| NCATA Legislative Update April 27, 2019 New & exciting news in late April! |
| GREAT NEWS for NCATA!!! The House version of the budget includes two new Regional Coordinators and $500K for NC FFA Center! Please read the full report from our lobbyist, Bryan Holloway. Bryan has been working hard in the Legislature for us. We appreciate this great news and look forward to seeing these priorities through the entire process in the months ahead! Update from Mr. Bryan Holloway for late April 2019: On April 26th, the North Carolina House released its version of the Education budget. I’m proud to inform you that our priority to add two new coordinator positions at North Carolina State University is included in the budget. Our second priority to allocate funds to the FFA Camp at White Lake is also in the House Budget. Their budget allocates 500k to the camp in the capital portion of the budget. Today was a big day for agriculture education in North Carolina. The legislative budget will continue, and now the House has announced that they hope to have their budget completed by May 5, 2019. Remember, this is not the final version, and the Senate will follow with their version hopefully by the first of June 2019. Then, both bodies will create a compromise budget meshing elements of both budgets. However, it is anticipated that the governor will veto the b udget. Without supermajorities in the legislature, it could be late this f all before a budget is finally agreed upon. NCATA will keep you posted on our progress. Recent Education Action SB 580: Classroom Supplies to Teachers This program proposal would allow classroom teachers across the state to spend up to $400.00 on classroom and instructional materials. Concerns have been raised by LEAs regarding district allocations of supply funds. However, from what NCATA is learning, legislative leaders are planning to allocate new monies to the LEA allotments for supplies and materials. NCATA will keep you posted as this develops. Excellence in Public Schools Act and Read to Achieve Senate Bill 438 was introduced, and it addresses some perceived deficiencies with the original Read to Achieve Act passed in 2013. After analyzing data, Senate leadership has decided to target current problems with the law. This Act would seek to implement Summer Reading Camps and offer targeted staff development to meet students’ needs and to improve 3rd grade reading proficiency. The Act utilizes current and past performance data to adjust the program to meet current student needs. Bills that Passed the House House Bill 377 This bill, which passed the House and now moves to the Senate, eliminates K-8 EOG tests and allows shorter “check in” tests during intervals in the school year. For high school testing, the NC Final Exam would be eliminated, and the ACT would be utilized to measure student growth and ensure school accountability..House Bill 315 passed the House and provides LEAs with discretionary flexibility on how instructional monies are spent and on which platforms instructional materials are delivered (instructional technology, textbooks, etc.). In addition, the bill provides parental review of instructional materials selected by districts. HB 184: Study State Health Plan Design This bill allows lawmakers to study and review the State Health Plan and identify areas for improvement and modernization including goals-based incentives for providers and members and healthy lifestyle promotion. In addition, the bill will examine the needs and concerns of stakeholders in the State Health Plan. HB 354 (=H313) Modify Weighting/School Performance Grades. This bill would change how performance grades are calculated. Presently, grades calculate 80 percent from proficiency and 20 percent from growth. The new proposal would calculate 50 percent for proficiency and 50 percent for growth. HB 362 (=H145) 15-Point Scale For School Performance Grades. This bill would keep the 15-point scale for performance grades for schools as opposed to moving to the 10-point scale which was the most recent current law. HB 266 School Annual Report Card.This bill separates grades for school achievement and school growth. This bill would create a 15-point grading scale measuring school achievement and would utilize a 10-point scale, based on EVASS standards, to measure school growth. House Bill 79 Academic Alignment/Boards of Education & CC. This bill would allow for some scheduling flexibility and let local school boards align their schedules with the community college system. House Bill 276 Modify Low-Performing School Definition. This bill would remove the language of “low performing school” while modifying the definition using revised measurements. If a school has met expected growth, it will not be classified as “low performing.” Education Bills in CommitteeHouse Bill 275 (=S189) CTE Pilot for Guilford Co. Schools.This Pilot proposal, specific to Guilford county, would allow traditional high schools to host the Innovative Signature Career Academy Program. As of 3/26/19, this measure has been referred to the House Committee on Finance and has not seen action since. Senate Bill 134 Economics & Financial Literacy Act. This bill would mandate that students in high school complete an Economics and Financial literacy type course as a requirement for graduation. In addition, staff development opportunities would be extended for teachers in the content area. This bill has not seen action since April 3rd and is currently in the Senate Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget. House Bill 199 H199 This bill would provide funding to Charter Schools to meet student transportation needs and will allow qualifying schools to receive reimbursement for up to 65 percent of their transportation costs. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Appropriations on 4/9/19. |
NCATA Legislative Update April 12, 2019
| NCATA Legislative Update April 12, 2019 |
