Senate amendments make the following changes to the 2nd edition.

Amendment #1 adds a new subsection (b) to Section 3 of this act and makes conforming changes in designating subsections in Section 3. Directs the State Board of Education (SBE) to continue to develop and update the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in accordance with GS 115C-12(9c). Specifies that the SBE's work is to include a review of the standards in other states and of national assessments aligned with those standards. Also directs the SBE to implement the assessments that the SBE finds most aligned to evaluate student achievement on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, in accordance with Section 9.2(b) of SL 2013-360 and Section 5 of this act.

Amendment #2 amends the section which establishes the Academic Standards Review Commission (Commission). Qualifies the Commission's ability to contract for professional, clerical, and consulting services on the availability of funds. Also declares that Commission members are to receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances only to the extent that funds are available. Conditions the receipt of reimbursement by the Department of Administration for providing meeting rooms, office space, equipment, telephones, and supplies to the Commission on the availability of funds to make the reimbursement.

Deletes the appropriation of $250,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Administration for the 2014-15 fiscal year that was designated for useto implement the provisions of Section 2, establishing the Commission.

Amendment #3 prohibits appointing any individual serving in a statewide elected office or as a member of the General Assembly to the Commission.