House Bill 532 Summary

• Establishes a Board of Governors' Subcommittee on Laboratory Schools to oversee the creation and operation of at least nine laboratory schools at UNC constituent institutions with educator preparation programs.

• Transfers governance authority from individual boards of trustees to chancellors of constituent institutions, who become administrative heads responsible for laboratory school operations, policies, and procedures.

• Expands student eligibility to include both students enrolled in low-performing schools and students who did not meet expected academic growth in the prior school year, with enrollment on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Allows the Subcommittee to waive the requirement that laboratory schools be located in school districts with 25% or more low-performing schools, permitting up to three schools in other locations if jointly proposed by a chancellor and local school administrative unit.

• Updates laboratory schools' financial structure and reporting requirements, with the Subcommittee responsible for annual reporting to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on enrollment, student achievement, and educator preparation program outcomes.