NC H486

Eliminates end-of-course (EOC) tests for grades 9-12 beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, replacing them with a single nationally recognized assessment of high school achievement and college readiness administered to all eleventh grade students.

Requires the State Board of Education to identify alignment between North Carolina content standards and six national assessments (ACT, SAT, and four SAT Subject Tests in sciences) by October 1, 2021, with vendor evaluation and reporting to the legislature by April 15, 2022.

Eliminates required ACT WorkKeys administration for career and technical education students and establishes a new career readiness indicator requiring students to meet one of two criteria: achieve minimum college admission scores on a nationally normed test, or complete specific career pathway requirements including CTE enrollment, workplace readiness scores, credential attainment, and work-based learning.

Makes conforming changes to accountability measures and school performance grading systems to reference the new national assessment and career readiness criteria instead of specific EOC tests.

Takes effect upon enactment and applies to high school test administrations and school performance grades beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.