulsion rates and to provide alternative learning programs for students who receive short and long-term suspensions. In addition, the bill would direct local boards of education to help pregnant students and those who are parents remain in school until they graduate.
The Board of Governors at the University of North Carolina would be directed to order a study of the impact of increasing the compulsory attendance age for public school students who have yet to receive a high school diploma under a bill (HB 188) proposed this week. If enacted, this legislation would change the compulsory attendance age from 16 to 17 or 18. This legislation is based on the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation.
Education
The offense of taking indecent liberties with a student would be added to the list of sex offenses that requires registration under the Sex Offender and Public Registration Program under legislation filed in the House this week (HB 209).
Money would be appropriated to the community college system office for the Minority Male Mentoring Program according to a bill (HB 156) that was proposed this week in the House. The program helps to increase the graduation and retention rates of minority males at our community colleges through mentoring, retreats, community service and counseling and other personal growth opportunities.
Six-year olds would be required to attend school according to legislation filed in the House this week (HB 161). Under the current law, children are not required to attend school until the age of 7.
The State Board of Education would be directed to require one arts education credit for graduation from high school according to a bill proposed this week in the House (HB 149).
Meetings/Events
I plan to attend the following meetings/events:
Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.
As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.
Please remember that you can listen to each day’s session, committee meetings and press conferences on the General Assembly’s website. Once on the site, select “audio,” and then make your selection — House Chamber, Senate Chamber, Appropriations Committee Room or Press Conference Room.