16 NCAC 06C .0379         One-Year Extension Process for Coursework Requirements to Fulfill Licensure Requirements

A Local Education Agency (LEA) may apply to the State Board of Education for a one-year extension of time to satisfy State licensure requirements for an individual who, due to extenuating circumstances, has not completed the course work required to maintain a license. The application for this extenuating circumstance shall include the documentation set forth in this Rule.

(1)           A document, signed by the individual, which includes:

(a)           a description of the extenuating circumstances that the teacher claims prevented him or her from satisfying the requirements for licensure;

(b)           a request for an extension of his or her license for one additional year to complete the course work required to maintain a license; and

(c)           an acknowledgment that the teacher understands that the materials submitted to the State Board of Education in support of his or her request are public records subject to disclosure under Chapter 132 of the North Carolina General Statutes.

(2)           Copies of medical or other documentation to support the individual's claim of extenuating circumstances.

(3)           A document, signed by the North Carolina principal who most recently supervised the individual, which includes:

(a)           the dates the principal supervised the teacher;

(b)           evidence of the individual's academic and professional preparation showing that the individual is competent to teach the standard course of study and has demonstrated the ability to implement effective educational methods that provide differentiated, individualized instruction, assessment and remediation to all his or her students;

(c)           a statement that in the principal’s opinion the teacher is competent to teach the standard course of study and has demonstrated the ability to implement effective educational methods that provide differentiated, individualized instruction, assessment and remediation to the students in his or her classroom; and

(d)           a copy of any of the individual's summative annual evaluations for the past three years.

(4)           A document, signed by the superintendent of the local school system, which includes:

(a)           a statement certifying that, based upon a review of the individual's and the principal's documentation and evidence, the superintendent believes the individual is competent to teach the standard course of study and has demonstrated the ability to implement effective educational methods that provide differentiated, individualized instruction, assessment and remediation to the students in his or her classroom;

(b)           a list of the required course work that the applicant has completed;

(c)           a description of the efforts that the local school administrative unit has made to assist the teacher to complete the required course work;

(d)           a list of the required course work that the applicant must complete to qualify for a license;

(e)           a description of the efforts that the local school administrative unit will make to assist the teacher to complete the required course work during the next year of teaching; and

(f)            a statement that the superintendent believes that the applicant is likely to complete the required course work within the one-year extension.

(5)           a document, signed by the chair of the local board of education, which includes:

(a)           a certification that the local board of education has investigated the extenuating circumstances that the teacher claims prevented him or her from completing the required coursework for a license without undue hardship;

(b)           a statement that the local board of education is satisfied that the teacher's description of the circumstances is true;

(c)           a statement that the local board of education is satisfied that, due to extenuating circumstances, the teacher could not have completed the required coursework for a license without undue hardship; and

(d)           a certification that the local board of education has approved the employment of the teacher for the next school year, subject only to the State Board of Education's decision to grant the requested one-year extension of the teacher’s provisional license.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 115C-12; 115C-268.1; 115C-268.5; 115C-270.5; 115C-270.20;

Emergency Adoption Eff. August 20, 2019;

Eff. March 17, 2021.