09. Policy: Fall 2022 PLS Custom Updates

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Submitted by jenny_hunter on Fri, 06/02/2023 - 12:08pm

Strategic Priority		Reason for Consideration
Graduates Prepared for Work, Higher Education and Citizenship	X	Action	X
Excellent Educators	X	Information
Healthy, Safe and Responsible Students	X	Discussion
Operations and Support	X

On March 6, Dr. Brian Weaver presented 29 revised policies from the NCSBA Fall 2022 PLS (Policies to Lead the Schools) Custom Updates and one locally revised policy as first-read information. Twenty of the policies containing minor changes were approved on April 3. The remaining 10 policies with more substantive changes have been postponed several times per board members’ requests. No changes have been made since their first read on March 6. The policy revisions are summarized below. Dr. Weaver will answer any questions you may have.

2120, Code of Ethics for School Board Members. Language was added requiring that board members comply with all board policies that set expectations for conduct, regardless of whether the policies expressly require compliance by board members.

3220, Technology in the Educational Program. Language has been updated throughout to align the policy with the 2022 North Carolina Digital Learning Plan.

Changes Regarding Children of Military Families. North Carolina participates in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (“Compact”), an agreement among states to alleviate many of the educational transition issues military families encounter, including certain barriers to enrollment. The state law implementing the Compact, G.S. 115C-407.5, applies to “children of military families,” defined as school-aged children enrolled in K-12 in the household of an active duty member. New statute G.S. 115C-407.12 extends the benefits of the Compact to children of an inactive member, but only if (1) the inactive member is required to move to perform military service–related responsibilities, (2) the move results in a transfer of school systems for the child, and (3) the inactive member presents a copy of the official military transfer order to the school from which services for the child are requested. If the move results in an interstate transfer of the child between the school system and another school system in a different state, the superintendent shall direct school officials to attempt to coordinate with the out-of-state school system on behalf of the child but cannot require the receiving school system to provide specific services. The revisions change the definition of children of military families in policy 4050, Children of Military Families, to include the children covered by G.S. 115C-407.12. In addition, the following policies have been revised due to the new law:

3420, Student Promotion and Accountability (approved 4.03.23)

3460, Graduation Requirements (approved 4.03.23)

3620, Extracurricular Activities and Student Organizations

4100, Age Requirements for Initial Entry

4110, Immunization and Health Requirements for School Admission (approved 4.03.23)

4155, Assignment to Classes (approved 4.03.23)

4400, Attendance (approved 4.03.23)

4700, Student Records

4220, Student Insurance Program. Information has been added to address the new statutory requirement that boards purchase catastrophic insurance for high school interscholastic athletic activities.

4300, Student Behavior Policies. In accordance with a new statutory provision, language has been added to the first paragraph requiring that teachers, school-based administrators, parents, and law enforcement be consulted when existing student behavior policies are revised or new such policies are created.

4700, Student Records. Section K has been rewritten to more accurately describe the requirements for destruction of student records.

7130, Licensure. Adds information about lifetime licenses, lifetime license holders, and professional development. Deletes language requiring the superintendent to inform teachers of the state process for appealing the state’s licensing decision because that information comes from a SBE policy that no longer exists.

7241, Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators. Effective January 6, 2023, the federal regulations no longer require that school officials contact an applicant’s previous employers that are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

A motion is in order to approve the 10 policies listed below as presented.

Fall 2022 Custom Updates (Substantive Changes)
2120	Code of Ethics for School Board Members
3220	Technology in the Educational Program
3620	Extracurricular Activities and Student Organizations
4050	Children of Military Families
4100	Age Requirements for Initial Entry
4220	Student Insurance Program
4300	Student Behavior Policies
4700	Student Records
7130	Licensure
7241	Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations