AN ACT to establish certain minimum requirements for the use of standardized tests for admissions and scholarships at the university of north carolina and to include the clt10 among standardized tests offered in high school.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. minimum standardized testing requirements for admissions and scholarships at the university of north carolina

SECTION 1.(a)  Part 2 of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:

§ 116‑11.5.  Minimum standardized testing requirements for admissions and scholarships.

(a)        For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)        Applicant. – Any of the following:

a.         An applicant for admission to a constituent institution.

b.         An applicant for a scholarship.

(2)        Board of Governors. – The Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina.

(3)        Constituent institution. – A constituent institution of The University of North Carolina.

(4)        Entity of The University of North Carolina. – The Board of Governors, the University of North Carolina System Office, a constituent institution, or the State Education Assistance Authority.

(5)        Identified test. – Any one of the following:

a.         The SAT.

b.         The ACT.

c.         The Classic Learning Test (CLT).

(6)        Scholarship. – A scholarship funded in whole or in part with State funds and administered by an entity of The University of North Carolina.

(b)        If an entity of The University of North Carolina requires or permits an applicant to submit a standardized test score on any identified test for admissions or scholarships, the entity shall permit the applicant to instead submit a test score on any other identified test. If the entity requires a minimum score on any identified test, the entity shall permit the applicant to satisfy that requirement by submitting a concordant minimum score on any other identified test.

SECTION 1.(b)  This section applies beginning in the 2025‑2026 academic year.

part ii. include clt10 among standardized tests offered in high school

SECTION 2.(a)  Part 3 of Article 10A of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:

Part 3. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test Opportunities Encouraged.College Preparation Assessments Encouraged.

§ 115C‑174.18.  Opportunity to take Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).various college preparation assessments.

Every student in the eighth through tenth grades who has completed Algebra I or who is in the last month of Algebra I shall be given an opportunity to take a version of either the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or (PSAT/NMSQT), the PreACT test, at the discretion of the local school administrative unit, or the CLT10 one time at no cost to the student. A student receiving instruction through a home school, as provided by Part 3 of Article 39 of this Chapter, shall be eligible to participate in testing as provided in G.S. 115C‑565.1. The maximum amount of State funds used for this purpose shall be the cost of the PSAT/NMSQT.

SECTION 2.(b)  This section applies beginning in the 2025‑2026 school year.

part III. effective date

SECTION 3.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.