Standards Advisory Commission.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 596

Short Title: Standards Advisory Commission. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Torbett and Blackwell (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 1, 2025
*H596-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO CREATE THE STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY ADVISORY COMMISSION 2
TO RECOMMEND ACADEMI C STANDARDS TO THE S TATE BOARD OF 3
EDUCATION FOR APPROVAL. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-12(9c) reads as rewritten: 6
"(9c) Power to Develop Content Standards. – The Board shall adopt the standard 7
course of study as provided in Part 1 of Article 8 of this Chapter. 8
a. The Board shall develop a comprehensive plan to revise content 9
standards and the standard course of study in the core academic areas 10
of reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, geography, and 11
civics. The Board shall involve and survey a representative sample of 12
parents, teachers, and the public to help determine academic content 13
standard pri orities and usefulness of the content standards. A full 14
review of available and relevant academic content standards that are 15
rigorous, specific, sequenced, clear, focused, and measurable, 16
whenever possible, shall be a part of the process of the development 17
of content standards. The revised content standards developed in the 18
core academic areas shall (i) reflect high expectations for students and 19
an in -depth mastery of the content; (ii) be clearly grounded in the 20
content of each academic area; (iii) be defin ed grade -by-grade and 21
course-by-course; (iv) be understandable to parents and teachers; (v) 22
be developed in full recognition of the time available to teach the core 23
academic areas at each grade level; and (vi) be measurable, whenever 24
possible, in a reliabl e, valid, and efficient manner for accountability 25
purposes. 26
b. High school course content standards shall include the knowledge and 27
skills necessary to pursue further postsecondary education or to attain 28
employment in the 21st century economy. The high sch ool course 29
content standards also shall be aligned with the minimum 30
undergraduate course requirements for admission to the constituent 31
institutions of The University of North Carolina. 32
c. The Board also shall develop and implement an ongoing process to 33
align State programs and support materials with the revised academic 34
content standards for each core academic area on a regular basis. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 596-First Edition
Alignment shall include revising textbook criteria, support materials, 1
State tests, teacher and school administrator preparation, and ongoing 2
professional development programs to be compatible with content 3
standards. The Board shall develop and make available to teachers and 4
parents support materials, including teacher and parent guides, for 5
academic content standards. The State Board of Education shall work 6
in collaboration with the Board of Governors of The University of 7
North Carolina to ensure that teacher and school administrator degree 8
programs, ongoing professional development, and other university 9
activity in the State's public schools align with the State Board's 10
priorities." 11
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 115C-81.5 reads as rewritten: 12
"§ 115C-81.5. Standard course of study. 13
(a) All children can learn. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the mission of the 14
public school community is to challenge with high expectations each child to learn, to achieve, 15
and to fulfill his or her potential. With that mission as its guide, the State Board of Education 16
shall adopt a plan of education and a standard course of study as provided i n G.S. 115C-12(9c) 17
this Part for the public schools of the State. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the focus 18
of State educational funding shall be to ensure that each student receives a sound basic education. 19
It is further a goal of the General Assembly to provide supplemental funds to low-wealth counties 20
to allow those counties to enhance the instructional program and student achievement. Instruction 21
shall be offered in the areas of arts, communication skills, physical education and personal health 22
and safety, mathematics, media and computer skills, science, second languages, social studies, 23
and career and technical education. In addition, instruction shall be offered in all of the areas 24
provided in this Part. 25
(b) The standard course of study shall provide all of the following: 26
(1) A core curriculum for all students that takes into account the special needs of 27
children. 28
(2) A set of competencies, by grade level, for each curriculum area. 29
(3) A list of textbooks for use in providing the curriculum. 30
(4) Standards for student performance and promotion based on the mastery of 31
competencies, including standards for graduation, that take into account 32
children with disabilities and, in particular, include appropriate modifications. 33
(5) A program of remedial education. 34
(6) Required support programs. 35
(7) A definition of the instructional day. 36
(8) Class size recommendations and requirements. 37
(9) Prescribed staffing allotment ratios. 38
(10) Material and equipment allotment ratios. 39
(11) Facilities guidelin es that reflect educational program appropriateness, 40
long-term cost efficiency, and safety considerations. 41
(12) Any other information the Board considers appropriate and necessary." 42
SECTION 1.(c) Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 43
adding a new section to read: 44
"§ 115C-81.6. SCOS Commission. 45
(a) There is established the Standard Course of Study Advisory Commission, hereinafter 46
referred to as the SCOS Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to involve stakeholders 47
in establishing the standard course of study . The Commission shall make recommendations 48
regarding all aspects of the standards and competencies of the standard course of study. 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 596-First Edition Page 3
(b) The Commission shall b e located administratively in the Department of Public 1
Instruction but shall exercise all of its powers and duties independently of the Department of 2
