Career and College Ready Graduate (CCRG)

Career and College Ready Graduate (CCRG) Program Summary & Legislative Updates

The Career and College Ready Graduate (CCRG) Program originated from legislative efforts aimed at improving college readiness among high school students. As outlined in S.L. 2018-5, Section 9.4, the State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC), in consultation with the State Board of Education (SBOE), was directed to develop a program that introduced college developmental math, reading, & English curriculum prior to high school graduation. The initiative focused on providing high school seniors who were not deemed career- and college-ready by the end of their junior year—specifically those with an unweighted high school GPA between 2.2 and 2.799—with opportunities for academic remediation in collaboration with local community colleges. Since its inception, the program has evolved and been formally established through earlier and subsequent legislation, including S.L. 2015-241, Section 10.13, and S.L. 2016-94.

As of July 2025, the original CCRG legislation has been formally repealed, following the passage of Senate Bill 125, Version 4 (S125-v-4) by both the House and Senate and as of its signing by the Governor (SL 2025-56). The repeal language appears in Section 2.7 of the bill (page 34): S125v4.pdf (see below).

SECTION 2.5.(e) The following provisions are repealed:
(1) Section 10.13 of S.L. 2015-241.
(2) Section 10.5 of S.L. 2016-94.
(3) Section 9.4 of S.L. 2018-5.
(4) Section 3J.19 of S.L. 2024-57.
SECTION 2.5.(f) This section applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year

 

What’s Next: A Shift to a New Pathway Within CCP

The good news is that the intent of CCRG has not been lost! Instead, it has been restructured and codified as part of the new fourth pathway within the Career and College Promise (CCP) program — the ‘Career and College-Ready Pathway’ (CRP).

Career and College Ready Graduate pathways introducing college developmental mathematics and developmental English and reading curricula in the junior or senior year of high school, including the immediately preceding summers of those years, and providing opportunities for college remediation for students prior to high school graduation, ensuring students are prepared for college and career success as they transition from high school to higher education.

This updated framework was passed and is included in the same legislation — see Section 2.5(b), page 33 of S125v4 (SL 2025-56).

“Codifies the Career and College Ready Graduate program as a pathway under the Career and College Promise program and allows high school juniors to participate, including during the summer preceding their junior year.”

 

What This Means for Community Colleges

• The CCRG program approach now exists within the new CRP pathway under CCP, not as a standalone program.
• Community colleges will implement CCRG locally through existing Developmental Education courses, as a part of this new pathway, adapting the program within the guidelines to meet student needs in partnership with their local school districts.
• The Career and College-Ready Pathway provides flexibility to serve both juniors and seniors, including offering support during the summers before junior and senior years.
• The focus now extends to all students with an unweighted high school GPA below 2.8, providing them with the opportunity to complete developmental coursework before high school graduation — helping to strengthen college readiness and reduce the need for remediation upon entry.

This transition reflects a positive and strategic integration of CCRG into the broader CCP framework, emphasizing earlier intervention, strong K–12 and community college partnerships, and more streamlined pathways to postsecondary success. The change also promotes broader access and smoother transitions to college-level coursework.

The System Office will continue to share updates, resources, and guidance to support implementation and collaboration between colleges and school partners! If you are a community college faculty or staff member, please review the information below for additional insight.

 

For questions regarding the Career and College Ready Graduate (CCRG) program, contact Ashley Parrott at parrotta@nccommunitycolleges.edu.