Many schools across North Carolina have been using online instruction methods for weeks now. But many questions still surround how remote learning will impact students’ grades, ability to retain information and growth.

Orange County state representative Graig Meyer is on North Carolina’s House Education Committee. He recently shared an update from the group’s virtual meeting last Tuesday about the potential bills being considered to address some of those concerns.

“We talked about a proposal to let schools use textbook money to pay for digital learning and a proposal that would delay the law that would cause K-3 class sizes to shrink,” he said on his Facebook page. “We went through ton of waivers for different education regulations.”

Meyer also said the grades given to schools based on student performance and that determine schools’ rankings might also not be given out this year, depending on whether the proposed legislation passes.

“There will be no new schools as low-performing by the state since we don’t have any assessment of them this year,” he added.

The proposed legislation discussed at the House Education Committee meeting also included some actions to directly help students and teachers as well, according to Meyer. Principals may determine whether to retain or promote third graders instead of their performances on the End of Grade tests dictating so. In addition, high schooler seniors without their CPR certification may not be required to get it and teachers might get a year extension to complete their evaluations for license renewal.

Meyer has been sharing regular updates over livestream on his Facebook page, typically  starting at 7 p.m. Click here to see more posts from the District 50 representative.

Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

Note: 97.9 The Hill has been Chapel Hill and Orange County’s daily source for free local news since 1953. Please consider making a donation to continue supporting important local journalism like this.

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