State Standards

According to the State Department of Charter Schools, “Charter Schools are not required to follow the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS), however, students are accessed using the same tests as other schools (End of Grade, End of Course, etc), which correlate to the NCSCOS."

Current State Assessments include:

• End of Grade Tests Math and Reading in grades 3-8
• End of Grade Science Tests in grades 5 and 8
• Writing Exam in grade 10
• ACT in grade 10 (new for spring 2012)
• PLAN in grade 10 (new for spring 2012)
• NC Extend 1 and 2- Alternative Assessments for Students with Exceptional Needs
• End of Course Tests for specific High School Courses (new for spring 2012 ONLY Algebra 1, Eng 1, and Biology)
• Various field tests and special studies (differ each school year)

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The mission of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Accountability Services Division is to promote the academic achievement of all North Carolina public school students and to assist stakeholders in understanding and gauging this achievement against state and national standards. The major thrust of this mission is three-fold: the design and development of reliable and valid assessment instruments, the uniform implementation of and access to suitable assessment instruments for all students; and the provision of accurate and statistically appropriate reports.

In January 2008, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability presented a report to the State that recommended improvements in the current system of testing and accountability and steps toward a next generation of standards, assessments, and accountability for North Carolina's schools. The Commission's findings and recommendations helped to isolate the major next steps needed to transform the Department of Public Instruction's approach to standards, assessments, and accountability in North Carolina.

The information within this document provides an update on the progress made in implementing the action steps for immediate improvement and development of the next generation of standards, assessments, and accountability that the State Board of Education (SBE) approved June 5, 2008, and is directing the Department of Public Instruction to implement. (See the Framework for Change: The Next Generation of Assessments and Accountability (June 5, 2008) for more information and a complete list of the actions the SBE is directing the NCDPI to implement.)

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