NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1975 SESSION

CHAPTER 896

SENATE BILL 66

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING CENTERS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

Whereas, sixty-one percent of the teachers of children with special needs are not certified in the area of special need in which they teach; and

Whereas, it is conservatively estimated that special educational needs are found in fourteen percent of all preschool and school age children in the State; and

Whereas, there is an immediate and urgent need to conduct in-service training programs in order that special education teachers obtain certification; and

Whereas, a legislative commission has closely observed the programmatic requirements for children with special needs; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Article 38C of G.S. 115 is hereby amended by rewriting same as follows:

"§ 115-315.16.  Creation. — There is hereby established within the Department of Public Instruction a system of Regional Educational Training Centers. Said centers shall be equitably distributed across the State as shall be determined by the Superintendent, provided that such centers are located in reasonable proximity to one of the Developmental Evaluation Centers operated by the Department of Human Resources.

"§ 115-315.17.  Functions. — The centers shall have the following functions:

(1)        To provide in-service training to all special education teachers and other professionals as defined by the Superintendent.

(2)        To develop in kindergarten and primary grade teachers the necessary skills to detect potential special educational needs and the capability to plan special educational programs.

(3)        To provide in-service training and consultative services to a parent or guardian of a child with special needs and to appropriate public school administrative and management personnel.

(4)        To work in concert with the various local human resources agencies to the end that multiple and duplicative services provided at various times and by various agencies of the State may be obviated.

(5)        To conduct an in-depth evaluation of the impact of in-service training on the delivery of services to children with special needs within the public schools on an annual basis in compliance with such rules and regulations as the Superintendent may promulgate.

"§ 115-315.18.  Organization of centers. — Employees of the centers shall be employees of the Department of Public Instruction appointed by the Superintendent subject to the approval of the State Board. Employees of those centers now in place and operational shall be employees of the Department, and those centers now in place and operational shall fulfill the functions set forth for new centers.

"§ 115-315.19.  Rules and regulations. — The Superintendent shall develop and promulgate appropriate rules and regulations for the operation of the centers subject to the approval of the State Board. Such rules and regulations shall prescribe the precise operational responsibility of the centers and shall include a description of the operational relationship that shall exist with the various local human resources agencies."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 26th day of June, 1975.