Amends GS 115C-150.7, adding subsection (b1), directing each local board of education to include in the identification of academically or intellectually gifted students any student in third through seventh grade who achieves level five on the end-of-grade math test or who scores in the ninetieth percentile or above on an aptitude test administered by the local school administration for the purpose of identifying gifted students. For students identified as gifted by these criteria, directs the plan to make available the same programs and courses that are available to students identified as gifted by other procedures, provide placement priority in courses over students who scored below the qualifying criteria, and to not exclude these students from any gifted programs or courses unless a parent or guardian of the student provides written consent for the child to be excluded. Directs the local plan to only allow for placement of students who scored below these qualifying criteria, or who qualified for gifted placement based on an evaluation from a private provider, if space is available after placing all qualified students. Makes a clarifying change.

Appropriates $677,948 in recurring funds for the 2018-19 fiscal year from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction to implement the requirements of this act. 

Amends SL 2017-57, Section 7.2(a), to increase the amount of funds allocated for each academically gifted child in the 2018-19 fiscal year, from $1,314.56 per child to $1,350 per child. Restricts the amount of funds each local school administrative unit receives to a maximum of 4% of its 2018-19 allocated average daily membership, regardless of the number of children in that unit identified as gifted. 

Effective July 1, 2018, and applies beginning with the 2019-20 school year.