Public Instruction. 3
(c) The Commission shall consist of the following members: 4
(1) The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the President Pro 5
Tempore of the Senate, shall appoint the following six members: 6
a. One superintendent of a public school unit with a student population 7
greater than 20,000 at the time of appointment. 8
b. One principal of an elementary school. 9
c. One high school teacher. 10
d. One elementary school teacher. 11
e. One parent of a student in middle or high school enrolled in a public 12
school unit at the time of appointment. 13
f. One curriculum specialist from a public school unit with a student 14
population of 20,000 or less at the time of appointment. 15
(2) The General Assembly, upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House 16
of Representatives, shall appoint the following six members: 17
a. One superintendent of a public school unit with a student population 18
of 20,000 or less at the time of appointment. 19
b. One principal of a high school. 20
c. One principal of a middle school. 21
d. One middle school teacher. 22
e. One parent of a student in elementary school enrolled in a public 23
school unit at the time of appointment. 24
f. One curriculum specialist from a public school unit with a student 25
population greater than 20,000 at the time of appointment. 26
(3) The Governor shall appoint the following six members: 27
a. Two members of the business community. 28
b. Four at-large members. 29
(4) The Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee. 30
(5) The President of the North Carolina Community College System, or the 31
President's designee, as a nonvoting member. 32
(6) The President of The University of North Caroli na, or the President 's 33
designee, as a nonvoting member. 34
(7) The President of the North Carolina Chamber, or the President 's designee, as 35
a nonvoting member. 36
(d) In making appointments to the Commission, appointing authorities are encouraged to 37
select qualified citizens who are committed to improving the standard course of study and student 38
achievement and who represent the racial, geographic, and gender diversity of the State. 39
Vacancies in the membership shall be filled for the remainder of the term of office by the 40
appointing authority using the same criteria as provided in subsection (c) of this section . 41
Vacancies in membership appointed by the General Assembly shall be filled as provided in 42
G.S. 120-122. 43
(e) Members of the Commission shall serve four-year terms of office beginning on July 44
1. No appointed member shall serve more than eight consecutive years. 45
(f) The Commission shall elect a chair, a vice -chair, and a secretary from among its 46
membership. In the absence of the chair, the vice -chair shall preside over the Commission 's 47
meetings. All members are voting members , and a majority of the Commission constitutes a 48
quorum. The Commission shall adopt rules to govern its proceedings. 49
(g) Meetings of the Commission shall be held upon the call of the chair or the vice-chair 50
in the absence of the chair. The Superintendent shall call the initial meeting of the Commission. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 596-First Edition
(h) Members of the Commission shall receive compensation for their services and 1
reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties required by this Article 2
at the rate prescribed in G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6. 3
(i) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall assign staff to assist the Commission's 4
work. The Commission may contract with content area experts to assist in its deliberations from 5
funds available. 6
(j) The Commission shall: 7
(1) Develop and recommend to the State Board of Education the standard course 8
of study in accordance with G.S. 115C-81.7. 9
(2) Develop support materials, including teacher and parent guides, for academic 10
content standards that can be made available to teachers and parents upon 11
approval by the State Board. 12
(3) Provide recommendations as requested to the State Board of Education related 13
to alignment of State programs and support materials with the revised 14
academic content standards for each core academic area , including revising 15
textbook criteria, support materials, Sta te tests, teacher and school 16
administrator preparation, and ongoing professional development programs to 17
be compatible with content standards. 18
(k) The Commission shall submit its recommendations under subsection (j) of this section 19
to the State Board. The State Board shall adopt or reject the recommend ed standard course of 20
study. The State Board shall not make any substantive changes to any recommend ed standard 21
course of study that it adopts. If the State Board rejects the recommendation, it shall state with 22
specificity its reasons for rejection; the Commission may then amend th e recommendation and 23
resubmit it to the State Board. The State Board shall adopt or reject the amende d 24
recommendation. 25
(l) If the State Board fails to adopt the Commission 's original and amended 26
recommendations as provided in subsection (k) of this section, the State Board may develop and 27
adopt its own recommended standard course of study , subject to the requirements of 28
G.S. 115C-81.8. 29
(m) The Commission shall submit a report by December 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, 30
to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the State Board of Education of its 31
activities during the preceding year, together with any recommendations and findings regarding 32
the process for revisions to the standard course of study." 33
SECTION 1.(d) Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 34
adding a new section to read: 35
"§ 115C-81.7. Development of standard course of study. 36
(a) The State Board shall develop a comprehensive plan to revise , on a regular basis, 37
content standards and the standard course of study in the core academic areas of reading, writing, 38
mathematics, science, history, geography, and civics that clearly designates by year the subjects 39
for review by the Commission. The State Board shall provide this plan to the Commission. The 40
Commission shall review the designated subject s and standard course of study in accordance 41
