N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-64.16 The Education and Workforce Innovation and Cte Grade Expansion Program; Innovation Grants

• Library: North Carolina Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Session Law 2023-151
• Year: 2023
• Citation: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-64.16

(a) Program Establishment. - There is established the Education and Workforce Innovation Program (Program) to foster innovation in education that will lead to more students graduating career and college ready. Funds appropriated to the Program shall be used to award competitive grants to an individual school, a local school administrative unit, or a regional partnership of more than one local school administrative unit to advance comprehensive, high-quality education that equips teachers with the knowledge and skill required to succeed with all students. Before receiving a grant, applicants must meet all of the following conditions:

(1) Form a partnership, for the purposes of the grant, with either a public or private university or a community college.

(2) Form a partnership, for the purposes of the grant, with regional businesses and business leaders.

(3) Demonstrate the ability to sustain innovation once grant funding ends.

(b) Applicant Categories and Specific Requirements. -

(1) Individual schools. - Individual public schools must demonstrate all of the following in their applications:

a. Partnerships with business and industry to determine the skills and competencies needed for students' transition into growth sectors of the regional economy.

b. Aligned pathways to employment, including students' acquisition of college credit or industry recognized credentials.

c. Development of systems, infrastructure, capacity, and culture to enable teachers and school leaders to continuously focus on improving individual student achievement.

(2) Local school administrative units. - Local school administrative units must demonstrate all of the following in their applications:

a. Implementation of comprehensive reform and innovation.

b. Appointment of a senior leader to manage and sustain the change process with a specific focus on providing parents with a portfolio of meaningful options among schools.

(3) Regional partnerships of two or more local school administrative units. - Partnerships of two or more local school administrative units must demonstrate all of the following in their applications:

a. Implementation of resources of partnered local school administrative units in creating a tailored workforce development system for the regional economy and fostering innovation in each of the partnered local school administrative units.

b. Promotion of the development of knowledge and skills in career clusters of critical importance to the region.

c. Benefits of the shared strengths of local businesses and higher education.