Directs the State Board of Education (Board) to establish a request for proposal (RFP) for up to five local alternative teacher preparation programs (LATP programs) administered by local boards of education to prepare, support, and recommend initially licensed lateral entry teachers for continuing licensure.

Requires the Board to issue an RFP to local boards of education by September 15, 2016, that includes three specific criteria as follows. Requires, at a minimum, the LATP program to provide 150 contact hours of appropriate pedagogy and content for continued licensure in the initially licensed teacher's area of licensure that is comparable to the quality of instruction required for a traditional teacher preparation program, as provided in GS 115C-296.10 (content and pedagogy requirements of teachers).  Requires, at a minimum, the LATP program to provide 150 contact hours with mentor teachers, classroom coaching, and periodic evaluations with timely feedback to each individual in the program over the initially licensed teacher's first year of employment. Requires the LATP program to be administered by a local board of education with a minimum student population of 20,000 or higher, or by a coalition of local boards of education that together have a minimum student population of 20,000 or higher.  Directs local boards of education to submit their proposals by January 6, 2017.  Allows proposals to be submitted by individual local boards of education or by coalitions of multiple local boards of education.  Requires proposals to contain detailed information on the estimated costs, including a cost per teacher participant and anticipated funding sources for operation of the program.

Requires the Board to review the proposals submitted by local boards of education, by March 15, 2017, and select up to five proposals for approval based on program quality, viability, and use of evidence-based principles in program design.

Requires the selected LAPT programs to be implemented beginning with the 2017-18 school year and ending with the 2021-22 school year.  Requires the local board of education for each selected LAPT program to provide any requested information and access to the independent research organization selected by the Board to evaluate the programs.

Requires the selected LAPT programs to meet the following benchmarks: (1) have a completion rate of no less than 70% of initial enrollees; (2) provide the minimum contact hour requirements and other program elements contained in the proposal approved by the Board; (3) demonstrate an increase in retention of lateral entry teachers over the previous year's retention rate; and (4) be fully financed by the local board of education, based on the per teacher cost estimate contained in the proposal approved by the Board, with funding allowable through public or private funds, as available.  Establishes that a program that fails to meet any of the specified benchmarks will be terminated and cannot continue in the following school year.

Directs the Board to contract with an independent research organization to evaluate how the LAPT programs have at minimum accomplished recruitment of lateral entry teachers into the classroom, retention rates for lateral entry teachers beyond initial licensure, and quality of classroom instruction by lateral entry teachers prepared through the LAPT program as compared to those prepared by traditional teacher education programs.  Also requires the independent research organization to evaluate teacher vacancy rates in local school administrative units participating in the LAPT program as compared to similarly situated local school administrative units; funding mechanisms used to support the LAPT program, including sources and stability of funding; and recommendations regarding the continuation, expansion, or elimination of LAPT programs.  Requires the independent research organization to report annually, beginning October 15, 2017, on progress of the LAPT programs.  Requires the independent research organization to submit an initial report no later than October 15, 2020, to the Board on the implementation and evaluation of the LAPT program, and submit a final report no later than October 15, 2022, to the Board on all aspects of the implementation and evaluation of the LAPT program.  Also requires the Board to provide the report by December 15 annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee until 2022.

Directs the Department of Public Instruction to issue a license to all individuals who successfully complete LAPT programs, are recommended by the local board of education, and otherwise meet licensure requirements.  

Allows an initially licensed lateral entry teacher who leaves a local board of education with a LAPT program before completing the program and who is hired to teach by another local board of education in the state to receive credit for any work successfully completed as part of the program.

Appropriates $100,000  to DPI from the General Fund for the 2016-17 fiscal year for administration of the LAPT program and evaluation by an independent research organization.