reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.53 - Operation of cooperative innovative high schools.

§ 115C-238.53. Operation of cooperative innovative high schools.
(a) A cooperative innovative high school approved by the State is accountable to the local board of education.
(b) A cooperative innovative high school approved under this Part shall operate under the terms of a written agreement signed by the local board of education, local board of trustees, State Board of Education, and applicable governing Board. The agreement shall incorporate the information provided in the application, as modified during the approval process, and any terms and conditions imposed on the school by the State Board of Education and the applicable governing Board. The agreement may be for a term of no longer than five school years.
(c) A cooperative innovative high school may be operated in a facility owned or leased by the local board of education, the local board of trustees, or the education partner, if any.
(d) A cooperative innovative high school approved under this Part shall do the following:
(1) Provide instruction each school year for at least 185 days or 1,025 instructional hours during nine calendar months, and may include the use of remote instruction in accordance with G.S. 115C-84.3. The requirements of G.S. 115C-84.2 shall not apply to the school calendar of a program approved under this Part.
(2) Comply with laws and policies relating to the education of students with disabilities.
(3) Comply with Article 27 of this Chapter.
(e) A cooperative innovative high school approved under this Part may use State, federal, and local funds allocated to the local school administrative unit, to the applicable governing Board, and to the partner institution of higher education to implement its program. If there is an education partner and if it is a public body, the cooperative innovative high school may use State, federal, and local funds allocated to that body.
(f) Except as provided in this Part and under the terms of the agreement, cooperative innovative high schools:
(1) Shall have the same exemptions from statutes and rules as charter schools operating under Article 14A of this Chapter, other than those pertaining to personnel.
(2) May be exempted by the State Board of Education or by the applicable governing Board from laws and rules applicable to a local board of education, a local school administrative unit, a community college, a constituent institution, or a local board of trustees. (2003-277, s. 2; 2005-276, s. 7.33(a); 2010-182, s. 1; 2012-142, ss. 7.11(e), 7A.11(c); 2012-145, s. 2.5; 2014-101, s. 7; 2021-130, s. 3(d); 2022-59, s. 1(b); 2022-74, s. 7.13(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.55 - Evaluation of cooperative innovative high schools.

§ 115C-238.55. Evaluation of cooperative innovative high schools.
The State Board of Education and the governing Boards shall evaluate the success of students in cooperative innovative high schools approved under this Part. Success shall be measured by high school retention rates, high school completion rates, high school dropout rates, certification and associate degree completion, admission to four-year institutions, postgraduation employment in career or study-related fields, and employer satisfaction of employees who participated in and graduated from the schools. The Boards shall jointly report by March 15 of each year to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Education/Higher Education, the House Appropriations Committee on Education, and the Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly on the evaluation of these schools. The report shall be combined with the evaluation of and analysis of cost of students participating in the Career and College Promise Program required by G.S. 115D-5(x), and the Community Colleges System Office shall be responsible for submitting the combined report. (2003-277, s. 2; 2005-276, s. 7.33(a); 2009-305, s. 3; 2012-142, s. 7.11(g); 2017-102, s. 48(c); 2019-165, s. 3.3(a); 2021-180, s. 6.3(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.60 - Purpose.

§ 115C-238.60. Purpose.
(a) The purpose of this Part is to authorize local boards of education to jointly establish a regional school to serve enrolled students in two or more local school administrative units that will expand student opportunities for educational success through high quality instructional programming. Regional schools may include partnerships with other education partners, including institutions of higher education and private businesses or organizations, and shall foster, encourage, and promote the development of knowledge and skills in career clusters of critical importance to the region.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Part and Article 7B of this Chapter, a regional school is exempt from statutes and rules applicable to a local board of education or local school administrative unit. (2011-241, s. 1; 2023-106, s. 2(d).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.61 - Definitions.

§ 115C-238.61. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Part:
(1) First generation student. – A student who has no parent who has completed a two- or four-year degree.
(2) Participating units. – A local school administrative unit whose local board of education has adopted a resolution to create a regional school that has been approved by the State Board of Education.
(3) Principal. – The principal of a regional school.
(4) Regional school. – A school created pursuant to G.S. 115C-238.62 which includes all of grades nine through twelve and may include grades seven and eight.
(5) Regional school board of directors or board of directors. – The governing board of a regional school appointed pursuant to G.S. 115C-238.63. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.63 - Regional school boards of directors; appointment; terms of office.

