AN ACT directing the state board of education to adopt a policy requiring teachers to take credits in THEIR ACADEMIC subject area as part of the licensure renewal process.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The State Board of Education shall adopt a policy that requires:
(1)	Teachers of grades kindergarten through eight to take three renewal credits in their academic subject areas, including strategies to teach those subjects, during each five-year license renewal cycle and
(2)	Teachers in grades nine through twelve to take three credits in their academic subject areas, including strategies to teach those subjects, during each five-year license renewal cycle.
For teachers who are in the fourth or fifth year of their current five-year license renewal cycle, this policy shall apply beginning with the first year of their next five-year license renewal cycle.  The State Board may provide for exceptions to this policy for teachers seeking certification or renewal of certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 28th day of July, 2007.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Joe Hackney
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 2:35 p.m. this 21st day of August, 2007