Senate committee substitute to the 3rd edition makes the following changes.

Amends GS 115C-81.65 to no longer require the State Board of Education (State Board) to review the high school standard course of study to determine which courses and grade levels personal financial literacy will be integrated. Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, directs the State Board to require a full credit course in high school focused on economics and personal finance (EPF). Requires that the content of the course include the specified standards, at minimum. Requires that the EPF course provide instruction on economic principles and that it provide, at minimum, the already required personal financial literacy instruction components with the addition of planning and paying for postsecondary education.

Additionally amends GS 115C-81.65 to direct the State Board to require that EPF teachers get the professional development necessary to ensure that the intent and provisions of the statute are carried out. Provides that to the extent funds are made available for this purpose, the State Board must require the employing entity to make available the EPF professional development course provided by the specified entity. Adds that when practicable, teachers must complete the EPF professional development course prior to teaching the EPF course in public schools, and if necessary, teachers only begin teaching the EPF course in public schools while awaiting the next possible opportunity to complete a session of the EPF professional development course. Requires the EPF professional development course be taken at an approved location most conveniently located to the local school administrative unit to the extent possible. 

Amends GS 115C-81.45. Makes organizational changes to the current requirement for instruction in civic citizenship education in the standard course of study for high school social studies, integrating the requirement and its encouraged components into the civic literacy requirement for high school students. Now requires instruction in civic citizenship education in the standard course of study for high school social studies through teaching a full credit course called the Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy (was, a semester course during the high school years on the founding principles of the United States and North Carolina). Maintains the requirements of a passing score for graduation and for 13 specified subjects to be included in the course. Specifies that the course must be solely focused on civics and citizenship education. Makes technical changes. Applies to students entering the ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year. Makes organizational and clarifying changes regarding the requirement for instruction in civic and citizenship education in the standard course of study for middle school social studies. 

Amends GS 115C-218.85 (concerning charter schools), GS 115C-238.66 (concerning regional schools), and GS 116-239.8 (concerning laboratory schools) to require the provision of financial literacy instruction as required by the State Board pursuant to GS 115C-81.65, as amended. Amends Section 6(d) of SL 2018-42, adding the provisions of GS 115C-81.65 to which renewal school systems are subject.

Directs the State Board to (1) begin the process for review and revision of the standard course of study for social studies in grades K-12 in the 2019-20 school year and (2) revise the high school standard course of study for the EPF course and the Founding Principles of the United States of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy courses and review the standard course of study to determine the grade level during which the course can be completed. Prohibits the State Board from requiring more than four full course credits in social studies for high school graduation.

Repeals Section 7.18(a)-(i) of HB 966 of the 2019 Regular Session (identical provisions set forth in the 2019 Appropriations Act) if enacted.

Makes organizational changes. Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.