| Update from Mr. Bryan Holloway: Things in the legislature have finally begun to pick up, and the House is beginning to do serious work on the budget with hopes of having it released by the end of April. We have made great progress with our priorities. Full Appropriations Chair Representative William Brisson and Representative Dana Bumgardner will be filing a bill to provide two more coordinators at North Carolina State University. Education Appropriations Chair Representative Jeffrey Elmore, who came to the fall conference, is working to help carry this bill across the finish line and place it in the budget. Rep. William Brisson has also agreed to assist with funding for the camp. Full Appropriations Chairs control capital provisions, and he is a strong advocate since the FFA camp is in his legislative district. In other education news, here is a brief summary of the Governor’s education budget, and other bills filed in the state legislature: he Governor’s Budget has a goal of raising teacher pay to the highest in the southeast over a four year period (Avg. 9.1% over two years) Reinstates experience pay for principals Provides 40 million for school safety and school mental health Provides 15 million for school security improvements Provides a 29 million increase in funding for textbooks and digital resources Provides 9 million for teacher recruitment Expands Teaching Fellows program by 5 million Proposed at 3.9 billion dollar bond proposal, giving 2 billion to public schools These are some of the major highlights. The entire budget can be read by clicking the hot link, The Governor’s Budget. House Bill 266: School Annual Report Card This bill filed by Representative Riddell changes the school report card by giving two grades instead of one grade. Schools would receive a performance grade and a growth grade. This would change the current law that combines performance (80%) and growth at (20%) to derive one grade. House Bill 276: Modify Low Performing School Definition This bill filed by Representative Riddell changes the definition of low performing schools so that a school that meets growth cannot be considered low performing.House Bill 216: School Self Defense Act & Senate Bill 192: School Security Act Though both bills are different, they are similar due to the fact they arm individuals in the school setting other than school resource officers. From discussions with legislators from both parties, these bills have a slim chance of becoming law. I’ll be back in touch before the month comes to an end to update you again. Bills are starting to move, and the House is picking up speed working on the budget. They go first in the legislative process this year. |
NCATA Updates April 10, 2019
| NCATA Updates April 10, 2019 Three Items- Please Read |
| Awards are DUE next week!!! The deadline for NAAE Awards and the Eric N. Godwin Scholarship is fast approaching. All award applications should be turned by April 19th (Keep reading for more details!) NAAE Awards are judged at the state, regional, and national levels. It’s the time of year to complete these for state level judging. Award recipients gain experience, travel, and recognition. You can find out about requirements, descriptions and applications HERE. The following award areas are available: Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award Upper Division Scholarship Outstanding Teacher Award Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program Outstanding Post-secondary Agriculture Program Award Teacher Mentor Award Ideas Unlimited Award Outstanding Cooperation Award Outstanding Service Citation Lifetime Achievement Award Teachers Turn the Key Scholarship Application A NEW award for this year is the Eric N Godwin NCATA Scholarship. First year members may apply for a scholarship on their second year dues to NCATA. You can apply here: Eric N. Godwin NCATA Scholarship Application ALL Award Applications are due to Shannon Vanhoy by April 19, via email at shannon.vanhoy@gmail.com. Shannon is with the Member Services Committee. All awards should be submitted to her in a pdf format for judging. NC nominees (State Winners) will be notified by April 29. These nominees will then have to submit their application via the NAAE website. NCATA Website A new website is coming! Get ready for: Concise Information Board of Director Contact Information Membership Payments and Online Enrollment Membership Benefits! Resources galore! In the meantime, our current domain is down and will be going live upon completion of the new site. If you have any questions, you can contact your President, Chad Ayers, or your Executive Director, April Pittman, with any questions using ncagteachers15@gmail.com. Region V Conference The NAAE Region V conference will be June 24-26, 2019 in Charleston, SC (make note, this date was listed incorrectly in one location in our last Newsletter.) It is a wonderful time to network, learn more about your profession and agriculture, and recognize the professionals in our community. We hope you can attend! The information is on the NAAE Website (Communities of Practice) but we have had some trouble with the links. Here are the direct links and information for you to use: Hotel:Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina20 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 This harborfront resort and marina is a 4-minute walk from Patriots Point and a 9-minute walk from the water taxi, with access to Charleston Historic District. The bright, nautical-themed rooms all have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks and coffeemakers. Some rooms include balconies, whirlpool tubs, fireplaces and harbor views. Suites add separate living spaces. Room service is available.Amenities include a private beach, a seasonal outdoor pool, a hot tub and a gym, while the marina also offers fishing services and sailing lessons for a fee. There’s also a rooftop bar with live music, a poolside tiki bar and 2 restaurants. Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina Guests will need to contact reservations directly (843-856-0028) if requesting a specific type of room (1 king/2 queens) or if booking for days beyond contract. The room rate is extended to 6/27/19. https://reservations.travelclick.com/105880?groupID=2394831 Conference Registration:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfp 7d7TzABsTBtQRjOXq70tLX4CJQM6QHxRMfRw8PtClQEJ7A/viewform?usp=sf_link Tentative Region V Conference Agenda |