School Law Bulletin #2003/09

It was a quiet year for legislation related to public elementary and secondary schools. The General Assembly’s debates and decisions were once again dominated by the budget, not by major policy questions. Although significant cuts were made in some areas, the General Assembly continued its efforts to improve student performance. It passed legislation (1) funding bonuses under the state’s accountability program (known as the ABCs), (2) reducing second-grade class size, and (3) assist- ing schools that have not performed well under the ABCs or that have not made adequate yearly progress under the federal accountability program, the No Child Left Behind Act. The General Assembly also continued to refine strategies to deal with the perennial problems of North Carolina’s high dropout rate and need to recruit and retain teachers.