AN ACT to raise the compulsory school attendance age to eighteen years old over a five‑year period and TO establish a Completion Rate Indicator for School Performance Grades.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part i. raise dropout age to 16 years and six months for the 2024‑2025 school year

SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 115C‑378(a) reads as rewritten:

(a)      Every parent, guardian guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of (i) seven years and (ii) 16 years and six months shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session. session, unless the child graduates from high school. Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child under age seven who is enrolled in a public school in grades kindergarten through two shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school.

SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(3) reads as rewritten:

(3)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the regional school and who is less than 16 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the regional school shall be in session. session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the regional school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the regional school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the board of directors, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 116‑235(b)(2) reads as rewritten:

(2)      School Attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the School and who is less than 16 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the School shall be in session. session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the School. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the School shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Chancellor of the School shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 1.(d)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b)(5) reads as rewritten:

(5)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the laboratory school and who is less than 16 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the laboratory school shall be in session. session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the laboratory school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the laboratory school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the chancellor, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 1.(e)  G.S. 7B‑1501(27) reads as rewritten:

(27)    Undisciplined juvenile. –

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 16 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 16 or 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

SECTION 1.(f)  G.S. 143B‑805(20) reads as rewritten:

(20)    Undisciplined juvenile. –

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 16 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 16 or 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

part iI. raise dropout age to 17 years for the 2025‑2026 school year

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 115C‑378(a), as amended by Section 1(a) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(a)      Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of (i) seven years and (ii) 16 17 years and six months shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child under age seven who is enrolled in a public school in grades kindergarten through two shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school.

SECTION 2.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(3), as amended by Section 1(b) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(3)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the regional school and who is less than 16 17 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the regional school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the regional school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the regional school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the board of directors, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 2.(c)  G.S. 116‑235(b)(2), as amended by Section 1(c) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(2)      School Attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the School and who is less than 16 17 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the School shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the School. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the School shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Chancellor of the School shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 2.(d)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b)(5), as amended by Section 1(d) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(5)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the laboratory school and who is less than 16 17 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the laboratory school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the laboratory school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the laboratory school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the chancellor, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 2.(e)  G.S. 7B‑1501(27), as amended by Section 1(e) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(27)    Undisciplined juvenile. –

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 16 17 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 16 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

SECTION 2.(f)  G.S. 143B‑805(20), as amended by Section 1(f) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(20)    Undisciplined juvenile. –

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 16 17 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 16 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

part iII. raise dropout age to 17 years and six months for the 2026‑2027 school year

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 115C‑378(a), as amended by Section 2(a) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(a)      Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of (i) seven years and (ii) 17 years and six months shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child under age seven who is enrolled in a public school in grades kindergarten through two shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school.

SECTION 3.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(3), as amended by Section 2(b) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(3)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the regional school and who is less than 17 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the regional school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the regional school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the regional school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the board of directors, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 3.(c)  G.S. 116‑235(b)(2), as amended by Section 2(c) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(2)      School Attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the School and who is less than 17 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the School shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the School. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the School shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Chancellor of the School shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 3.(d)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b)(5), as amended by Section 2(d) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(5)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the laboratory school and who is less than 17 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the laboratory school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the laboratory school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the laboratory school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the chancellor, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 3.(e)  G.S. 7B‑1501(27), as amended by Section 2(e) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(27)    Undisciplined juvenile. –

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 17 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

SECTION 3.(f)  G.S. 143B‑805(20), as amended by Section 2(f) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(20)    Undisciplined juvenile. –

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 17 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; or

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

part iV. raise dropout age to 18 years for the 2027‑2028 school year

SECTION 4.(a)  G.S. 115C‑378(a), as amended by Section 3(a) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(a)      Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of (i) seven years and (ii) 17 18 years and six months shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. Every parent, guardian, or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child under age seven who is enrolled in a public school in grades kindergarten through two shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school.

