As used in this Chapter unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) The State Board of Education may be referred to as the “Board” or as the “State Board.”

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Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 115C-5

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Local school administrative unit: means a subdivision of the public school system which is governed by a local board of education. See North Carolina General Statutes 115C-5
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Superintendent: means the superintendent of schools of a public school system or, in his absence, the person designated to fulfill his functions. See North Carolina General Statutes 115C-5
  • Supervisor: means a person paid on the supervisor salary schedule who supervises the instructional program in one or more schools and is under the immediate supervision of the superintendent or his designee. See North Carolina General Statutes 115C-5

(2) The governing board of a city administrative unit is “the ______  city board of education.”

(3) The governing board of a county administrative unit is “the ______  county board of education.”

(3a) (Effective until July 1, 2024) The governing body of a public school unit is the following:

a. For a local school administrative unit, the local board of education.

b. For a charter school, the nonprofit corporation board of directors.

c. For a regional school, the regional school board of directors.

d. For a school operated under Article 9C of this Chapter, the State Board of Education.

e. For a school operated under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., the chancellor of the constituent institution.

(3a) (Effective July 1, 2024) The governing body of a public school unit is the following:

a. For a local school administrative unit, the local board of education.

b. For a charter school, the nonprofit corporation board of directors.

c. For a regional school, the regional school board of directors.

d. For a school operated under Article 9C of this Chapter, the board of trustees.

e. For a school operated under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., the chancellor of the constituent institution.

(4) The term “school district” means any district defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-69

(5) “Local board” or “board” means a city board of education, county board of education, or a city-county board of education.

(6) “Local school administrative unit” means a subdivision of the public school system which is governed by a local board of education. It may be a city school administrative unit, a county school administrative unit, or a city-county school administrative unit.

(7) The executive head of a school shall be called “principal.”

(7a) (Effective until July 1, 2024) Public school unit. – Any of the following:

a. A local school administrative unit.

b. A charter school.

c. A regional school.

d. A school providing elementary or secondary instruction operated by one of the following:

1. The State Board of Education, including schools operated under Article 9C of this Chapter.

2. The University of North Carolina under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(7a) (Effective July 1, 2024) Public school unit. – Any of the following:

a. A local school administrative unit.

b. A charter school.

c. A regional school.

d. A school providing elementary or secondary instruction operated by The University of North Carolina under Article 29A of Chapter 116 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

e. Schools for the deaf and blind operated under Article 9C of this Chapter.

(8) The executive officer of a local school administrative unit shall be called “superintendent.” “Superintendent” means the superintendent of schools of a public school system or, in his absence, the person designated to fulfill his functions.

(9) “Supervisor” means a person paid on the supervisor salary schedule who supervises the instructional program in one or more schools and is under the immediate supervision of the superintendent or his designee.

(10) The term “tax-levying authority” means the board of county commissioners of the county or counties in which an administrative unit is located or such other unit of local government as may be granted by local act authority to levy taxes on behalf of a local school administrative unit. (1955, c. 664; c. 1372, art. 1, ss. 8, 9; 1965, c. 584, s. 2; 1967, c. 223, s. 1; 1971, c. 883; c. 1188, s. 2; 1973, c. 315, s. 1; c. 782, ss. 1-30; 1975, c. 437, s. 10; 1979, c. 864, s. 2; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 975, s. 2; 1997-456, s. 27; 2019-51, s. 1; 2020-56, s. 6(a), (b); 2021-180, s. 7.14(g), (h); 2023-10, s. 2(a).)