As used in this Chapter, the following definitions apply unless otherwise specified:

1. (1) "Board," "SBE," or "NCSBE" means the State Board of Education.
2. (2) "Charter school" means a public school organized and operated under Chapter 115, Article 14A of the General Statutes.
3. (3) "Department," "DPI," or "NCDPI" means the Department of Public Instruction.
4. (4) "High school" means a public school offering education in Grades 9 through 12 or 10 through 12.
5. (5) "Institution of higher education" or "IHE" means a community college, two-year college, four-year college, or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education to be a reliable authority on accreditation.
6. (6) "Junior high school" means a public school offering education in Grades 6 through 9 or 7 through 9.
7. (7) "Local education agency" or "LEA" means a local school administrative unit.
8. (8) "Local board of education" or "local board" is defined in G.S. 115C-5(5).
9. (9) "Local school administrative unit" or "LSAU" is defined in G.S. 115C-5(6).
10. (10) "Local superintendent" means the superintendent of a local school administrative unit, as provided in Chapter 115C, Article 18 of the General Statutes.
11. (11) "Middle school" means a public school offering education in Grades 6 through 8.
12. (12) "Principal" means a school administrator employed as the principal of a school, as provided in Chapter 115C, Article 19 of the General Statutes.
13. (13) "Professional educator" is defined in G.S. 115C-270.1(2).
14. (14) "Public school" or "school" means a public institution offering tuition-free education at any level from Kindergarten through Grade 12 and that is under the jurisdiction of a public school unit.
15. (15) "Public school unit" or "PSU" is defined in G.S. 115C-5(7a).
16. (16) "PSU governing body" or "governing body of a public school unit" is defined in G.S. 115C-5(3a).
17. (17) "Regional school" is defined in G.S. 115C-238.61(4).
18. (18) "School district" is defined in G.S. 115C-5(4).
19. (19) "School for the blind" is defined in G.S. 115C-150.10(6).
20. (20) "School for the deaf" is defined in G.S. 115C-150.10(7).
21. (21) "School year" or "academic year" means a calendar year beginning on July 1 of one year and ending on June 30 of the following year.
22. (22) "Student" means a person enrolled in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or in Grade 1 through Grade 12 in any public school unit.

History Note: Authority G.S. 115C-5; 115C-12; 115C-150.10; 115C-218; 115C-238.61; 115C-270.1;
Eff. January 1, 2025.