with the plan developed by the State Board. 42
(b) The Commission shall involve and survey a representative sample of parents, 43
teachers, and the public to help determine academic content standard priorities and usefulness of 44
the content standards. A full review of available and relevant academic content standards that are 45
rigorous, specific, sequenced, clear, focused, and measurable, whenever possible, shall be a part 46
of the process of the development of content standards. The revised content standards developed 47
in the core academic areas shall do all of the following: 48
(1) Reflect high expectations for students and an in-depth mastery of the content. 49
(2) Be clearly grounded in the content of each academic area. 50
(3) Be defined grade-by-grade and course-by-course. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 596-First Edition Page 5
(4) Be understandable to parents and teachers. 1
(5) Be developed in full recognition of the time available to tea ch the core 2
academic areas at each grade level. 3
(6) Be measurable, whenever possible, in a reliable, valid, and efficient manner 4
for accountability purposes. 5
(c) High school course content standards shall include the knowledge and skills necessary 6
to pursue further postsecondary education or to attain employment in the twenty-first century 7
economy. The high school course content standards also shall be aligned with the minimum 8
undergraduate course requirements for admission to the constituent institutions of The University 9
of North Carolina. 10
(d) The State Board, in consultation with the Commission, shall also develop and 11
implement an ongoing process to align State programs and support materials with the revised 12
academic content standards for each core acade mic area on a regular basis. Alignment shall 13
include revising textbook criteria, support materials, State tests, teacher and school administrator 14
preparation, and ongoing professional development programs to be compatible with content 15
standards. 16
(e) The St ate Board shall work in collaboration with the Board of Governors of The 17
University of North Carolina to ensure that teacher and school administrator degree programs, 18
ongoing professional development, and other university activity in the State's public schools align 19
with the State Board's priorities." 20
SECTION 1.(e) Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by 21
adding a new section to read: 22
"§ 115C-81.8. Review of standard course of study developed by State Board. 23
(a) Prior to implementation of a standard or competency of the standard course of study 24
adopted as provided in G.S. 115C-81.6(l), the State Board of Education shall submit a report of 25
the proposed changes to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. The report shall 26
contain the following: 27
(1) A copy of the existing standard or competency of the standard course of study 28
in a format that includes page and line numbers for the text with the material 29
struck through that is being deleted and the material under lined that is being 30
added. 31
(2) An explanation of the reasons for the changes. 32
(3) A copy of the minutes of each State Board meeting where the proposed 33
changes were discussed. 34
(b) A change to a standard, competency, or content of the standard course of study that 35
has been submitted to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee may be implemented 36
as follows: 37
(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, a change may be 38
implemented following the thirty-first legislative day after the date the State 39
Board submits the change to the Joint Legislative Education Oversig ht 40
Committee. 41
(2) If a bill that specifically disapproves the change is introduced in either house 42
of the General Assembly by the thirty -first legislative day following the 43
submission of a change to the Joint Legislative Educati on Oversight 44
Committee, the change becomes effective on the earlier of (i) the day an 45
unfavorable final action is taken on the bill or (ii) the day that session of the 46
General Assembly adjourns without ratifying a bill that specifically 47
disapproves the rule. 48
(3) A change that is specifically disapproved by a bill enacted into la w before it 49
becomes effective shall not be implemented. A bill specifically disapproves a 50
change if it contains a provision that refers to the report submitted to the Joint 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 House Bill 596-First Edition
Legislative Education Oversight Committee by title and date and the specific 1
change by page and line number in the report that is disapproved. 2
Notwithstanding any rule of either house of the General Assembly, any 3
member of the General Assembly may introduce a bill at any time during any 4
regular session to disapprove a change that has been submitted to the Joint 5
Legislative Education Oversight Committee that has not become effective." 6
SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 150B-1(d) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 7
"(34) The State Board of Education with respect to adoption of the standard course 8
of study as required by Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General 9
Statutes." 10
SECTION 1.(g) Initial appointments to the Standard Course of Study Advisory 11
Commission shall be made by the General Assembly for terms beginning July 1, 2025, and shall 12
be appointed as follows: 13
(1) Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-81.6, as enacted by this act, members appointed 14
pursuant to G.S. 115C-81.6(c)(1)a., c., e., and g. and G.S. 115C-81.6(c)(2)b., 15
d., f., and h. shall be appointed for two -year terms, and four-year terms 16
thereafter. 17
(2) Members appointed pursuant to G.S. 115C-81.6(c)(1)b., d., f., and h. and 18
G.S. 115C-81.6(c)(2)a., c., e., and g. shall be appointed for four-year terms. 19
SECTION 1.(h) Notwithstanding G.S. 115C-81.7(a), the Standard Course of Study 20
Advisory Commission shall review the social studies standard course of study during the 21
2025-2026 school year and provide recommendations to the State Board of Education no later 22
than January 1, 2026. 23
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to all standard 24
courses of study implemented on or after that date. 25