NC Governor Roy Cooper Just Signed The School Reopening Bill into Law

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Charlotte Stories
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NC Governor Roy Cooper just signed into law a new bill that will significantly increase the speed at which our local school districts return to in-person learning.

SB 220 was unanimously passed by both the Senate, on Wednesday, and the House, on Thursday, and was signed into law by Governor Cooper yesterday afternoon.

“Getting students back into the classroom safely is a shared priority, and this agreement will move more students to in-person instruction while retaining the ability to respond to local emergencies,” Governor Cooper said.

The new law includes the following mandates:

  • All elementary schools must operate under Plan A.
  • Local middle and high schools can choose between Plan A or Plan B.
  • Local school districts will keep the ability to close in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak
  • Any local school district that decides to move middle or high schools to Plan A, must partner with the ABC Science Collaborative to allow researchers to collect and analyze anonymized data from those districts on the safety of opening schools.
  • Districts will be allowed to add teacher work days between the date the compromise bill becomes law and the date when the district switches plans to allow teachers and staff to prepare for the transition, if needed.
  • Districts which middle or high schools remain in Plan B, students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) or 504 will have the option of Plan A at the discretion of the student’s parents.
  • All districts must provide the option for 100% remote learning
  • A total of $500,000 will be allocated to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to collaborate with the ABC Science Collaborative for the collection and review of data
  • The new law becomes effective 20 after today.

You can read the full text of NC Senate Bill 220 here.

What do you think about SB220?

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