Before reading this material, it would be helpful for you
to first read the State of NC Private School Requirements.

Are health certificates required of non-public school teachers and other school staff?  No, provided the school does not operate a pre-kindergarten program.  However, non-public schools are encouraged to voluntarily require them initially for each new school staff member.  Read the North Carolina Attorney General's legal opinion on this subject (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view this legal opinion).  The current public school staff health certificate statutory requirement is found in G.S. 115C-323.

Are non-public school teachers and administrators required to be licensed by the NC Department of Public Instruction or State Board of Education?  No; each individual non-public school establishes its own qualifications for its faculty and administrative staff.

How does a NC non-public school head have a criminal background check run on a NC non-public school employee?  A criminal background check can be obtained only through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in Raleigh.  Contact Yvonne at (919) 662-4509, extension 6366.  A statewide only record check will usually cost about $15 per person while both a state and a federal criminal record check will usually cost the NC non-public school about $40 per person.  Non-public school chief administrators are strongly encouraged to run a criminal background check initially on each new school employee.

How does a NC non-public school head seek recognition to obtain CEU credit toward NC teacher license renewal for his/her teaching/administrative staff?  Call the Chief of the Teacher Licensure Section of the NC Department of Public Instruction, at (919) 807-3310 or toll-free within NC only at (800) 577-7994.

Is there a statutory requirement binding on non-public school administrators and staff about reporting suspected abuse or neglect of a juvenile; and, if so, is there a penalty for failure to report it?  Reporting it is required; but, the decision to enforce any criminal statute is always left to the discretion and jurisdiction of the local District Attorney and the Attorney General’s Office.  G.S. 14-318.2 addresses penalties for abuse.  G.S. 7B-301 requires all persons and institutions to report any "cause to suspect" abuse or neglect of juveniles.  Therefore, DNPE recommends that the non-public school administrator immediately contact the Director of the Department of Social Services in the NC county where the juvenile resides or is presently located.  It is further recommended that the non-public school consider including a statement to this effect in its parent handbook, in case the need ever arises for the school to report such information to local authorities.  For additional information, see G.S. 7B-101 (which defines abuse) as well as G.S. 7B-302 and 7B-303.

Must non-public school teachers follow the Public Schools of NC student promotion and retention policies?  No.  North Carolina’s non-public school statutes do not address this topic.  Therefore, private K-12 schools in North Carolina are free to make their own final decisions regarding whether a student is promoted to the next grade level or retained.  G.S. 115C-554 exempts them from all public school promotion/retention policies.

Where do I learn more about the Public Schools of NC Teacher Licensure Program?  By simply clicking here.

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