115C-591. Definitions.

The following definitions apply in this Article:

(1) Authority. - Defined in G.S. 116-201.

(2) Division. - The Division of Nonpublic Education, Department of Administration.

(3) Eligible student. - A student residing in North Carolina who has not yet received a high school diploma and who meets all of the following requirements:

a. Is eligible to attend a North Carolina public school pursuant to G.S. 115C-366.

b. Has not enrolled in a postsecondary institution in a matriculated status eligible for enrollment for 12 hours of academic credit.

c. Is a child with a disability, as defined in G.S. 115C-106.3(1), including, for example, intellectual disability, hearing impairment, speech or language impairment, visual impairment, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, specific learning disability, or disability as may be required to be included under IDEA.

d. Has not been placed in a nonpublic school or facility by a public agency at public expense.

(4) Nonpublic school. - A school that meets the requirements of Part 1, 2, or 3 of Article 39 of this Chapter, as identified by the Division.

(5) Parent. - A parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of an eligible student.

(5a) Part-time student. - A child enrolled part time in a public school and part time in a nonpublic school that exclusively provides services for children with disabilities.

(6) Personal Education Savings Account or PESA. - A bank account provided to a parent for the purpose of holding scholarship funds awarded by the Authority for an eligible student to be used for qualifying education expenses under G.S. 115C-595.