Amends GS 115D-20(4)a., which authorizes local community colleges to collaborate with local school administrative units to offer courses in cooperative innovative high school programs, academic transition pathways, and college transfer certificates, as specified, and subject to approval of the State Board of Community Colleges (State Board). Qualifies the authorization to provide that the authority is subject to the adoption of criteria by the State Board for qualification of eligible students, including a minimum 3.0 GPA as part of the criteria for a sophomore student, and an equivalent measure to demonstrate readiness for the course material as part of the criteria for a freshman student.

Changes the provisions concerning community college collaboration with local units to offer academic transition pathways to qualified freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior high school students in the program that leads to a career technical education certificate, diploma, or State or industry-recognized credential (previously limited to qualified junior and senior high school students; with transition pathways available to qualified freshman and sophomore students but limited to those that lead to a career technical education certificate or diploma in industrial and engineering technologies, agriculture and natural resources, or transportation technology). Additionally, expands the authority to collaborate between community colleges and local units to now offer college transfer certificates requiring the successful completion of 30 semester credit hours of transfer courses to qualified freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior high school students (previously limited to junior and senior high school students).

Applies beginning with the 2019-20 school year.