NC S698

Expands academic transition pathways to include qualified sophomore high school students (in addition to junior and senior students) who pursue career technical education certificates, diplomas, or industry-recognized credentials.

Allows qualified freshman and sophomore high school students to pursue career technical education pathways specifically in industrial and engineering technologies, agriculture and natural resources, transportation technology, construction, or business technologies.

Permits freshman and sophomore high school students to access college transfer pathways requiring 30 semester credit hours of transfer courses (including English and mathematics) if they are determined academically gifted with demonstrated readiness and maturity, as approved by the community college president, high school principal, and academically gifted coordinator.

Requires freshman and sophomore students admitted to college transfer pathways to participate in academic advising focused on early college admission implications and obtain parental or guardian consent.

The act becomes effective immediately upon enactment and applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.