§ 115C-238.63. Regional school boards of directors; appointment; terms of office.
(a) Appointment. – A board of directors for a regional school shall consist of the following members. Appointed members of the board of directors shall be selected for their interest in and commitment to the importance of public education to regional economic development and to the purposes of the regional school.
(1) Local boards of education. – Each participating unit shall appoint one member to the board of directors from among the membership of the local board of education. Members appointed by local boards of education shall serve terms of four years.
(2) Local superintendents. – The local superintendent of the local school administrative unit identified as the finance agent for the regional school shall serve as an ex officio member of the board of directors. One additional superintendent shall be selected from among the superintendents of the participating units by those superintendents. The additional superintendent shall serve an initial term of two years. Subsequent appointees shall serve a term of four years.
(3) Business community. – The board of directors for the chamber of commerce of the county in which the regional school is located, in consultation with the North Carolina Economic Developers Association, shall appoint at least three members as representatives of the business community. At least fifty percent (50%) of the members of the board of directors for the regional school shall be representatives of the business community appointed in accordance with this subdivision. At least one of the appointees shall be a resident of the county in which the regional school is located. The appointees shall serve an initial term of two years. Subsequent appointees shall serve a term of four years.
(4) Parent Advisory Council. – The Parent Advisory Council established by G.S. 115C-238.69 shall appoint a member to the board of directors from among the Council membership. The member appointed by the Council shall serve a term of four years or until the child of the parent no longer attends the regional school.
(5) Higher education partners. – Any institution of higher education partner may appoint a representative of the institution of higher education to serve as an ex officio member of the board of directors.
(b) Vacancies. – Whenever an appointed member of the board of directors shall fail for any reason other than ill health or service in the interest of the State or nation to be present at three successive regular meetings of the board of directors, his or her place as a member of the board of directors shall be deemed vacant. Any member of the board of directors may be removed from office by the appointing authority for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office. All vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the term of office. (2011-241, s. 1; 2013-360, s. 8.20.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.64 - Board of directors; meetings; rules of procedure; officers.

§ 115C-238.64. Board of directors; meetings; rules of procedure; officers.
(a) The board of directors shall meet at least four times a year and may hold special meetings at any time at the call of the chair or upon petition addressed to the chair by a majority of the members of the board of directors. All meetings of the board of directors shall be subject to the requirements of Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(b) The board of directors shall elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its members, who shall serve a two-year term.
(c) All members of the board of directors shall be voting members except for the chair, who may vote only on matters to break a tie.
(d) The board of directors shall determine its own rules of procedure and may delegate to such committees as it may create such of its powers as it deems appropriate.
(e) Members of the board of directors shall receive such per diem compensation and necessary travel and subsistence expenses while engaged in the discharge of their official duties as is provided by law for members of State boards and commissions. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.65 - Board of directors; corporate powers.

§ 115C-238.65. Board of directors; corporate powers.
(a) The board of directors of the regional school shall be known and distinguished by the name of "The ____________ Regional School Board of Directors" and shall continue as a body politic and corporate and by that name shall have perpetual succession and a common seal. It shall be able and capable in law to take, demand, receive, and possess all moneys, goods, and chattels that shall be given for the use of the regional school, and to apply to same according to the will of the donors; and by gift, purchase, or devise to receive, possess, enjoy, and retain forever any and all real and personal estate and funds, of whatsoever kind, nature, or quality the same may be, in special trust and confidence that the same, or the profits thereof, shall be applied to and for the use and purpose of establishing and endowing the regional school, and shall have power to receive donations from any source whatsoever, to be devoted exclusively to the purposes of the maintenance of the regional school, or according to the terms of the donation.
(b) The board of directors shall be able and capable in law to bargain, sell, grant, alien, or dispose of and convey and assure to the purchasers any and all such real and personal estate and funds as it may lawfully acquire when the condition of the grant to it or the will of the devisor does not forbid it; and shall be able and capable in law to sue and be sued in all courts whatsoever; and shall have power to open and receive subscriptions; and in general may do all such things as are usually done by bodies corporate and politic, or such as may be necessary for the promotion of learning and virtue. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.67 - Student admissions and assignment.

