All first grade teachers in all schools in the state will be using the NC Formative Assessment Process next year.

Fact Myth

Myth! Some first grade teachers in mutually-selected Early Adopter districts will participate as part of a partnership with the Office of Early Learning.

School districts can choose to opt out of using the Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA).

Fact Myth

Myth! State law (G.S. 115C-83.5)(a) requires that…    The State Board of Education shall ensure that every student entering kindergarten shall be administered a developmental screening of early language, literacy, and math skills within 30 days of enrollment. (b) The State Board of Education shall ensure that every student entering kindergarten shall complete a kindergarten entry assessment within 60 days of enrollment.

Teachers should gather as much evidence as needed to determine a child’s learning status.

Fact Myth

Fact! There is no required number of evidences that must be documented for each construct. The evidence collected should serve to clearly  document a learning status.

Only teachers can collect evidence of learning.

Fact Myth

Myth! Teacher assistants, specialists, administrators can collect evidence of learning. And, there is technology support for this within the platform. Support staff can be added as “Team Members” in order to add evidence.

Specialists, i. e. PE teachers, music teachers, resource teachers, etc Specialists, i.e. PE teachers, music teachers, resource teachers, etc. can add evidence to the platform.

Fact Myth

Fact! These teachers can be added as co-teachers or team members. These teachers have access to the platform in order to add evidence of learning.

The usefulness of the KEA and the Formative Assessment Process ends after day 60.

Fact Myth

Myth! The use of the NC K-3 FAP throughout the school year optimally informs instruction and supports children’s progress.

EC students are exempt from the KEA.

Fact Myth

Myth! All teachers of kindergarten students use the KEA to the extent that it is helpful to inform instruction and/or support development.

Some constructs in the Health and Physical Development domain support early literacy.

Fact Myth

Fact! The ability to cross midline supports print tracking. Grip and Manipulation supports handwriting fluency.

Kindergarten teachers’ goal is to get all children to the “end” of each progression.

Fact Myth

Myth! The formative assessment process does not rely on proficiency markers. Rather, a learning status on a progression is an indicator of what a child can do, and what the next step is for continued growth.

Teachers are engaged in formative assessment all day every day.

Fact Myth

Fact! As teachers we are constantly “kid watching” to learn about what our students can do. The KEA provides some additional tools to help us use our kid watching skills to inform our planning and instruction.

The State will check my data after the 60th day as a way to assess my teaching.

Fact Myth

Myth! Status summary data is collected in aggregate and is not viewed at the teacher or student level.