Sen. McInnis files bill in North Carolina Senate to expand academic pathways for high school students

A new bill filed by State Sen. McInnis seeks to expand academic transition pathways for high school students by allowing community colleges to partner with schools for career and college transfer programs, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 223 on March 3 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Expand Academic Trans. Pathways/Sophomore HS.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill aims to expand academic transition pathways for high school students, including sophomores, by allowing local community colleges, with state board approval, to collaborate with both public and nonpublic schools to offer career technical education and college transfer pathways. Sophomore, junior, and senior students are eligible for pathways leading to certificates or diplomas in industrial and engineering technologies, agriculture and natural resources, transportation technology, construction, or business technologies. Freshman and sophomore students who meet specific criteria, such as being academically gifted and having parental consent, can also undertake college transfer pathways, requiring 30 semester credit hours, including English and mathematics. The act is effective upon becoming law and is applicable beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

Of the three sponsors of this bill, Timothy D. Moffitt proposed the most bills (27) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Mclnnis, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2023 to represent the state’s 21st Senate district, replacing previous state senator Ben Clark.