Eighth grade math students across North Carolina are likely breathing a sigh of relief, now that the State Board of Education has changed testing procedures for some students.
According to Dr. Kelly Batts, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Clinton City Schools, a revision to a State Board policy eliminates the double-testing standard for eighth grade students enrolled in NC Math 1.
The staff of Clinton City Schools is prepared for the changes in the testing policy, set to take effect with the beginning of the 2017-18 school year.
Prior to the revision, eighth grade students enrolled in Math 1 were required to not only take the End of Course assessment in the subject, but were also required to take the End of Grade math assessment for accountability purposes.
“We had some eighth graders who were taking both the EOG and EOC,” Batts explained. “Math 1 is a high school level course, where the students receive high school credit. Their scores from that assessment were banked and followed them to ninth grade.”
The policy revision now requires students to take a higher level math assessment in high school, which has been specified as the Math 3 assessment.
“Now these scores won’t follow the student, but be associated with the middle school and help determine the proficiency level for those students,” Batts said.
The scores from the Math 3 assessment will count towards the high school’s accountability scores.
“Kids were being double tested,” Batts attested. “The change in the state’s testing procedures has eliminated that double-testing standard for our eighth grade Math 1 students.”
According to Batts, students who take Math 1 as eighth graders will be given a common assessment developed by the Clinton City Schools staff.
“We don’t want any of our kids taking Math 1 who can’t master eighth and ninth grade skills,” Batts explained. “This local assessment will measure the proficiency of the students and make sure they have mastered all the necessary skills.”
Batts added that the teachers who teach Math 1 to the eighth-grade students ensure they master the eighth grade curriculum in addition to the Math 1 standards.