House Bill 97 - Various Education Changes

• Reorganizes Chapter 115D (Community Colleges) into a more structured format with clearer parts covering general provisions, local college administration, programs, and students.

• Expands the Career and College Promise Program and establishes the NC Career Coach Program to place community college career coaches in high schools to help students identify college and career pathways.

• Requires the State Board of Community Colleges to conduct a competitive solicitation for a learning management system for all community colleges by April 1, 2025.

• Allows Fayetteville Technical Community College to enter a public/private partnership with an automotive services company for facility construction or renovations, with the company bearing at least 80% of costs.

• Increases classroom hour requirement for massage therapy licensure from 500 to 650 in-class hours, effective July 1, 2024, and makes changes to proprietary school requirements and the AI School Safety and Special Needs pilot programs.