North Carolina's Basic Education Program was adopted in 1985 and will be completely implemented by 1993. The North Carolina General Assembly has furnished much of the necessary funds. The program provides higher standards, smaller classes, the chance to become fluent in a foreign language, more instructional materials, counseling, dropout prevention, inschool suspension, compensatory education, advanced placement programs, an addition of 11,048 teachers, a monitoring procedure concerning the quality of education and school facilities that will be implemented by 1993, and staff development. In addition to traditional curricular offerings, the Basic Education Program's curriculum includes second language study and arts education that are mandatory for students in K-5. North Carolina is the first state to provide second language study to students in K-5. The program also features free summer school for students in K-11 if they fail to meet promotion standards or if they need remedial instruction; the use of computers for computer literacy, for automating media centers and student accounting systems, and for routing and scheduling buses; a four-year pilot program that rewards the performance of teachers with salary increases; other programs and facilities that benefit teachers; and programs that encourage good students to become teachers. Included are six tables. (RG)