The Senate committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Amends one of the whereas clauses.

Amends the State Board of Education's duties in Section 1 of the act as follows. Requires continuing to exercise authority to adopt (was, adopt, revise, and replace) academic standards for the public schools. Adds increasing students' level of academic achievement and being among the highest standards in the nation to the criteria to be met by all English Language Arts and Mathematics standards. 

Reduces the membership of the Academic Standards Review Commission (Commission) from 17 to 11 members and makes changes to composition of the Commission. Requires that the co-chairs be elected from among the members (was, the senator and representative appointed to the Commission serve as co-chairs). Amends the Commission's duties to add proposing modification that ensure the English Language Arts and Mathematics Standards meet specified criteria (was, review the proposed changes to academic standards submitted to it by the State Board). 

Requires that new assessment instruments be nationally normed, aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and field tested. Provides as examples of appropriate assessment models the ITBS, SAT, ACT Aspire, and NAEP.

Directs local boards of education to continue to provide for the efficient teaching of the course content required by the standard course of study. Provides that the current standard course of study remains in effect until official notice is provided of any changes made by the State Board.

Makes technical and conforming changes.

Amends the act's short and long titles.