NC S347

State Board of Education shall allocate limited English proficiency (LEP) funds to local school administrative units and charter schools based on the average percentage of LEP students over the past three years, with eligibility requiring either at least 20 LEP students or at least 2.5% of average daily membership.

Funds must be used for classroom teachers, teacher assistants, tutors, textbooks, instructional materials, equipment, transportation, and staff development for LEP students, and must supplement rather than replace local current expense funds.

Department of Public Instruction shall prepare an annual head count of LEP students by December 1 and assess students at least once every three years to determine English proficiency levels.

State Board of Education must study the LEP allotment and report findings by December 31, 2023, including whether current funding is adequate, recommended funding factors for linguistic diversity, bilingual education plans, and analysis of eliminating concentration and minimum eligibility requirements.

Appropriates $3,400,000 in recurring funds to the Department of Public Instruction for the 2023-2024 fiscal year to increase the LEP allotment, effective July 1, 2023.