North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H581 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 581
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH10260-NGa-44
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Career Pathways Transparency Act. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Johnson, Winslow, Paré, and Tyson (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Education - K-12, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
11		-	Operations of the House
12		-	April 1, 2025
13		-	H581 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Johnson.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH10260 -NGa-44
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO ENACT THE CAREER PATH OPTIONS TRANSPARENCY ACT. 2
16	15		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
17	16		SECTION 1. G.S. 116-209.16A reads as rewritten: 4
18	17		"§ 116-209.16A. Information on career and major options. 5
19	18		(a) Know Before You Go. – The Authority shall provide information on a Web site, 6
20	19		website, under a section entitled "Know Before You Go," to students and parents to assist in 7
21	20		selection of major and career options in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State, as 8
22	21		provided in this section. The information shall be updated annually. 9
23	22		(a1) Definitions. – The following definitions shall apply in this section: 10
24	23		(1) Private institutions of higher education. – Includes postsecondary institutions 11
25	24		that award postsecondary degrees, as defined in G.S. 116-15(a2)(1). 12
26	25		(2) Prosperity zones of the State. – The eight permanent prosperity zones 13
27	26		identified in G.S. 143B-28.1. 14
28	27		(3) Public institutions of higher education. – Includes the constituent institutions 15
29	28		of The University of North Carolina and the community colleges under the 16
30	29		jurisdiction of the State Board of Community Colleges. 17
31	30		(4) Vocational and technical school. – A school licensed as a proprietary school 18
32	31		under G.S. 115D-90. 19
33	32		(b) Career Options. – The Authority shall, as data is available, provide information on 20
34	33		projected employment needs in the labor economy economy in the State and in each prosperity 21
35	34		zone of the State, including highest demand career areas, and associated salary ranges for those 22
36	35		areas of employment, college majors which may fulfill those needs, and institutions of higher 23
37	36		education that may provide those majors. The Authority may use existing sources of public 24
38	37		information, such as the employment projections produced by the federal Department of Labor, 25
39	38		Bureau of Labor Statistics, to develop this information. 26
40	39		(c) Major Options. – The Authority shall, as data is available, provide information based 27
41	40		on aggregate data for outcomes of public and private institutions of higher education and 28
42	41		vocational and technical schools in North Carolina. Outcome information for each public and 29
43	42		private institution of higher education and vocational and technical school shall include, but is 30
44	43		not limited to, the following: 31
45	44		(1) Completion rates within the expected number of semesters for the degree 32
46	45		sought. 33
47		-	(2) Transfer rates of students to other institutions. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 581-First Edition
49		-	(2a) Average tuition for public and private institutions of higher education and 1
50		-	vocational and technical schools. 2
51		-	(3) Percentage of students receiving financial aid, by type of aid. 3
52		-	(4) Average and median amount of loan debt upon student graduation, by 4
53		-	major.major, and among graduates from four-year institutions of higher 5
	46	+	(2) Transfer rates of students to other institutions. 34
	47	+	(2a) Average tuition for public and private institutions of higher education and 35
	48	+	vocational and technical schools. 36
	49	+	H.B. 581
	50	+	Mar 31, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH10260-NGa-44
	53	+	(3) Percentage of students receiving financial aid, by type of aid. 1
	54	+	(4) Average and median amount of loan debt upon student graduation, by 2
	55	+	major.major, and among graduates from four-year institutions of higher 3
	56	+	education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. 4
	57	+	(4a) Average monthly student loan payment from four-year institutions of higher 5
54	58		education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. 6
55		-	(4a) Average monthly student loan payment from four-year institutions of higher 7
56		-	education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. 8
57		-	(5) Average and median salary, by major.major, and among graduates from 9
58		-	four-year institutions of higher education, community colleges, and vocational 10
59		-	and technical schools. 11
60		-	(6) Percentage of graduates employed within six months of graduation, by 12
61		-	major.major, and among graduates from four-year institutions of higher 13
62		-	education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. 14
63		-	(7) Percentage of graduates enrolled in graduate school within six months of 15
64		-	graduation, by major. 16
65		-	(d) Public and Private Institutions of Higher Education. – For the purposes of this section, 17
66		-	"public institutions of higher education" shall include the constituent institutions of The 18
67		-	University of North Carolina and the community colleges under the jurisdiction of the State 19
68		-	Board of Community Colleges and "private institutions of higher education" shall include 20
69		-	postsecondary institutions that award postsecondary degrees, as defined in G.S. 116-15(a2)(1)." 21
70		-	SECTION 2. G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 22
