NC S836

Establishes up to five Local Alternative Teacher Preparation (LATP) programs administered by local boards of education to prepare lateral entry teachers for continuing licensure, with RFP issued by September 15, 2016.

LATP programs must provide minimum 150 contact hours of pedagogy and content instruction plus 150 contact hours of mentoring, classroom coaching, and evaluations during the teacher's first year.

Eligible local boards must serve minimum student population of 20,000 or operate as a coalition meeting that threshold; proposals due January 6, 2017, with selection by March 15, 2017.

Programs must meet annual benchmarks including 70% completion rate, demonstrated retention increases, and full local funding; programs failing benchmarks are terminated.

Appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017 for program administration and independent research evaluation, with final evaluation report due October 15, 2022, and program sunset after 2021-2022 school year.