2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes § 115C-238.50. Purpose.

Part 9. Cooperative Innovative High School Programs.

§ 115C‑238.50.  Purpose.

(a)       The purpose of this Part is to authorize local boards of education to jointly establish with one or more boards of trustees cooperative innovative programs in high schools and colleges or universities that will expand students' opportunities for educational success through high quality instructional programming. These cooperative innovative high school programs shall target:

(1)       High school students who are at risk of dropping out of school before attaining a high school diploma; or

(2)       High school students who would benefit from accelerated academic instruction.

(b)       All the cooperative innovative high school programs established under this Part shall:

(1)       Prepare students adequately for future learning in the workforce or in an institution of higher education.

(2)       Expand students' educational opportunities within the public school system.

(3)       Be centered on the core academic standards represented by the college preparatory or tech prep program of study as defined by the State Board of Education.

(4)       Encourage the cooperative or shared use of resources, personnel, and facilities between public schools and colleges or universities, or both.

(5)       Integrate and emphasize both academic and technical skills necessary for students to be successful in a more demanding and changing workplace.

(6)       Emphasize parental involvement and provide consistent counseling, advising, and parent conferencing so that parents and students can make responsible decisions regarding course taking and can track the students' academic progress and success.

(7)       Be held accountable for meeting measurable student achievement results.

(8)       Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods.

(9)       Establish joint institutional responsibility and accountability for support of students and their success.

(10)     Effectively utilize existing funding sources for high school, college, university, and vocational programs and actively pursue new funding from other sources.

(11)     Develop methods for early identification of potential participating students in the middle grades and through high school.

(12)     Reduce the percentage of students needing remedial courses upon their initial entry from high school into a college or university.

(c)       Programs developed under this Part that target students who are at risk of dropping out of high school before attaining a high school diploma shall:

(1)       Provide these students with the opportunity to graduate from high school possessing the core academic skills needed for postsecondary education and high‑skilled employment.

(2)       Enable students to complete a technical or academic program in a field that is in high demand and has high wages.

(3)       Set and achieve goals that significantly reduce dropout rates and raise high school and college retention, certification, and degree completion rates.

(4)       Enable students who complete these programs to pass employer exams, if applicable.

(d)       Cooperative innovative high school programs that offer accelerated learning programs shall:

(1)       Provide a flexible, customized program of instruction for students who would benefit from accelerated, higher level coursework or early graduation from high school.

(2)       Enable students to obtain a high school diploma in less than four years, to begin or complete an associate degree program, to master a certificate or vocational program, or to earn up to two years of college credit.

(3)       Offer a college preparatory academic core and in‑depth studies in a career or technical field that will lead to advanced programs or employment opportunities in engineering, health sciences, or teaching.

(e)       Cooperative innovative high school programs may include the creation of a school within a school, a technical high school, or a high school or technical center located on the campus of a college or university.

(f)        Students are eligible to attend these programs as early as ninth grade. (2003‑277, s. 2; 2005‑276, s. 7.33(a).)