Directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create the Annual Career Development Plan Pilot Program, for students entering seventh grade at select schools in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, continuing through high school graduation, to review career development plans GS 115C-158.10 to better align students for on-time graduation and achievement of college and career goals. Requires the Superintendent to select 12 partnered schools (as defined) representative of public schools in the state for the pilot program, and each student entering the seventh grade will be a part of the annual review pilot program.
Specifies that local boards of education must ensure students in the pilot program have assistance from a school counselor and planning time during the school day to update plans. Requires plans to be updated prior to students scheduling courses for the next school year.
Requires partnered schools to encourage parental involvement for development of the plans. Specifies that a local board of education must provide updates on the plans and information related to the plans to parents, and school counselors are to attempt to schedule meetings with parents prior to updating the plans. Directs that parents and students must be provided with information about state and federal financial aid for postsecondary education beginning in tenth grade.
Specifies that the initial career development plans will be created in seventh grade, and students in the pilot program will update annually, along with information that must be provided, including core courses, graduation requirements, and other minimum requirements established by the Superintendent.
Requires the Superintendent or local boards of education to develop reporting requirements and the Superintendent to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by August 15, 2026, and annually thereafter on the pilot program.