NC H751

Students receiving a high school diploma endorsement must achieve a benchmark reading score on a nationally norm-referenced college admissions test, with the benchmark set by the testing organization to represent approximately 50% chance of earning a B or higher (or 75% chance of a C or higher) in a corresponding college course.

Students may retake the nationally norm-referenced college admissions test multiple times before graduation to achieve the required reading benchmark score for receiving a high school diploma endorsement.

The State Board of Education must report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on graduation rates, college acceptance and remediation rates, employment rates, number of test retakes, and number of students denied endorsements solely due to reading benchmark scores.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction must study and recommend best practices for improving reading comprehension in grades 4-12, including methods to monitor student progress and provide timely remediation, with findings due to the legislature by January 15, 2019.

The diploma endorsement requirements take effect beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.