NC H136

Requires the State Board of Education to establish an arts proficiency high school diploma endorsement available to students graduating beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

Arts endorsement criteria include completion of a minimum of four arts credits with an unweighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher in each course and completion of a minimum of 40 hours of approved arts-related extracurricular activities outside of instructional time.

Maintains existing graduation requirements including successful completion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction and a passing grade in a course on the Founding Principles of the United States and North Carolina.

Prohibits the State Board from requiring Algebra I as a graduation standard for students whose individualized education program identifies them as learning disabled in mathematics and states this disability will prevent them from mastering Algebra I.

Requires the State Board to report annually to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on high school diploma endorsements, including the number of students receiving arts proficiency endorsements beginning with the November 15, 2024 report.