The N.C. General Assembly on Thursday passed a bill that could lead to big changes for Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

Under the bill, RSS has the option to become a “Renewal School System,” extending charter-like flexibility to all 35 schools in the district.

The legislation was introduced to clarify reporting requirements on the teaching of cursive writing and multiplication tables.

As it passed from the House of Representatives to the Senate, more changes were added to education law.

State Sen. Michael Lee, a Republican representing New Hanover County, championed the Renewal School System concept, seeking to address the rise of restart schools in the state.

The restart model allows continually low-performing schools to apply for charter-like flexibility. Currently, some 16 schools in the Rowan-Salisbury system qualify under the provision.

This flexibility gives educators and school administrators more choice in terms of curriculum, finances, personnel and calendar structure.

Rowan-Salisbury Superintendent Lynn Moody said this near-even split among district schools would be like operating two different school systems at once.

Moody gave the example of this year’s challenges in the North Rowan system. North Rowan High and North Rowan Elementary schools were each allowed restart provisions. North Rowan Middle was not.

That meant North High’s decision to align its calendar with Rowan-Cabarrus Community College created a mismatch of scheduling with some families.

“We would have liked for the sake of North Rowan families to adjust all the schools, but with the middle school not a restart school, we didn’t have that choice,” said Moody.

Thursday’s legislation would, by contrast, offer the entire school district “complete flexibility,” she said.

Some 50 percent of school staff members under the new law could be those with a four-year degree, individuals who previously may have been passed over for lack of teaching credentials, said Moody.

The legislation also allows for funding flexibility, exempting the system from certain rules governing state funds.

Moody said she expects the renewal model will “absolutely” affect school choice.

“I am excited about the possibilities and benefits of local educational control through the Renewal School System legislation,” said Moody. “This bill gives traditional public schools the freedom to implement innovative programs with greater agility because they aren’t bound by restrictive state regulations.”

Over the next few weeks, the Board of Education and administrative team will explore the possibility of becoming a renewal system.

The discussion will begin at the board’s June 18 meeting. Moody said the hope is to vote on it by June 28 and send a completed application to the State Board of Education by July 15.

State approval could happen by Aug. 2, putting districtwide flexibility in effect for the 2018-19 school year.

Board of Education Chairman Josh Wagner said he expects excitement among board members about the prospect.

“I am encouraged that our state legislators are willing to discuss the possibility of expanded flexibility,” Wagner said. “I truly believe that expanded local control will allow school systems to more adequately respond to the needs of their specific communities.”

Both Moody and Wagner said it is early yet to predict what the new model will look like for Rowan-Salisbury Schools. But Moody said whatever changes are made, there will be close consultation with educators and parents.

The schools will be given more autonomy, with teachers working in committees and design groups to figure out curriculum, grading and school calendars, while involving families along the way.

“We believe that teachers are in the best position to design curriculum and, actually, the operations of the school system,” Moody said.