| RELEASE: Immediate |
CONTACT: Public Affairs |
| DATE: July 19, 2005 |
PHONE: (919) 807-6962 or 6964 |
COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS OF STUDY FOR LATERAL ENTRY TEACHERS
Governor Easley Signs Lateral Entry Teacher Bill Into Law
RALEIGH - H. Martin Lancaster, president of the North Carolina Community College System, joined Gov. Mike Easley, key legislators and a host of top education officials today (TUESDAY, JULY 19) as the Governor signed into law House Bill 563.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Tolson (D-Edgecombe, Wilson), allows community colleges to provide coursework for teachers entering the profession by lateral entry.
"This is an historic day for North Carolina," said Lancaster. "North Carolina's community colleges have always been in the business of workforce development. When communities identify a need, our colleges try to fill it. Local school superintendents came to our colleges with this need, and they have been among our strongest allies in working for this legislation."
According to Lancaster, "These programs will be particularly important in rural areas that have no four-year colleges or universities. The job of meeting the teacher shortage is big enough for everyone to have an important part to play. We look forward to working with our partners in independent and public universities and the public schools."
Lateral entry programs prepare adults who already have baccalaureate degrees in other fields to become certified teachers.
Easley commended Lancaster for his work in getting the bill through the General Assembly. The governor said that the need for the legislation is clear.
"North Carolina must hire more than 11,000 new teachers every year," Easley said. "This bill expands options for when and where potential teachers can receive their training so we can put motivated, qualified, well-trained teachers in all areas of the state, especially in more rural areas."
According to Governor Easley, the state’s public four-year universities produce about 3,300 teachers annually with 2,100 of those new teachers taking jobs in the state. Many Independent colleges and universities also prepare teachers. However, the shortage means that many schools must depend on lateral entry to fill vacancies when hiring teachers.
Representative Tolson said, "We have worked together to meet the needs of schools for qualified teachers and to engage the participation of all the partners, including schools, the University, independent colleges and universities and community colleges. It's particularly
In recent years, the North Carolina Community College System has been addressing the teacher shortage. Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst and Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte have experience with lateral entry.
Across the state, community colleges are already working with universities on "2+2" partnerships that allow students to remain in their home communities, take university education courses on community college campuses and earn their teaching degrees. Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington established one of the first successful programs.
Appalachian State University and 10 community colleges make up the Appalachian Learning Alliance. East Carolina University has established the Wachovia Partnership East with 17 community colleges. Surry Community College's strong partnership with Lees-McRae College is just one example of several collaborations with independent colleges and universities.
House Bill 563 amends North Carolina General Statute 115C-296 c to permit the State Board of Community Colleges to provide a program of study for lateral entry teachers to earn a teaching certificate to be implemented no later than May 1, 2006. The bill also rewrites the statute to reduce the length of a provisional teaching certificate from five years to three years to comply with the Federal No Child Left Behind Act. The bill becomes effective immediately and applies to provisional teaching certificates issued on or after this date.
The North Carolina Community College System enrolls almost 800,000 students in 58 comprehensive community colleges. Internationally recognized for the scope and quality of its programs, the system is North Carolina's primary provider of workforce preparation and adult education. For details, visit www.nccommunitycolleges.edu
(Sara Parsons in the Governor's Press Office provided background information for this release.)
-NCCCS-
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