If, after a teacher has requested assistance from the principal two or more times due to a student’s disruptive behavior, the teacher finds that the student’s disruptive behavior continues to interfere with the academic achievement of that student or other students in the class, then the teacher may refer the matter to a school-based committee. The teacher may request that additional classroom teachers participate in the committee’s proceedings. For the purposes of this section, the committee shall notify the student’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian and shall encourage that person’s participation in the proceedings of the committee concerning the student. Nothing in this section requires a student to be screened, evaluated, or identified as a child with a disability under Article 9 of this Chapter. The committee shall review the matter and shall take one or more of the following actions: (i) advise the teacher on managing the student’s behavior more effectively, (ii) recommend to the principal the transfer of the student to another class within the school, (iii) recommend to the principal a multidisciplinary evaluation of the student, (iv) recommend to the principal that the student be assigned to an alternative learning program, or (v) recommend to the principal that the student receive any additional services that the school or the school unit has the resources to provide for the student. If the principal does not follow the recommendation of the committee, the principal shall provide a written explanation to the committee, the teacher who referred the matter to the committee, and the superintendent, of any actions taken to resolve the matter and of the reason the principal did not follow the recommendation of the committee.

This section shall be in addition to the supplemental to disciplinary action taken in accordance with any other law. The recommendation of the committee is final and shall not be appealed under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-45(c). Nothing in this section shall authorize a student to refer a disciplinary matter to this committee or to have the matter of the student’s behavior referred to this committee before any discipline is imposed on the student. (1997-443, s. 8.29(b); 2006-69, s. 3(m).)