§ 115C-238.67. Student admissions and assignment.
(a) Residency Requirement. – A student shall be domiciled in a participating unit to be eligible to attend the regional school. A student's eligibility to remain enrolled in the regional school shall terminate at the end of any school year during which a student ceases to satisfy the residency requirements.
(b) Participating Unit Allotments. – The number of student seats in the freshman class of the regional school shall be assigned proportionate to the total student population of the participating units, as determined by the participating unit's final average daily membership in the preceding school year. If fewer students residing in a participating unit elect to attend the regional school than available allotted seats, the remaining seats shall be divided proportionally among the other participating units.
(c) Admissions Criteria. – The board of directors shall establish criteria, standards, and procedures for admission of students. The admission criteria may give priority to first generation students and shall include the following:
(1) Demonstrated academic achievement.
(2) Demonstrated student interest in attendance.
(3) Documented parental support for student attendance.
(d) Lottery. – If the number of eligible students meeting the board of directors' admission criteria exceeds the seats available through the participating unit allotment, students shall be accepted by lot. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.69 - Parent Advisory Council; purpose; appointments.

§ 115C-238.69. Parent Advisory Council; purpose; appointments.
(a) Purpose. – There shall be a Parent Advisory Council to serve as a resource and provide input to the board of directors as to the operation of a regional school. The board of directors shall consult the Parent Advisory Council when considering changes to the regional school's operations that may significantly impact students attending the regional school.
(b) Appointment. – Each local board of education of the participating units shall appoint two members to the Parent Advisory Council for a term of four years or until the member's child no longer attends the regional school. Appointees shall be parents or guardians of students attending the regional school and shall, to the extent possible, reflect the demographic composition of the participating units. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.70 - State and local funds.

§ 115C-238.70. State and local funds.
(a) The State Board of Education shall allocate to a regional school:
(1) An amount equal to the average per pupil allocation for average daily membership from the participating unit allotments for each child attending the regional school, except for the allocation for children with disabilities and for the allocation for children with limited English proficiency.
(2) An additional amount for each child attending the regional school who is a child with disabilities. In the event a child with disabilities leaves the regional school and enrolls in a public school during the first 60 school days in the school year, the regional school shall return a pro rata amount of funds allocated for that child to the State Board, and the State Board shall reallocate those funds to the local school administrative unit in which the public school is located. In the event a child with disabilities enrolls in the regional school during the first 60 school days in the school year, the State Board shall allocate to the regional school the pro rata amount of additional funds for children with disabilities.
(3) An additional amount for children with limited English proficiency attending the regional school, based on a formula adopted by the State Board.
(4) If the regional school has a final total average daily membership of 100 or more students, an amount to fund 12 months of employment for the school principal position.
(b) The State Board shall allow for annual adjustments to the amount allocated to the regional school based on its enrollment growth in school years subsequent to the initial year of operation.
(c) For each child who enrolls in the regional school, the participating unit in which the child resides shall transfer to the regional school an amount equal to the per pupil amount of all money appropriated to the local current expense fund for the participating unit for the fiscal year. The amount transferred under this subsection that consists of revenue derived from supplemental taxes shall be transferred only if the child enrolled in the regional school resides in that tax district.
(d) A regional school may request appropriations directly from a city, as authorized by G.S. 160A-700.
(e) With respect to the receipt, deposit, and disbursement of moneys (i) required by law to be deposited with the State Treasurer or (ii) made available for expenditure by warrants drawn on the State Treasurer, regional schools are subject to Article 6A of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes. (2011-241, s. 1; 2013-363, s. 3.5; 2018-5, s. 38.8(e); 2021-170, s. 4(d).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.71 - Finance and budget.

