NC H756

Creates the Standard Course of Study Advisory Commission (SCOS Commission) to recommend academic standards to the State Board of Education for approval in core areas including reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, geography, and civics.

Commission consists of 19 members: six appointed by General Assembly upon President Pro Tempore recommendation, six appointed by Speaker of House recommendation, six appointed by Governor, plus the Superintendent of Public Instruction (voting) and three nonvoting representatives from community colleges, University of North Carolina, and North Carolina Chamber.

Commission members serve four-year terms with a maximum of eight consecutive years and receive compensation per G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6; the Superintendent assigns staff and the Commission may contract with content experts.

State Board of Education must adopt or reject Commission recommendations without making substantive changes; if rejected, Board must state specific reasons and Commission may amend and resubmit; if Board fails to adopt amended recommendations, Board may develop its own standards subject to legislative oversight requirements.

Changes to standards adopted by State Board require submission to Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and may be implemented after 31 legislative days unless disapproved by bill; Commission must submit annual reports by December 1 beginning in 2024 and provide social studies recommendations by January 1, 2025.