NC S618

Establishes the Teacher Assistant Tuition Reimbursement Program to provide tuition assistance to part-time or full-time teacher assistants in local school systems pursuing a college degree leading to teacher licensure.

Each local board of education may select up to five teacher assistants annually to receive awards of up to $4,500 per academic year for up to four years to cover tuition and fees at accredited educator preparation programs in North Carolina.

Applicants must be employed by the local board, be North Carolina residents, and be enrolled or willing to enroll in a State Board of Education-approved educator preparation program; student teaching must be completed in the applicant's employing school system.

Local boards must enter memoranda of understanding with higher education institutions detailing fund remittance, deposit procedures, and pro-rata refund requirements if recipients withdraw or employment terminates.

Appropriates $1,500,000 in recurring General Fund money to the Department of Public Instruction for program awards, with reporting requirements to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by September 1 annually; becomes effective July 1, 2023.