North Carolina SB 725: PED/Low-Performing School Districts.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 725

Short Title: NC Foster Care and Education Council. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Mohammed (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S725-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE FOSTER CARE AND EDUCATION COUNCIL. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
SECTION 1. Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 4
Article to read: 5
"Article 6E. 6
"Foster Care and Education Council. 7
"§ 115C-64.31. Definitions; Establishment of Foster Care and Education Council. 8
(a) The following definitions apply in this Article: 9
(1) Council. – The Foster Care and Education Council, as established by this 10
Article. 11
(2) DHHS. – Department of Health and Human Services. 12
(3) DPI. – Department of Public Instruction. 13
(4) Foster care. – 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their 14
parents and for whom the agency under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act 15
has placement and care responsibility. This includes placement in foster 16
family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, 17
residential facilities, child care institutions, and pre-adoptive homes. 18
(b) Establishment. – There is established the Foster Care and Education Council. The 19
Council is a joint council between the DPI and the DHSS. 20
"§ 115C-64.32 Membership of Foster Care and Education Council. 21
(b) Membership and appointment. – In making appointments or designating 22
representatives, appointing authorities shall use best efforts to select members or representatives 23
with sufficient knowledge and experience to effectively contribute to the issues examined by the 24
Council. The Council shall consist of 27 members as follows: 25
(1) The DPI Foster Care Point of Contact under the Elementary and Secondary 26
Education Act shall serve ex officio. 27
(2) The DHHS Education Point of Contact under the Elementary and Secondary 28
Education Act shall serve ex officio. 29
(3) The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint one representative 30
from each of the following categories or agencies: 31
a. A county child welfare agency. 32
b. A Guardian ad Litem. 33
c. Council for Children's Rights. 34
d. Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 725-First Edition
e. An individual with lived experience in the North Carolina child 1
welfare system. 2
(4) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one representative 3
from each of the following categories or agencies: 4
a. The parent training and information center established under the 5
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 6
b. The University of North Carolina School of Government faculty. 7
c. A Children's Developmental Services Agency. 8
d. The agency contracted with DHHS to operate the Children and 9
Families Specialty Plan. 10
e. Strong Able Youth Speaking Out, a nonprofit corporation doing 11
business as Sayso. 12
(5) The Governor shall appoint one representative from each of the following 13
categories or agencies: 14
a. The Administrative Office of the Courts. 15
b. The NC Office of the Parent Defender. 16
c. The Office of the Juvenile Defender. 17
d. The State Advisory Council on Indian Education. 18
e. A North Carolina district court judge with juvenile court certification. 19
(6) The State Board of Education shall appoint one representative from each of 20
the following categories or agencies: 21
a. A local board of education. 22
b. An individual with experience serving as a surrogate parent volunteer 23
through local board of education. 24
c. An individual with experience serving as a court-appointed parent 25
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 26
d. DPI's Office of Federal Programs. 27
e. DPI's Office of Exceptional Children. 28
(7) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall appoint representatives 29
from the following divisions: 30
a. Three representatives from the Division of Social Services. 31
b. One representative from the Division of Child Development and Early 32
Education. 33
c. One representative from the Division of Child and Family Well-Being. 34
(c) Terms of Office. – Members of the Council shall serve three-year terms and may be 35
reappointed. Any vacancy on the Council shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 36
appointment was made, and the term shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. The Council 37
may remove a member for misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or neglects of duty. 38
"§ 115C-64.32. Organization, meetings, and compensation. 39
(a) The Council shall elect a chair from its membership. 40
(b) A simple majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the 41
transaction of business. 42
(c) The Council shall meet at least once each quarter and may hold special meetings at 43
any time at the call of the chair or upo