NC S296

Permits local community colleges and school administrative units to establish dropout recovery programs subject to State Board of Community Colleges approval.

Allows courses provided to students enrolled in Gateway to College programs at Durham Technical Community College and College of the Albemarle to generate state budget FTE funding, exempting these courses from the restrictions on state funding for general education and college success skills courses.

Directs the State Board of Community Colleges and State Board of Education to develop an approval process for high school dropout recovery program partnerships between local community colleges and school administrative units.

Requires the State Board of Community Colleges and State Board of Education to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 1, 2012, with recommended legislation for approving such programs, examining Gateway to College programs as models for best practices.

Effective July 1, 2011.