AN ACT to require the state board of education to adopt rules modifying high school mathematics graduation requirements and to provide for a mathematics instruction pathway to provide mathematics instruction over an extended period and to require the state board of education to adopt emergency rules for the purposes of this act.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  The State Board of Education shall adopt a rule to modify the high school graduation requirements to require completion of NC Math 1 and 2 or equivalent courses and two additional math courses that align with the student's postsecondary plans and to require that NC Math 3 and all other existing math courses shall continue to be offered by all high schools to the extent that there is sufficient student interest.

SECTION 1.(b)  The State Board of Education shall adopt a rule to require completion of an end‑of‑course test for NC Math 2 and not require completion of an end‑of‑course test for NC Math 3.

SECTION 2.(a)  Part 1 of Article 8 of Subchapter IV of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑81.37.  Extended courses in mathematics.

(a)        The State Board of Education shall develop a course of study for high school mathematics courses that spread the content standards of NC Math 1 and NC Math 2 into four separate courses as follows:

(1)        NC Math 1 shall be divided into Extended Math 1 and Extended Math 2. The end‑of‑course test for NC Math 1 shall be given at the conclusion of Extended Math 2.

(2)        NC Math 2 shall be divided into Extended Math 3 and Extended Math 4. The end‑of‑course test for NC Math 2 shall be given at the conclusion of Extended Math 4.

(3)        Completion of Extended Math 1 and 2 with a passing grade satisfies the NC Math 1 graduation requirement and Extended Math 2 is an equivalent course to NC Math 1.

(4)        Completion of Extended Math 3 and 4 with a passing grade satisfies the NC Math 2 graduation requirement and Extended Math 4 is an equivalent course to NC Math 2.

(5)        Completion of Extended Math 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall satisfy all mathematics graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education.

(b)        Standards developed pursuant to this section shall not change the existing standards for NC Math 1 or 2.

(c)        Students shall be enrolled in high school math courses as follows:

(1)        Students scoring below proficient on the eighth grade mathematics end‑of‑course test shall be enrolled in Extended Math 1 and 2 to satisfy the NC Math 1 graduation requirement.

(2)        Students scoring below proficient on the NC Math 1 end‑of‑course test given at the end of Extended Math 2 shall be enrolled in Extended Math 3 and 4 to satisfy their NC Math 2 graduation requirement.

(3)        Students scoring at or above proficient on the NC Math 1 end‑of‑course test given at the end of Extended Math 2 may choose to enroll in Extended Math 3 and 4 or NC Math 2 to satisfy their NC Math 2 graduation requirement.

SECTION 2.(b)  Courses shall be offered pursuant to G.S. 115C‑81.37, as enacted by this act, beginning with the fall semester of the 2025‑2026 school year.

SECTION 3.(a)  Students who completed NC Math 1 with a grade of C or lower or who scored below proficient on the NC Math 1 end‑of‑course exam prior to the 2025‑2026 school year shall take Extended Math 2 as a condition of meeting their NC Math 1 graduation requirement.

SECTION 3.(b)  Students who completed NC Math 2 with a grade of C or lower prior to the 2025‑2026 school year shall take Extended Math 4 as a condition of meeting their NC Math 2 graduation requirement.

SECTION 4.  The State Board of Education may adopt emergency rules in accordance with G.S. 150B‑21.1A to implement the provisions of this act prior to the start of the 2025‑2026 school year.

SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.