State & Federal Testing
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The State Testing Team works to implement the North Carolina Testing Program by developing and providing policies, guidelines, procedures, and ethical testing practices that meet federal and state requirements related to the area of securing tests, administering and scoring tests, reporting scores.
All students are required to participate in the state testing program through the administration of a general assessment under standard conditions, the administration of a general assessment with testing accommodations, or through the use of the state-designated alternate assessment with or without testing accommodations.
The State Testing Team works to assist the district and schools as they administer state-mandated tests, which include the following:
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National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
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North Carolina End of Grade Tests (Grades 3-8)
The North Carolina End-of-Grade tests measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
- North Carolina End-of-Grade Mathematics Tests (Grades 3-8) Test Specifications, Achievement Level Descriptors
- North Carolina End-of-Grade Reading Comprehension Tests (Grades 3-8) Test Specifications, Achievement Level Descriptors
- North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests of Science (Grades 5 and 8) Test Specifications, Achievement Level Descriptors
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North Carolina End of Course Tests
The North Carolina End-of-Course Tests are used to sample a student's knowledge of subject-related concepts, as specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and provide a global estimate of the student's mastery of the material in a particular content area. The North Carolina End-of-Course tests were initiated in response to legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly – the North Carolina Elementary and Secondary Reform Act of 1984.
The following are courses requiring the administration of an EOC Exam:
- Biology
- English II
- NC Math I
- NC Math III
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NCEXTEND 1 Alternate Assessments
The NCEXTEND1 alternate assessment is a performance-based alternate assessment designed to assess students with significant cognitive disabilities who are being taught using the Extended Content Standards. NCEXTEND1 alternate assessment items are grade-level, performance-based, multiple-choice items that measure the standards specified in the North Carolina Extended Content Standards. These Extended Content Standards are available for download here.
To determine participation in any of the NCEXTEND1 alternate assessments, the following eligibility requirements must be met:
- The student must have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- The student is enrolled in grades 3–8, 10, or 11, according to PowerSchool. Note: Only those students enrolled in 11th grade for the first time are required to take the NCEXTEND1 alternate assessment at grade 11.
- The student is instructed using the North Carolina Extended Content Standards in all assessed content areas (i.e., English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, and Science).
- The student has a significant cognitive disability.
- The student's disability significantly impacts adaptive behaviors, defined as essential skills for living and functioning independently.
- The student requires extensive and repeated individualized instruction and support to make meaningful gains.
- The student uses substantially adapted materials and individualized methods of accessing information in alternative ways.
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North Carolina Check-Ins
NC Check-Ins are interim assessments developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) aligned to North Carolina grade-level content standards in English language arts (ELA)/reading for grades 4–8 and mathematics for grades 3–8. In ELA, NC Check-Ins measure all grade-level content standards assessed and increased text complexity. For mathematics, each NC Check-In focuses on a selected subset of grade-level content standards. The main purpose of NC Check-Ins is to provide students, teachers, parents, and stakeholders with immediate in-depth action data and a reliable estimate of students' current performance on the selected subset of content standards. The end-of-grade assessments (EOG) and the NC Check-Ins share a common item bank, exposing NC Check-In students to similar item types and rigor found on the EOGs.
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English Language Proficiency Tests (W-APT, WIDA Screener, ACCESS 2.0)
Local Education Agencies (LEAs)/charter schools must identify students in need of language services in a timely manner. The WIDA Screener is the assessment used in North Carolina for the initial identification and placement of students identified as English Learners (EL). The administration of the WIDA Screener assessment is based on the results of the Home Language Survey (HLS) process. The HLS process and the identification and subsequent placement of EL students in English as a Second Language (ESL) services are guided at the state level by the NCDPI Curriculum and Instruction Division. Additional information can be found here.
The student is required by state and federal law to be assessed annually with a state-identified English language proficiency test. The test currently used by North Carolina for annual assessment is the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners (ELLs) or the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0.® Eligible students may participate in the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs® in place of the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0.
