G.S. 115C-12 — Powers and Duties of the State Board (incl. dyslexia screening review at (39b))

Plain English summary

This statute defines the broad powers and duties of the NC State Board of Education, covering everything from financial oversight and teacher salaries to school accountability report cards and content standards. It includes a specific reference to third-grade reading retention and exemption data that must appear on annual school report cards. Most of the statute is general governance authority, but it touches reading proficiency through the accountability reporting requirements tied to G.S. 115C-83.7.

Key requirements

• The State Board must award overall school performance scores and grades per G.S. 115C-83.15, including separate reading and mathematics scores for schools serving grades K-8 (G.S. 115C-12(9)c1)
• For schools serving third grade, the annual report card must include the number and percentage of third graders who: (i) take and pass the alternative assessment of reading comprehension; (ii) were retained for not demonstrating reading proficiency under G.S. 115C-83.7(a); and (iii) were exempt from mandatory third grade retention by exemption category under G.S. 115C-83.7(b) (G.S. 115C-12(9)c1.2)
• The Board must develop content standards that are rigorous, grade-by-grade, understandable to parents and teachers, and aligned with teacher preparation and professional development (G.S. 115C-12(9c))
• The Board must develop and implement a Uniform Education Reporting System for collecting fiscal, personnel, and student data (G.S. 115C-12(18))
• The Board must adopt policies to ensure local school units are not required to complete forms for children with disabilities that are not necessary to ensure compliance with IDEA (G.S. 115C-12(19))
• High school graduation exit standards must be adopted in accordance with G.S. 115C-83.31 (G.S. 115C-12(9d))

Affected parties

• NC State Board of Education — must comply with all enumerated powers and duties
• Department of Public Instruction — must administer Board rules and regulations
• Local school administrative units — must report data, follow Board standards, and implement programs
• Parents and teachers — benefit from public report cards, content standards, and reduced paperwork
• Third-grade students — benefit from public reporting on reading proficiency, retention, and exemption data
• Students with disabilities — protected by IDEA paperwork reduction policy

Advocacy note

The annual school report card mandate in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1.2 requires every school serving third grade to publicly report how many students were retained for failing to meet reading proficiency under G.S. 115C-83.7(a) AND how many were exempted and by which category — giving parents and advocates a concrete, school-level accountability tool to monitor Read to Achieve outcomes each year.

Official source

https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_115C/GS_115C-12.pdf