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HB 415

An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, providing for suicide prevention.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Ciresi and 11 co-sponsors

HB 415 reorganizes NC graduation requirements by replacing Math III with a four-murd math credit path (math I, II, a computer science credit, and a fourth math course) and adds a U

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Bill Summary · HB 415

Summary — HB 415: Modify Math and Social Studies Graduation Requirements

Status: Special message sent to Senate (House passed)
Introduced: 2024–2025 legislative session (multiple readings/amendments)
Primary focus: High school mathematics and social studies graduation requirements; related testing and teacher/licensure adjustments

Purpose

HB 415 revises North Carolina high‑school graduation requirements to (1) change which math courses are required, (2) create stronger pathway and remediation options for students who struggle in math, (3) add/standardize a U.S. history test, and (4) adjust how computer science is treated for graduation credit and teacher staffing.

Key provisions

  • Remove NC Math III as a required course for high‑school graduation beginning 2025–26. Schools must continue to offer NC Math III and other math electives as student interest warrants, and students are encouraged to take additional math aligned to postsecondary plans.

  • Mathematics credit structure (as rewritten):

    • To meet four math credits for graduation, students must earn passing grades in:
    • NC Math I
    • NC Math II
    • A computer science course (counts as one math credit)
    • A fourth mathematics course aligned with the student’s career development plan
    • The State Board may adopt emergency rules to implement changes for 2025–26.

  • Foundational/remediation pathway (applies beginning 2026–27):

    • Local boards must enroll lower‑performing students in Foundations of Math I (prior to NC Math I) or Foundations of Math II (prior to NC Math II) when students score at Level 1 or 2 on prior assessments.
    • Parents may provide written consent to place students directly into NC Math I/II; principals may override placement based on academic evidence.
    • Encouragement (not mandate) that students scoring Level 3+ skip Foundations courses.

  • Social studies graduation requirements (reorganized):

    • To satisfy the four social‑studies credits, students must pass:
    • World History
    • United States History
    • Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy
    • Economics and Personal Finance

  • U.S. History test:

    • The State Board must adopt a United States History end‑of‑course test composed of questions drawn from the publicly available USCIS civics question pool; the board will set format/length. (Applies beginning with students entering 9th grade in 2026–27.)

  • Computer science and teacher licensure:

    • Because computer science now counts as a math credit, the State Board must develop a plan to remove licensing barriers for teachers previously licensed/eligible to teach CS.
    • Public school units may temporarily allow any licensed teacher (regardless of subject area) to teach computer science if the unit determines the teacher has necessary content knowledge. This authorization expires June 30, 2028.

  • Other implementation tools:

    • The bill authorizes emergency rulemaking by the State Board to implement provisions in time for the relevant school years.

Who is affected

  • All North Carolina public high school students (current and future 9th‑grade cohorts), especially students at risk of not meeting math proficiency.
  • Local school districts and principals (placement decisions, course offerings).
  • High school teachers (computer science staffing and potential licensure changes).
  • State Board of Education (rulemaking, test adoption, licensing plan).
  • Postsecondary institutions may be indirectly affected if admissions requirements are aligned with new graduation requirements (some bill versions sought alignment with UNC constituent institutions).

Timeline / Effective dates

  • Some math changes (removal of Math III as a required course) effective for the 2025–26 school year.
  • Provisions related to the U.S. History test and foundational enrollment apply beginning with students entering 9th grade in 2026–27.
  • Temporary teacher‑licensure flexibility and related provisions expire June 30, 2028.
  • State Board may adopt emergency rules to implement changes before the start of effected school years.

Practical implications

  • Districts will need to adjust course catalogs, counseling, and scheduling to reflect new required credits and to offer Foundations courses for remediation.
  • Development and administration of a new U.S. History test (using USCIS civics items) will require procurement/adoption and scoring processes.
  • Teacher training/recertification efforts may be needed so computer science can be reliably delivered as a math‑credit course.
  • The changes create more flexibility in math pathways but will require coordination across K–12 systems, assessment, and teacher workforce planning.

If you want, I can: (a) produce a student‑facing FAQ about these changes; (b) draft a timeline of actions university admissions offices would need to take; or (c) extract the bill sections and cite exact statutory changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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