116-239.5. University of North Carolina laboratory schools; purpose.

(a) The Board of Governors, upon recommendation by the President, shall designate at least nine constituent institutions to submit proposals to establish laboratory schools to serve public school students in accordance with the provisions of this Article. The Board of Governors shall select constituent institutions with high-quality educator preparation programs as demonstrated by the annual performance measures reported by the constituent institutions in accordance with G.S. 115C-296.35. The Board of Governors' Subcommittee on Laboratory Schools established under G.S. 116-239.7 shall review the proposals and approve at least nine of the proposals to establish laboratory schools. The Subcommittee shall oversee the operations of those laboratory schools to meet the purposes set forth in this Article.

(b) The mission of a laboratory school shall be to improve student performance in local school administrative units with low-performing schools by providing an enhanced education program for students residing in those units and to provide exposure and training for teachers and principals to successfully address challenges existing in high-needs school settings. A laboratory school shall provide an opportunity for research, demonstration, student support, and expansion of the teaching experience and evaluation regarding management, teaching, and learning.

(c) Each laboratory school shall expand student opportunities for educational success through high-quality instructional programming and innovative instruction and research by using the resources available to the constituent institution. Each constituent institution operating a laboratory school shall incorporate best practices gained from State initiatives focused on leadership development for both teachers and principals in low-performing schools and local school administrative units.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, the Subcommittee, the chancellor of each constituent institution that operates a laboratory school, and the laboratory school are exempt from statutes and rules applicable to a local board of education or local school administrative unit.