Updates from NCDPI

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April 2024 Spring PANC

Paid Parental Leave

OSHR Proposed Permanent Rules

• NC Office of Human Resources submitted proposed permanent rules on March 15, 2024.
• The proposed rules are posted for notice and public comment until May 14, 2024.
• NC statute requires all public schools to conform substantially to the rules that OSHR adopts.
• Once these rules are approved, NCDPI will take conforming changes of the Benefits Manual to the State Board of Education for approval.

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Key (Proposed) Changes to PPL

• For birthing parents, the eight weeks of PPL are made up of:
• Four weeks of physical and mental recuperation, and
• Four additional weeks of bonding with the child
• OSHR requires the 4 weeks of recuperation leave be taken prior to any other leave.
• PPL cannot be denied, delayed or intermittent use required for birthing parent who seeks to use leave in one continuous period.
• OSHR provides provisions for delaying PPL for non-birthing parents.

Key (Proposed) Changes to PPL

• Miscarriage and Stillbirth:
• loss of fetus before the 12^th week is not a qualifying event for PPL
• loss of fetus after the 12^th week, but before childbirth provides the eligible employee with 4 weeks of recuperation PPL
• when a child dies after birth, each eligible parent receives full PPL benefits
• Part-time, eligible employees receive the same length of PPL (4 or 8 weeks), but compensation is pro-rated to their regular working hours.
• PPL cannot be paid out, transferred, or donated as VSL.

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Link to North Carolina Register

• https://files.nc.gov/oah/documents/2024-03/Volume-38-Issue-18-March-15-2024.pdf?VersionId=PKhJKPqofdxgWMi6xgzlurewmUgKm0cf

Changes in Work Authorization

Work Authorization and Licensure

• Effective May 1, 2024, the NCDPI Licensure Office will no longer require documentation of work authorization for non-citizens.
• Standard Operation Procedure for NCDPI Licensure staff is to request documentation of authorization for US employment as a condition of licensure.
• Federal and State law require an employer to verify the eligibility of non-citizens to work lawfully in the United States.

Work Authorization and Licensure

• A State Board of Education license indicates an individual’s academic and professional preparation to hold the license, not an indication of the individual’s authorization to work lawfully in the United States
• The issuance of a license should in no way be interpreted as authorization to work lawfully in the United States. The requirement to ensure valid work authorization lies with the employing agency.
• Employing agencies are reminded to conduct their own verification of work authorization as a condition of employment; the issuance of a license is not an indicator of work authorization.

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TA to Teacher Reimbursement

PRC 066

• GS 115C-269.31 revised the TA to teacher reimbursement program, allowing all LEAs to participate based on availability of funding ($575,000 for FY 2024).
• Reimbursements are distributed to LEAs on a tiered basis:
• Tier 1 – participation in the TA Tuition Reimbursement Pilot Program (38 districts)
• Tier 2 – LEAs located in a county with at least one LEA that received low-wealth supplemental funding in the previous fiscal year.
• Tier 3 – all other local school administrative units.
• Individuals may receive up to $4,600 per academic year for reimbursement of tuition and fees.

PRC 066

• Twenty-five Tier 1 LEAs submitted requests for reimbursements for 198 teaching assistants.
• Tier 1 districts were allotted $2,904 per TA which exhausted the appropriation for this program (198 x $2,904 = $574,992)
• NCDPI is requesting that the General Assembly allow the agency to utilize any unspent funding from the Teacher Apprentice Grant Program (SL 2023-134 Section 7.44A) to provide reimbursements for Tier 2 LEAs.
• NCDPI has reported to the General Assembly the requests in funding for TA to Teacher reimbursements (≈ $2.5M)

Advanced Teaching Roles

Request for Proposals

• NCDPI plans to release the application for ATR grant funding in June of 2024. Deadline for applications is August 16, 2024 – 11:59 pm.
• Interested districts can start working on their proposals now. The RFP and previously submitted proposals can be found on the NCDPI website: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/educators/recruitment-support/evaluation-learning-and-leadership
• NCDPI anticipates minor revisions to the RFP in the short session of the General Assembly.

Benefits of ATR participation

• Elementary schools participating in ATR receive waiver from K-3 class size requirements.
• Adult Leadership teaching roles may qualify for a $10,000 salary supplement from the State. Classroom Excellent teaching roles may qualify for a $3,000 supplement from the State.
• Enhanced support for beginning teachers – opportunity to be mentored and supported by a highly effective teacher.
• Career advancement opportunities for educators that keep them working with students in classrooms.

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