§ 115C-238.71. Finance and budget.
(a) The local school administrative unit identified as the finance agent by resolution pursuant to G.S. 115C-238.62 shall be the finance agent for the Board and shall have all the rights, duties, and obligations for receipt, accounting, and dispersing funds for the board of directors, including all the rights, duties, and obligations specified in Article 31 of this Chapter, which powers shall be exercised by the identified local school administrative unit for and on behalf of the board of directors. The board of directors shall provide reasonable compensation to the local school administrative unit for this service.
(b) No later than 10 days after the money is appropriated to the local current expense fund, each local board of education of a participating unit shall transfer to the board of directors the amount required under G.S. 115C-238.70(c) for each child enrolled in the school who resides in that participating unit. Once it has received funds from the local board of education, the board of directors shall be under no obligation to return the funds. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.72 - Participating units.

§ 115C-238.72. Participating units.
(a) Transportation. – Participating units shall develop a plan to provide transportation to the students domiciled in the district.
(b) Food Service. – The local school administrative unit identified by resolution shall provide, to the extent practicable, school food services to the regional school. For purposes of federal funding through the National School Lunch Program or other federally supported food service programs, the local school administrative unit identified by resolution shall be permitted to include eligible students enrolled in the regional school. Other participating units shall not include students enrolled in the regional school for purposes of federally supported food service programs. (2011-241, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.80 - Definitions.

§ 115C-238.80. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Part:
(1) ADM. – Average daily membership.
(2) NCVPS. – The North Carolina Virtual Public School program, as established by this Part.
(3) Nonpublic school student. – A student enrolled in a school that meets the requirements of Part 1, 2, or 3 of Article 39 of this Chapter as identified by the Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration.
(4) Out-of-state student. – A student who is not qualified to be assigned to a public school in a local school administrative unit in North Carolina pursuant to G.S. 115C-366. (2019-51, s. 2.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.81 - Administration of the North Carolina Virtual Public School program.

§ 115C-238.81. Administration of the North Carolina Virtual Public School program.
(a) NCVPS shall be administered by the Department of Public Instruction in accordance with this Part. NCVPS is not a public school unit, as defined in G.S. 115C-5(11).
(b) NCVPS shall be responsible for the following:
(1) Ensuring access to e-learning course offerings for students residing in rural and low-wealth public school units, in order to expand available instructional opportunities.
(2) Providing e-learning instructional opportunities for courses required as part of the standard course of study for high school graduation and for Advanced Placement (AP) offerings when not otherwise available to students.
(3) Establishing NCVPS course quality standards that meet the standards set by the State Board of Education.
(4) Aligning all courses offered through NCVPS with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
(c) Within funds available, NCVPS shall provide NCVPS courses at no cost to all students in North Carolina who are enrolled in North Carolina's public school units, Department of Defense schools, schools operated by The University of North Carolina under Articles 4 and 29 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(d) NCVPS courses shall be available to nonpublic school students and out-of-state students. The State Board of Education shall establish a separate per-student, per-course tuition for nonpublic school students and out-of-state students which shall be adjusted upward from the in-State student fee structure by an amount determined appropriate by the State Board of Education.
(e) NCVPS shall implement a plan, approved by the State Board of Education, to generate revenue from the sale of courses to out-of-state educational entities. Revenue generated by NCVPS under this subsection shall be used to offset instructional costs to public school units pursuant to G.S. 115C-238.82(d)(3). (2019-51, s. 2.1; 2020-56, s. 6(c).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.83 - NCVPS Advisory Council.

§ 115C-238.83. NCVPS Advisory Council.
The State Board of Education shall establish the NCVPS Advisory Council to review NCVPS strategic planning, operational initiatives, and readiness for twenty-first century online learning. The membership of the Advisory Council, as appointed by the State Board of Education, shall consist of key stakeholders across the State with expertise in online learning from a variety of fields, including elementary and secondary education, business, universities and colleges, and the community at large. (2019-51, s. 2.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.84 - NCVPS reporting requirements.

§ 115C-238.84. NCVPS reporting requirements.
The Department of Public Instruction shall submit an annual report on the operation of NCVPS to the State Board of Education no later than December 15 of each year. The report shall use data from the previous fiscal year and shall include statistics on actual versus projected costs to public school units, student enrollment, virtual teacher salaries, and measures of academic achievement. (2019-51, s. 2.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 16 - Optional Programs. › § 115C-238.85 - Other virtual education providers.

