NC H716

State Board of Education shall develop standards for a middle school career pathways course in which students investigate and learn about career pathways, effective beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

All seventh-grade students must complete the career pathways course and develop a career development plan; students cannot be promoted from seventh grade until the plan is created or from tenth grade until it is revised.

Career development plans must include self-assessment of aptitudes and interests, exploration of aligned career pathways with education and training requirements, alignment of academic courses with career interests, and creation of a career portfolio.

Local boards of education must ensure career development plans are electronically accessible to students and parents, provide professional development and curriculum content to teachers, and give parents written notice of plan creation.

State Board of Education shall establish a pilot program with at least 20 local school administrative units during the 2023-2024 school year and develop an electronic application for accessing career development plans by the 2024-2025 school year.