Healthcare, Charters, and Tests

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Healthcare, Charters, and Tests

Special Report - February 18, 2011
On Wednesday, the Senate passed HB 2—“Protect Healthcare Freedom,” which would largely negate the impact of the recently passed federal healthcare reform in North Carolina. Following a spirited debate in the Senate on February 16, the measure passed 30-18. The bill now heads back to the House for concurrence after which it will be sent to Governor Perdue for her signature.

Also on Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 8—“No Cap on Number of Charter Schools,” a bill that would eliminate North Carolina’s charter school cap and institute other reforms to the state’s charter school law. As a key priority for the newly installed Republican leadership, the bill received quick action, but it has been subjected to extensive debate during the committee process. Although the bill was on the Senate calendar for Thursday, February 17, it was pulled from the floor and re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which is expected to hear the bill next week.

On Thursday, the House gave final approval to HB 48—“No Standardized Testing Unless Req’d by Feds,” a bill that, as its name suggests, eliminates any standardized test that is not required under federal legislation— namely, under No Child Left Behind. Should the bill be enacted into law, four subjects would no longer require the state end-of -course test: Physical Science, U.S. History, Algebra II, and Civics and Economics.

Two of the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Brian Holloway (R-Stokes) and Tricia Cotham (D-Mecklenburg), who are both former history teachers, argued that these tests place undue burdens on teachers and are not effective in assessing student performance. Although the bill was met with some resistance, both in committee and on the floor, HB 48 passed the House 94-13 with bipartisan support.

Related resources:
This Week at the GA - February 11, 2011
House Opts Out Healthcare Law - February 3, 2011
Healthcare Law Ruled Unconstitutional - February 1, 2011
Charter School Bill Passes - February 17, 2011
Charter Expansion Considered - February 4, 2011
House Committee Passes Health Care Bill - January 28, 2011
School Choice Events Week - January 24, 2011
House Votes To Repeal Healthcare Reform - January 20, 2011
House Passes Senate Healthcare Bill - March 22, 2010
Health Summit Yields Stalemate - March 1, 2010
Charter Regulations Score Poorly - December 2, 2010
Report Grades NC Public Schools a "D" - November 10, 2010
Charter School Checkmate - FNC - Summer 2010
Groups Say Lift Charter School Cap - January 22, 2010
Charter School Myths Debunked - January 7, 2010
Marriage Penalty in Healthcare Reform - January 14, 2010
Senate Votes to Cut Off Healthcare Debate - December 21, 2009
Senate Fails to Prohibit Abortion Funding - December 11, 2009
Pivotal Abortion Amendment in Senate - December 8, 2009
US Senate Debates Healthcare - November 20, 2009
Health Bill Passes with No Abortion - November 10, 2009
Healthcare Debate over Abortion - October 26, 2009
Charter School Model Law Proposed - September 4, 2009
Charter School Alternative: Thinking Outside The Box - FNC -November 2006