§ 115C-238.85. Other virtual education providers.
Local school administrative units may partner with eligible providers other than NCVPS for e-learning opportunities. Eligible providers shall meet all of the following:
(1) Be accredited by a regional accrediting agency such as, but not limited to, AdvancEd or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
(2) Employ teachers who hold teaching licenses from states that participate in the NASDTEC Educator Identification Clearinghouse.
(3) Ensure that courses offered to North Carolina students are aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. (2019-51, s. 2.1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-239 - Authority of local boards of education.

§ 115C-239. Authority of local boards of education.
Each local board of education is hereby authorized to acquire, own, lease, contract and operate school buses for the transportation of pupils enrolled in the public schools of such local school administrative unit, and of persons employed in the operation of such schools in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Education under the authority of G.S. 115C-12(17) and within the limitations set forth in G.S. 115C-239 to 115C-246, 115C-248 to 115C-254 and 115C-256 to 115C-259. Boards of education which own and operate school buses for the transportation of pupils shall have authority to establish separate systems of transportation for pupils attending elementary schools and for pupils attending middle schools, junior high schools, or senior high schools. Each such board may operate such buses to and from such of the schools within the local school administrative unit, and in such number, as the board shall from time to time find practicable and appropriate for the safe, orderly and efficient transportation of such pupils and employees to such schools. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 1; 1973, c. 586, s. 1; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1983, c. 630, s. 2; 2001-97, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-241 - Assignment of school buses to schools.

§ 115C-241. Assignment of school buses to schools.
The superintendent of the schools of each local school administrative unit which shall elect to operate a school bus transportation system, shall, prior to the commencement of each regular school year and subject to the approval of the local board of education, allocate and assign to the respective public schools within the jurisdiction of such local school administrative unit the school buses which the local board shall own and direct to be operated during such school year. From time to time during such school year, subject to the directions of the local board of education, the superintendent may revise such allocation and assignment of school buses in accordance with the changing transportation needs and conditions at the respective schools of such local school administrative unit, and may, pursuant to such revision, assign an additional bus or buses to a school or withdraw a bus or buses from a school in such local school administrative unit. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-242.1 - Installation and operation of automated school bus safety camera.

§ 115C-242.1. Installation and operation of automated school bus safety camera.
(a) Definition. – An "automated school bus safety camera" is a device that is affixed to a school bus, as that term is used in G.S. 20-217, that is synchronized to automatically record photographs or video of a vehicle at the time the vehicle is detected for a violation of (i) G.S. 20-217 or (ii) an ordinance adopted under G.S. 153A-246.
(b) Installation and Operation. – Automated school bus safety cameras may be installed and operated on any school bus operated by a local board of education within a county that has adopted an ordinance under G.S. 153A-246 as follows:
(1) A local board of education may install and operate automated school bus safety cameras without contracting with a private vendor.
(2) A local board of education may enter into a service contract to install and operate automated school bus safety cameras with a private vendor. Contracts shall be let in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143-129 applicable to purchases of apparatus, supplies, materials, or equipment. The maximum length of any contract entered into under this subdivision shall be three years. A contract entered into under this subdivision may contain an option to renew or extend the contract for only one additional term not to exceed three years.
(3) Upon request by one or more local boards of education, the State Board of Education shall enter into a contract for a statewide service or contracts for regional services to install and operate automated school bus safety cameras with a private vendor. These contracts shall be let in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.
(c) Interlocal Agreements. – Any local board of education, board of county commissioners, and law enforcement agency may enter into an interlocal agreement pursuant to Part 1 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes that is necessary and proper to effectuate the purpose and intent of this section and G.S. 153A-246. Any agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection may include provisions on cost-sharing and reimbursement to which the local board of education, board of county commissioners, or law enforcement agency freely and voluntarily agree for the purposes of effectuating this section and G.S. 153A-246.
(d) Evidence in Criminal Proceeding. – Any photographs or videos recorded by an automated school bus safety camera that capture a violation of G.S. 20-217 shall also be provided to the investigating law enforcement agency for use as evidence in any proceeding alleging a violation of G.S. 20-217. (2017-188, s. 2.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-246 - School bus routes.

