Senate Bill 795 - Excellent Public Schools Act

• Establishes North Carolina Read to Achieve Program requiring students demonstrate reading proficiency by end of third grade with mandatory retention for non-proficient students, subject to limited good-cause exemptions.

• Creates NC Teacher Corps to recruit recent college graduates and mid-career professionals as teachers for high-needs schools through intensive training and ongoing professional development.

• Implements school performance grading system awarding A-F letter grades to schools based on student achievement in reading, mathematics, science, college/workplace readiness, and graduation rates.

• Strengthens teacher licensure requirements including reading-specific certification for elementary teachers and mandatory literacy continuing education credits for renewal.

• Replaces career status employment system with performance-based contracts allowing terms of 1-4 years, with dismissal procedures based on grounds including inadequate performance, immorality, insubordination, and neglect of duty.