71		-	"(41a) To Compile Data for the "Know Before You Go" Program. – The State Board 23
72		-	and the Department of Public Instruction shall collaborate with the 24
73		-	Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor in collecting data for 25
74		-	local boards of education to provide to sophomore students to enable them to 26
75		-	make informed decisions about postsecondary education choices and their 27
76		-	professional futures through the "Know Before You Go" programs under 28
77		-	G.S. 115C-47(34b)." 29
78		-	SECTION 3. G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 30
79		-	"(34b) To Provide Sophomores with "Know Before You Go" Information. – Each 31
80		-	local board of education shall provide for a program for students in their 32
81		-	sophomore year of high school with the information contained on the "Know 33
82		-	Before You Go" website pursuant to G.S. 116-209.16A and the information 34
83		-	compiled by the Department of Public Instruction under G.S. 115C-12(41a) 35
84		-	to allow students to make informed decisions about postsecondary education 36
85		-	choices and their professional futures." 37
86		-	SECTION 4. Through the longitudinal data system established pursuant to Chapter 38
87		-	116E of the General Statutes, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, and the 39
88		-	Department of Public Instruction shall collect and compile data on an annual basis for the "Know 40
89		-	Before You Go" website maintained by the State Education Assistance Authority pursuant to 41
90		-	G.S. 116-209.16A and for the programs operated by local boards of education providing 42
91		-	information to students under G.S. 115C-47(34b). For purposes of this section, the definitions 43
92		-	provided in G.S. 116-209.16A(a1) shall apply. As soon as practicable, the data compiled shall 44
93		-	include at least the following: 45
94		-	(1) The most in-demand jobs in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State, 46
95		-	including starting salary and education level required for those jobs. 47
96		-	(2) The breakdown of average cost for all public and private institutions of higher 48
97		-	education and vocational and technical schools in the State, respectively. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98		-	House Bill 581-First Edition Page 3
99		-	(3) The average three-year student loan default rate for all public and private 1
100		-	institutions of higher education and vocational and technical schools in the 2
101		-	State. 3
102		-	(4) The average total student loan debt for in-State graduates of public and private 4
103		-	institutions of higher education for four-year degrees and graduate programs. 5
104		-	(5) The average graduation rate for all public and private institutions of higher 6
105		-	education and vocational and technical schools in the State. 7
106		-	(6) The completion rates for apprenticeship programs, high school credential 8
107		-	programs, career and technical education programs, and military first-term 9
108		-	enlistments. 10
109		-	(7) The share of college graduates working in an occupation that does not require 11
110		-	a college degree for each major. 12
111		-	(8) The average starting salary in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State 13
112		-	for individuals graduating from public and private institutions of higher 14
113		-	education. 15
114		-	(9) The average starting salary in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State 16
115		-	for individuals that have completed an apprenticeship program, high school 17
116		-	credential program, or career and technical education program. 18
117		-	(10) The average starting salary in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State 19
118		-	for individuals graduating from a vocational and technical school in the State. 20
119		-	SECTION 5.(a) Grant Program Established. – From the funds appropriated by 21
120		-	subsection (b) of this section, the Department of Public Instruction shall establish the Career Path 22
121		-	Options Grant Pilot Program for the 2025-2026 school year for local boards of education to apply 23
122		-	for funds to provide students with the information required under G.S. 115C-47(34b), as enacted 24
123		-	by this act, to make informed decisions about postsecondary education choices and their 25
124		-	professional futures. The Department shall establish application criteria for grants. Grant funds 26
125		-	shall be used to promote and distribute program materials, including printing and distribution 27
126		-	costs. Funds may also be used for hiring or paying supplemental compensation to career coaches 28
127		-	or career development coordinators to support students through the program. 29
128		-	SECTION 5.(b) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 30
129		-	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in 31
130		-	nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program established by 32
131		-	this section. 33
132		-	SECTION 6. Sections 1 and 3 of this act become effective January 1, 2026. Section 34
133		-	5 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2025. The remainder of this act is effective when it 35
134		-	becomes law. 36
	59	+	(5) Average and median salary, by major.major, and among graduates from 7
	60	+	four-year institutions of higher education, community colleges, and vocational 8
	61	+	and technical schools. 9
	62	+	(6) Percentage of graduates employed within six months of graduation, by 10
	63	+	major.major, and among graduates from four-year institutions of higher 11
	64	+	education, community colleges, and vocational and technical schools. 12
	65	+	(7) Percentage of graduates enrolled in graduate school within six months of 13
	66	+	graduation, by major. 14