SECTION 4.(b)  G.S. 115C‑238.66(3), as amended by Section 3(b) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(3)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the regional school and who is less than 17 18 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the regional school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the regional school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the regional school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the board of directors, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 4.(c)  G.S. 116‑235(b)(2), as amended by Section 3(c) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(2)      School Attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the School and who is less than 17 18 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the School shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the School. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the School shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The Chancellor of the School shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the Board of Trustees, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 4.(d)  G.S. 116‑239.8(b)(5), as amended by Section 3(d) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(5)      School attendance. – Every parent, guardian, or other person in this State having charge or control of a child who is enrolled in the laboratory school and who is less than 17 18 years and six months of age shall cause such child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time that the laboratory school shall be in session, unless the child graduates from high school. No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child to be unlawfully absent from the laboratory school. Any person who aids or abets a student's unlawful absence from the laboratory school shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The principal shall be responsible for implementing such additional policies concerning compulsory attendance as shall be adopted by the chancellor, including regulations concerning lawful and unlawful absences, permissible excuses for temporary absences, maintenance of attendance records, and attendance counseling.

SECTION 4.(e)  G.S. 7B‑1501(27), as amended by Section 3(e) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(27)    Undisciplined juvenile. – A

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 17 18 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; orhours.

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

SECTION 4.(f)  G.S. 143B‑805(20), as amended by Section 3(f) of this act, reads as rewritten:

(20)    Undisciplined juvenile. – A

a.         A juvenile who, while less than 17 18 years and six months of age but at least 10 years of age, is unlawfully absent from school; or is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours; orhours.

b.         A juvenile who is between (i) 17 years and six months of age and (ii) 18 years of age and who is regularly disobedient to and beyond the disciplinary control of the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian; or is regularly found in places where it is unlawful for a juvenile to be; or has run away from home for a period of more than 24 hours.

SECTION 4.(g)  Section 8.21 of S.L. 2016‑94 is repealed.

part v. Completion Rate Indicator for School Performance Grades

SECTION 5.(a)  G.S. 115C‑83.15(b)(2) is amended by adding a new sub‑subdivision to read:

i.         One half of a point for each percent of students who meet one of the following criteria within five years of entering high school:

1.         Graduate from high school.

2.         Earn an adult high school diploma.

3.         Earn an adult high school equivalency diploma.

SECTION 5.(b)  G.S. 115C‑83.16(a)(2)b. is amended by adding a new sub‑sub‑subdivision to read:

5.        The percentage of students who meet one of the following criteria within five years of entering high school:

I.          Graduate from high school.

II.        Earn an adult high school diploma.

III.       Earn an adult high school equivalency diploma.

SECTION 5.(c)  G.S. 115C‑12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(27b)  Duty to Provide Dropout Data to the State Board of Community Colleges. – For the purposes of calculating the high school completion rate required by G.S. 115C‑83.15(b)(2)i., by June 15 of each year, the State Board of Education shall provide the State Board of Community Colleges with identifying information for any students who meet the following criteria:

a.         The student unenrolled from a public school unit before graduation or completion of a program of study without transferring to another secondary school.

b.         The student entered high school no more than five years earlier.

SECTION 5.(d)  G.S. 115D‑5(a2) reads as rewritten:

(a2)    The State Board of Community Colleges shall comply with the following provisions of to ensure an efficient exchange of information between education agencies in the State:

(1)        The provisions of G.S. 116‑11(10a) to plan and implement an exchange of information between the public schools and the institutions of higher education in the State.

(2)        By July 15 of each year, for students included in the data provided pursuant to G.S. 115C‑12(27b), the State Board of Community Colleges shall provide the State Board of Education with the dates that students earned an adult high school equivalency diploma.

part VI. Effective date

SECTION 6.  This act is effective as follows:

(1)        Section 1 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2023, and applies beginning with the 2024‑2025 school year.

(2)        Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2024, and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.

(3)        Section 3 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning with the 2026‑2027 school year.

(4)        Section 4 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2026, and applies beginning with the 2027‑2028 school year.

(5)        Section 5 of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to school performance scores and grades issued based on data from the 2023‑2024 school year.

(6)        The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.