§ 116C-4. First in America Innovative Education Initiatives Act.
§ 116C‑4. First in America Innovative EducationInitiatives Act.
(a) The General Assembly strongly endorses the Governor's goalof making North Carolina's system of education first in America by 2010. Withthat as the goal, the Education Cabinet shall set as a priority cooperativeefforts between secondary schools and institutions of higher education so as toreduce the high school dropout rate, increase high school and collegegraduation rates, decrease the need for remediation in institutions of higher education,and raise certificate, associate, and bachelor degree completion rates. TheCabinet shall identify and support efforts that achieve the following purposes:
(1) Support cooperative innovative high school programsdeveloped under Part 9 of Article 16 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes.
(2) Improve high school completion rates and reduce high schooldropout rates.
(3) Close the achievement gap.
(4) Create redesigned middle schools or high schools.
(5) Provide flexible, customized programs of learning for highschool students who would benefit from accelerated, higher level coursework orearly graduation.
(6) Establish high quality alternative learning programs.
(7) Establish a virtual high school.
(8) Implement other innovative education initiatives designed toadvance the State's system of education.
(b) The Education Cabinet shall identify federal, State, andlocal funds that may be used to support these initiatives. In addition, theCabinet is strongly encouraged to pursue private funds that could be used tosupport these initiatives.
(c) The Cabinet shall report by January 15, 2004, and annuallythereafter, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on itsactivities under this section. The annual reports may include recommendationsfor statutory changes needed to support cooperative innovative initiatives,including programs approved under Part 9 of Article 16 of Chapter 115C of theGeneral Statutes. (2003‑277, s. 1.)