§ 115C-246. School bus routes.
(a) The superintendent of the local school administrative unit shall, prior to the commencement of each regular school year, prepare a plan for a definite route, including stops for receiving and discharging pupils, for each school bus so as to assure the most efficient use of such bus and the safety and convenience of the pupils assigned thereto. The superintendent may, in his discretion, obtain the advice of the State Board of Education with reference to the plan. The buses shall be operated upon the route so established and not otherwise, except as provided in this Article. From time to time the principal may suggest changes in any such bus route as he shall deem proper for the said purposes, and the same shall be effective when approved by the superintendent of the local school administrative unit.
(b) Unless road or other conditions make it inadvisable, public school buses shall be routed on state-maintained highways, municipal streets, or other streets with publicly dedicated right-of-way. The local board of education shall not be responsible for damage to the roadway. Each public school bus shall be routed so that the bus passes within one mile of the residence of each pupil assigned to that bus. A pupil who lives one and one-half miles or more from the school to which the pupil is assigned shall be eligible for school bus transportation.
(c) All bus routes when established pursuant to this section shall be filed in the office of the board of education of the local school administrative unit, and all changes made therein shall be filed in the office of such board within 10 days after such change shall become effective.
(d) Repealed by Session Laws 1985 (Regular Session, 1986), c. 975, s. 24.
(e) No provision of this Article shall be construed to place upon the State, or upon any county or city, any duty to supply any funds for the transportation of pupils, or any duty to supply funds for the transportation of pupils who live within the corporate limits of the city or town in which is located the public school in which such pupil is enrolled or to which such pupil is assigned, even though transportation to or from such school is furnished to pupils who live outside the limits of such city or town. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 7; 1959, c. 573, s. 15; 1963, c. 990, ss. 2, 3; 1965, c. 1095, ss. 2, 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 24; 1987, c. 827, s. 49; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1066, s. 96(b); 2005-151, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-247 - Purchase of activity buses by local boards.

§ 115C-247. Purchase of activity buses by local boards.
The several local boards of education in the State are hereby authorized and empowered to take title to school buses purchased with local or community funds for the purpose of transporting pupils to and from athletic events and for other local school activity purposes, and commonly referred to as activity buses.
Each local board of education that operates activity buses shall adopt a policy relative to the proper use of the vehicles. The policy shall permit the use of these buses for travel to athletic events during the regular season and playoffs and for travel to other school-sponsored activities.
The provisions of G.S. 115C-42 shall be fully applicable to the ownership and operation of such activity school buses. Activity buses may also be used as provided in G.S. 115C-243. (1955, c. 1256; 1957, c. 685; 1959, c. 573, s. 2; 1961, c. 1102, s. 4; 1977, 2nd Sess., c. 1280, s. 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 2006-208, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-249.1 - Purchase of tires for school buses; repair or refurbishment of tires for school buses.

§ 115C-249.1. Purchase of tires for school buses; repair or refurbishment of tires for school buses.
(a) Definitions. – The following terms apply in this section:
(1) Critical tire information. – Tire brand name, tire line name, tire identification numbers, load and pressure markings, tire size designation, service descriptions such as load and speed ratings, and other information and specifications placed on the original tire sidewall by the original tire manufacturer.
(2) School bus. – A vehicle as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)m. and G.S. 20-4.01(27)n. that is owned, rented, or leased by a local board of education.
(b) Forensic Tire Standards. – In order to preserve critical tire information, a local board of education shall procure and install for school buses only tires that possess the original, unaltered, and uncovered tire sidewall. Furthermore, a local board of education shall not execute a contract for the repair or refurbishment of tires for school buses that provides for the removal, covering, or other alteration in any manner of the critical tire information contained on the original tire sidewall.
(c) Tire Purchase and Contract Standards Applicability. – All contracts for the purchase, repair, or refurbishment of tires for school buses, or contracts for the purchase of products or services related to the repair or refurbishment of tires for school buses, executed on or after the date this section becomes effective shall comply with the provisions of this section.
(d) Exemption. – Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a local board of education that owns or has a legally binding contract in place for the future purchase of tires having altered or covered sidewalls prior to the date that this section becomes effective shall perform its existing contractual obligations related thereto and may continue to use those tires on school buses for the useful life of the retreaded tire. (2011-145, s. 28.36(b); 2017-102, s. 5.2(b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-250 - Authority to expend funds for transportation of children with disabilities.

