FAQ & Updates

Common Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

In summer 2020, the North Carolina Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (NCACTE) was approached by the NC Department of Public Instruction to initiate work on a common Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that could be used by school systems (also known as Public School Units or PSUs) and educator preparation programs (EPPs). This was created in the hopes of simplifying the creation of an MOU for PSUs and EPPs across North Carolina. It is important to note that these documents (see below) are a resource and are not mandated for use. 

Cover Letter MOU (introduction and instructions)

Common MOU (editable document)

EPP Dashboard Webinar Questions 

Click on the link above to learn more about the upcoming EPP Dashboard.

Student Complaint Form 

According to § 115C-269.55., the State Board of Education shall adopt and establish a process for students to report an alleged violation by an Educator Preparation Program (EPP). This form provides explicit instructions for this process and the form in which a student may file that complaint. 

Policy and Legislative Updates

The following summarizes recent State Board of Education policies and rules and North Carolina General Assembly legislation that may be helpful to assist Educator Preparation Programs and Institutions of Higher Education. For complete lists of all policies and legislation, please refer to the State Board of Education Policy Manual and the North Carolina General Assembly website. For rules, use the link below to visit the Administrative Code webpage.

Key Website Links:

State Board of Education Rules in the Administrative Code

• Current rules approved on September 17, 2020 
  • NCAC .06C .0334-.0397 

State Board of Education Policy Manual

• Key areas of reference for EPPs and IHEs will likely be:
  • TCED – Teacher Education
  • LICN – Licensure

North Carolina General Assembly

For a list of all approved EPPs in North Carolina and other related information, please go to the Approved Programs tab on this website.

Link to NCGA for Session Law 2017-189, Excellent Educator in Every Classroom (aka Senate Bill 599)

Educator Preparation Program Area Updates

NC Student Support Personnel & Administrative Programs List

Teaching Programs 

At the July 2018 State Board of Education (SBE) meeting, updates to the SBE policies that inform pathways for licensure of teaching areas contained in LICN-001: General Licensure Requirements were approved. Please refer to the SBE Policy Manual to obtain the full copy of this updated policy. The legislative reference for this policy is Session Law 2017-189, Senate Bill 599. The short title of this law is Excellent Educators for Every Classroom. This law may be found on the North Carolina General Assembly website.

For additional information about pathways to licensure, please refer to the Licensure section of this website.

School Counselor Programs

The provisional licensure requirements for School Counseling was approved for revisions at the July 2018 State Board of Education (SBE) meeting. The details of provisional licensure for this student support personnel area is contained in the State Board of Education LICN-001: General Licensure Requirements policy, section 1.55.

Currently active in the NC General Assembly is House Bill 934 informs the role/work of a school counselor, school administrator, school psychologist, and school social worker in the k-12 schools. The short title of this bill is "Threat Assessment Teams". This is, "an act to codify the North Carolina center for safe schools; to require the establishment of threat assessment teams in public schools; and to establish peer-to-peer student support programs."

School Administrator Programs

All approved Educator Preparation Programs who offer a School Administrator training program (degree or licensing/add-on) of specific curriculum requirements that must be satisfied in compliance with State Board of Education Policy TCED-015: School Administrator Preparation Programs. Reference the complete policy for all details required. Please review your program’s curriculum and specific courses to ensure that these requirements are clearly met. If modifications are required, begin this process immediately within your institutional system to request and approve changes to courses and/or curriculums. Make note of all program and curriculum updates as that information will also be needed as a part of your program/licensure area renewal process required by the NCDPI.

Currently active in the NC General Assembly is House Bill 934 informs the role/work of a school counselor, school administrator, school psychologist, and school social worker in the k-12 schools. The short title of this bill is “Threat Assessment Teams”. This is, “an act to codify the North Carolina center for safe schools; to require the establishment of threat assessment teams in public schools; and to establish peer-to-peer student support programs.”

School Psychology Programs

Currently active in the NC General Assembly is House Bill 933. The short title of this bill is “Reciprocity/School Psychologist Licensure”. This is “an act directing the state board of education to grant a license to practice as a school psychologist to any individual who holds the nationally certified school psychologist credential establishing a psychological inter-jurisdictional compact (PSCYPACT), allowing insurers to provide stop-loss insurance to small business, and allowing certain nonprofit organization to sponsor self-funded health benefit plans.”

Currently active in the NC General Assembly is House Bill 934 informs the role/work of a school counselor, school administrator, school psychologist, and school social worker in the k-12 schools. The short title of this bill is “Threat Assessment Teams”. This is, “an act to codify the North Carolina center for safe schools; to require the establishment of threat assessment teams in public schools; and to establish peer-to-peer student support programs.”

School Social Work Programs

Currently active in the NC General Assembly is House Bill 934 informs the role/work of a school counselor, school administrator, school psychologist, and school social worker in the k-12 schools. The short title of this bill is “Threat Assessment Teams”. This is, “an act to codify the North Carolina center for safe schools; to require the establishment of threat assessment teams in public schools; and to establish peer-to-peer student support programs.”