AN ACT To establish a pilot program in currituck county schools to provide a vocational graduation pathway for students.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Pilot Program Established; Purpose. – There is established the Vocational Track Diploma Pilot Program (Program) to be operated by Currituck County Schools. The purpose of the Program is to provide for Currituck County Schools to offer (i) an alternative set of graduation requirements for students who complete courses toward a vocational career path and (ii) an alternative high school diploma for students who complete the alternate set of graduation requirements toward a vocational career path.

SECTION 2.  Program. – Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Currituck County Schools shall develop an alternative set of graduation requirements for students to receive a vocational track diploma. Currituck County Schools shall develop the graduation requirements during the 2023‑2024 school year and report those requirements to the Department of Public Instruction before the end of the 2023‑2024 school year. The requirements shall include all of the English, science, social studies, and elective requirements in accordance with the current graduation requirements developed by the State Board of Education. The graduation requirements developed by Currituck County Schools shall require students to complete NC Math 1 and 2 and require two additional applied math credits to receive the vocational track diploma. Students entering grade nine during the 2024‑2025 school year may elect to pursue the vocational track diploma. The Program shall conclude at the end of the 2027‑2028 school year.

SECTION 3.  Compliance. – For the duration of the Program, Currituck County Schools shall be exempt from any requirements to post school performance data in any publicly accessible forum.

SECTION 4.  Report. – Currituck County Schools shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by October 15, 2024, and annually for each year of the Program until October 15, 2028, when Currituck County Schools shall present a final report on the results of the Program. Each report shall include the following:

(1)        The applied math classes offered to satisfy the third and fourth math credit requirement.

(2)        The standards used to evaluate student performance in those courses.

(3)        The percentage of students enrolled in Currituck County Schools pursuing the vocational track diploma.

(4)        Any other information Currituck County Schools deems relevant.

SECTION 5.  Effective Date. – Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.