§ 115C-250. Authority to expend funds for transportation of children with disabilities.
(a) The State Board of Education and local boards of education may expend public funds for transportation of children with disabilities who are unable because of their disability to ride the regular school buses and who have been placed in programs by a local school board as a part of its duty to provide these children with a free appropriate education under Article 9 of this Chapter. At the option of the local board of education with the concurrence of the State Board of Education, funds appropriated to the State Board of Education for contract transportation of children with disabilities may be used to purchase buses and minibuses as well as for the purposes authorized in the budget. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules concerning the construction and equipment of these buses and minibuses.
The Departments of Health and Human Services and Public Safety may also expend public funds for transportation of children with disabilities who are unable because of their disability to ride the regular school buses and who have been placed in programs by one of these agencies as a part of that agency's duty to provide these children with a free appropriate public education under Article 9 of this Chapter.
If a local area mental health center places a child with a disability in an educational program, the local area mental health center shall pay for the transportation of the child who is unable due to the disability to ride the regular school buses to the program.
(b) Funds appropriated for the transportation of children with disabilities may be used to pay transportation safety assistants employed in accordance with G.S. 115C-245(e) for buses to which children with disabilities are assigned. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 6; 1973, c. 1351, s. 1; 1975, c. 678, ss. 9, 10; 1977, c. 830, s. 1; 1979, c. 719, ss. 1-4; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1156; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; c. 912, s. 1; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1282, s. 31; 1985, c. 479, s. 26(b); 1987, c. 769; 1997-443, s. 11A.118(a); 1998-202, s. 4(n); 2000-137, s. 4(q); 2006-69, s. 3(h); 2017-186, s. 2(ccccc).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-251 - Transportation supervisors.

§ 115C-251. Transportation supervisors.
The State Board of Education shall from time to time adopt such rules and regulations with regard to the qualifications of persons employed by local boards of education as chief mechanic or supervisor of transportation as it shall deem necessary or desirable for the purpose of assuring the proper maintenance and safety of school buses. A local board of education shall not employ any person as chief mechanic or supervisor of transportation if that person does not meet the qualifications established by the State Board. (1977, c. 314; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-252 - Aid in lieu of transportation.

§ 115C-252. Aid in lieu of transportation.
(a) When, by reason of road conditions or otherwise, any local board of education, which shall elect to operate a school bus transportation system, shall find it impracticable to furnish to a pupil transportation by school bus to the school in which such pupil is enrolled, or to which such pupil is assigned, the board may assign such pupil to such other school within such local school administrative unit as the board shall deem advisable, unless the parent or guardian of such pupil or the person standing in loco parentis to such pupil, shall notify the principal of the school, in which such pupil is enrolled or to which such pupil is assigned, of the desire of such pupil to continue to attend such school without the benefit of transportation by school bus.
(b) In the event that any local board of education, which shall operate a system of school bus transportation, shall find it impracticable to furnish to a pupil such transportation to the school in which such pupil is enrolled or to which such pupil is assigned, and if, as a result thereof, such pupil shall be required to obtain board and lodging at a place other than the residence of such pupil in order to attend a school, such board may, in its discretion, provide for the payment to the parent or guardian of such pupil of a sum not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per month for each school month that such pupil shall so obtain board and lodging at a place other than the residence of the pupil for the purpose of attending a school. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 10; 1973, c. 932; 1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-253 - Contracts for transportation.

