Just bypass the voters:
PART XXXIV. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Dannelly, Michaux)
SECTION 34.1. There is created the Legislative Commission on Diversity in the Public Schools.
SECTION 34.2. The Commission shall consist of 15 members as follows:
(1) Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) Five members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(3) Five public members appointed by the Governor.
SECTION 34.3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one
Representative as cochair, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by the same appointing authority that made the initial appointment. A quorum of the Commission shall be a majority of its members.
SECTION 34.4. The Commission shall study the effects of student diversity in
public school enrollment. As part of this study, the Commission shall:
(1) Consider whether schools in which students of various racial, ethnic, and
socioeconomic characteristics are balanced improve the quality of the learning experience and the academic achievement of all students as compared to schools with more homogeneous student enrollments.
(2) Examine whether diverse public schools are successful in closing the achievement gap.
(3) Explore the level of parental involvement in schools with a diverse student
population.
(4) Examine best practices for creating and maintaining student diversity in schools and school systems in other states.
(5) Consider whether diverse public schools improve student discipline.
(6) Consider the fiscal impact and efficiency of State funding streams given the data accumulated in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this section.
(7) Study any other issue the Commission considers relevant.
SECTION 34.5. The Commission, while in the discharge of its official duties, may
exercise all powers provided for under G.S. 120-19 and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4. The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs. The Commission may meet in the Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building. With approval of the Legislative Services Commission, the Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional staff to assist the Commission in its work. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Directors of Legislative Assistants shall assign clerical staff to the Commission, and the expenses relating to the clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02. If the Commission hires a consultant, the consultant shall not be a State employee or a person currently under contract with the State to provide services.
All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions
shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
SECTION 34.6. The Commission shall submit a final report of the results of its
study and its recommendations to the 2011 General Assembly. The Commission shall
terminate on March 1, 2011, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first.
