NC H1160

Appropriates $3,731,927 in recurring General Fund dollars to the Department of Public Instruction for fiscal year 2014-2015 to support Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC) intervention programs for at-risk students.

Requires CISNC to place at least 50 student support specialists in high-poverty elementary and secondary schools to serve 27,500 additional students, prioritizing schools with 50% or more students lacking reading proficiency or schools receiving D or F grades.

Appropriates an additional $1,035,000 in nonrecurring funds to CISNC to plan and support opening three new schools over the next three years, including Performance Learning Centers or cooperative innovative high schools.

Mandates the Department of Public Instruction and CISNC submit annual reports to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee beginning October 15, 2015, detailing fund use, resource leveraging, student support specialist activities, and progress on new school development.

Effective date: July 1, 2014.