	67	+	(d) Public and Private Institutions of Higher Education. – For the purposes of this section, 15
	68	+	"public institutions of higher education" shall include the constituent institutions of The 16
	69	+	University of North Carolina and the community colleges under the jurisdiction of the State 17
	70	+	Board of Community Colleges and "private institutions of higher education" shall include 18
	71	+	postsecondary institutions that award postsecondary degrees, as defined in G.S. 116-15(a2)(1)." 19
	72	+	SECTION 2. G.S. 115C-12 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 20
	73	+	"(41a) To Compile Data for the "Know Before You Go" Program. – The State Board 21
	74	+	and the Department of Public Instruction shall collaborate with the 22
	75	+	Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor in collecting data for 23
	76	+	local boards of education to provide to sophomore students to enable them to 24
	77	+	make informed decisions about postsecondary education choices and their 25
	78	+	professional futures through the "Know Before You Go" programs under 26
	79	+	G.S. 115C-47(34b)." 27
	80	+	SECTION 3. G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 28
	81	+	"(34b) To Provide Sophomores with "Know Before You Go" Information. – Each 29
	82	+	local board of education shall provide for a program for students in their 30
	83	+	sophomore year of high school with the information contained on the "Know 31
	84	+	Before You Go" website pursuant to G.S. 116-209.16A and the information 32
	85	+	compiled by the Department of Public Instruction under G.S. 115C-12(41a) 33
	86	+	to allow students to make informed decisions about postsecondary education 34
	87	+	choices and their professional futures." 35
	88	+	SECTION 4. Through the longitudinal data system established pursuant to Chapter 36
	89	+	116E of the General Statutes, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, and the 37
	90	+	Department of Public Instruction shall collect and compile data on an annual basis for the "Know 38
	91	+	Before You Go" website maintained by the State Education Assistance Authority pursuant to 39
	92	+	G.S. 116-209.16A and for the programs operated by local boards of education providing 40
	93	+	information to students under G.S. 115C-47(34b). For purposes of this section, the definitions 41
	94	+	provided in G.S. 116-209.16A(a1) shall apply. As soon as practicable, the data compiled shall 42
	95	+	include at least the following: 43
	96	+	(1) The most in-demand jobs in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State, 44
	97	+	including starting salary and education level required for those jobs. 45
	98	+	(2) The breakdown of average cost for all public and private institutions of higher 46
	99	+	education and vocational and technical schools in the State, respectively. 47
	100	+	(3) The average three-year student loan default rate for all public and private 48
	101	+	institutions of higher education and vocational and technical schools in the 49
	102	+	State. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	103	+	DRH10260-NGa-44 Page 3
	104	+	(4) The average total student loan debt for in-State graduates of public and private 1
	105	+	institutions of higher education for four-year degrees and graduate programs. 2
	106	+	(5) The average graduation rate for all public and private institutions of higher 3
	107	+	education and vocational and technical schools in the State. 4
	108	+	(6) The completion rates for apprenticeship programs, high school credential 5
	109	+	programs, career and technical education programs, and military first-term 6
	110	+	enlistments. 7
	111	+	(7) The share of college graduates working in an occupation that does not require 8
	112	+	a college degree for each major. 9
	113	+	(8) The average starting salary in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State 10
	114	+	for individuals graduating from public and private institutions of higher 11
	115	+	education. 12
	116	+	(9) The average starting salary in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State 13
	117	+	for individuals that have completed an apprenticeship program, high school 14
	118	+	credential program, or career and technical education program. 15
	119	+	(10) The average starting salary in the State and in each prosperity zone of the State 16
	120	+	for individuals graduating from a vocational and technical school in the State. 17
	121	+	SECTION 5.(a) Grant Program Established. – From the funds appropriated by 18
	122	+	subsection (b) of this section, the Department of Public Instruction shall establish the Career Path 19
	123	+	Options Grant Pilot Program for the 2025-2026 school year for local boards of education to apply 20
	124	+	for funds to provide students with the information required under G.S. 115C-47(34b), as enacted 21
	125	+	by this act, to make informed decisions about postsecondary education choices and their 22
	126	+	professional futures. The Department shall establish application criteria for grants. Grant funds 23
	127	+	shall be used to promote and distribute program materials, including printing and distribution 24
	128	+	costs. Funds may also be used for hiring or paying supplemental compensation to career coaches 25
	129	+	or career development coordinators to support students through the program. 26
	130	+	SECTION 5.(b) Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to 27
	131	+	the Department of Public Instruction the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in 28
	132	+	nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement the grant program established by 29
	133	+	this section. 30
	134	+	SECTION 6. Sections 1 and 3 of this act become effective January 1, 2026. Section 31
	135	+	5 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2025. The remainder of this act is effective when it 32
	136	+	becomes law. 33