§ 115C-253. Contracts for transportation.
Any local board of education may, in lieu of the operation by it of public school buses, enter into a contract with any person, firm or corporation for the transportation by such person, firm or corporation of pupils enrolled in the public schools of such local school administrative unit for the same purposes for which such local school administrative unit is authorized by this Article to operate public school buses. Any vehicle used by such person, firm or corporation for the transportation of such pupils shall be constructed and equipped as provided in rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education, and the driver of such vehicle shall possess all of the qualifications prescribed by rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. Where a contract for transportation of pupils is entered into between a local board of education and any person, firm or corporation which contemplates the use of an automobile or vehicle other than a bus for the transportation of 16 pupils or less, the automobile or vehicle shall not be required to be constructed and equipped as provided for in G.S. 115C-240(c), but shall be constructed and equipped pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education. In the event that any local board of education shall enter into such a contract, the board may use for such purposes any funds which it might use for the operation of school buses owned by the board, and the tax-levying authorities of the county or of the city may provide in the county or city budget such additional funds as may be necessary to carry out such contracts. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 11; 1975, c. 382; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1987, c. 827, ss. 49, 50; 2007-423, s. 3.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-254 - Use of school buses by State defense militia or North Carolina National Guard.

§ 115C-254. Use of school buses by State defense militia or North Carolina National Guard.
When requested to do so by the Governor, the board of education of any local school administrative unit is authorized and directed to furnish a sufficient number of school buses to the North Carolina State Defense Militia or the North Carolina National Guard for the purpose of transporting members of the State defense militia or members of the North Carolina National Guard to and from authorized places of encampment, or to and from places to which members of the State defense militia or members of the North Carolina National Guard are ordered to proceed for the purpose of suppressing riots or insurrections, repelling invasions or dealing with any other emergency. Public school buses so furnished by any local school administrative unit to the State defense militia or the North Carolina National Guard shall be operated by members or employees of the State defense militia or North Carolina National Guard, and all expense of such operation, including any repair or replacement of any bus occasioned by such operation, shall be paid by the State from the appropriations available for the use of the State defense militia or the North Carolina National Guard. (1955, c. 1372, art. 21, s. 12; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1999-456, s. 33(e); 2009-281, s. 1; 2011-183, s. 77.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-255 - Liability insurance and waiver of immunity as to certain acts of bus drivers.

§ 115C-255. Liability insurance and waiver of immunity as to certain acts of bus drivers.
The securing of liability insurance and the waiver of immunity as to certain torts of school bus drivers, school transportation service vehicle drivers and school activity bus drivers, is subject to the provisions of G.S. 115C-42, except when such vehicles are operated with funds from the State Public School Fund. (1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-256 - School bus drivers under Workers' Compensation Act.

§ 115C-256. School bus drivers under Workers' Compensation Act.
Awards to school bus drivers under the Workers' Compensation Act shall be made pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 115C-337(b). (1981, c. 423, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-257 - Attorney General to pay claims.

§ 115C-257. Attorney General to pay claims.
The Attorney General is hereby authorized to pay reasonable medical expenses, not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000), incurred within one year from the date of accident to or for each pupil who sustains bodily injury or death caused by accident, while boarding, riding on, or alighting from a school bus operated by any local school administrative unit. (1955, c. 1372, art. 22, s. 1; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; c. 576, s. 1; 1998-212, s. 9.17(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-258 - Provisions regarding payment.

§ 115C-258. Provisions regarding payment.
The claims authorized herein may be paid, regardless of whether the injury received by the pupil was due to negligence on the part of the school bus driver, the injured pupil, or any other person. To the extent of payments made under this Article, the Attorney General shall be subrogated to the right of the pupil against any third party legally responsible for the injury. Further, any amounts paid shall constitute a credit against any obligation arising under the provisions of the Tort Claims Act. (1955, c. 1372, art. 22, s. 2; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; c. 576, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-259 - Claims must be filed within one year.

§ 115C-259. Claims must be filed within one year.
The right to payment as authorized herein shall be forever barred unless a claim be filed with the Attorney General within one year after the accident. (1955, c. 1372, art. 22, s. 3; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; c. 576, s. 1.)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 115C - Elementary and Secondary Education › Article 17 - Supporting Services. › § 115C-262 - Liability insurance and tort liability.

§ 115C-262. Liability insurance and tort liability.
Liability insurance and tort liability of local boards of education for actions arising out of activities conducted pursuant to this Part, are subject to the provisions of G.S. 115C-42. (1981, c. 423, s. 1.)