1. Proof of Concept Study June Atkinson State Superintendent Tammy Howard Director, Accountability Services NC Department of Public Instruction July 13, 2015

2. Purposes Valid and reliable measures of content standards. Growth data for educator effectiveness reports. Assessments throughout the year that inform and guide instruction and that predict performance on future assessments. A stand-alone summative assessment at the end of the year that may be connected to the interim assessments. 2

3. Research Questions Determine the feasibility of implementing the concept across grades 3–8 data analysis to affirm reliability input/feedback on the integration of the assessments in instruction logistical/operational (delivery mode, scoring) professional development requirements possibility of different item types 3

4. Design Convene teacher groups to recommend test specifications Notify districts of schools selected for participation Provide professional development to the selected schools Administer the three through-grade assessments and then the modified end-of- grade 4

5. Interim 1 Interim 2Interim 3 End-of-Year (Covers Interims 1– 4) Design 5 Design could be altered based on outcome of study May have overlapping content May predict performance throughout the year

6. Timeline YearAdministrationGrade LevelsPurpose 2015–16 Proof of Concept (sample population) Release RFP for High School Grade 5: Math Grade 6: Reading Determine feasibility of concept Summer 2016: Decision-point of how to proceed 2016–17 Field Test (sample population) Or Release RFP for assessment Pilot High School Grades 3–8: Math Grades 4–8: Reading Test items for inclusion in operational test forms 2017–18Pilot Operational Year (statewide) High School Operational Grades 3–8: Math Grades 4–8: Reading Full Implementation 6

7. Review of Current Interim Assessments Several school districts currently administer vendor-developed interim assessments Review coverage of content standards, reliabilities, validity, and compare performance to EOG performance School systems will submit interim assessment data generated from commercially-developed assessments 7

8. Selected Districts for Participation in Proof of Concept: Grade 5 Mathematics 8 LEA/Charter Schools Alamance-Burlington SchoolsGaston County SchoolsNew Hanover County Schools Brunswick County SchoolsGuilford County SchoolsNorthampton County Schools Cabarrus Charter AcademyHarnett County SchoolsOnslow County Schools Catawba County SchoolsHenderson County SchoolsOrange County Schools Chapel Hill-Carrboro SchoolsHoke County SchoolsPiedmont Community Charter School Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsJohnston County SchoolsRandolph County Schools Chatham County SchoolsKannapolis City SchoolsRobeson County Schools Community School of DavidsonMartin County SchoolsVance County Schools Cumberland County SchoolsMillennium Charter AcademyWinston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Duplin County SchoolsMooresville City SchoolsYadkin County Schools Durham Public SchoolsMount Airy City SchoolsYancey County Schools Edgecombe County Public SchoolNash-Rocky Mount Schools

9. Selected Districts for Participation in Proof of Concept: Grade 6 ELA/Reading 9 LEA/Charter Schools Beaufort County SchoolsIredell-Statesville Schools Brevard AcademyJohnston County Schools Brunswick County SchoolsMadison County Schools Caldwell County SchoolsPaul R Brown Leadership Academy Camden County SchoolsPitt County Schools Carteret County Public SchoolsPolk County Schools Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsRobeson County Schools Chatham County SchoolsScotland County Schools Davidson County SchoolsSouthern Wake Academy Duplin County SchoolsSummerfield Charter Academy Granville County SchoolsWake County Schools Guilford County SchoolsWinston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Harnett County SchoolsYadkin County Schools Henderson Collegiate

10. High School Develop RFP for a college admissions assessment at grade 11 and grade-level assessments at grades 9 and 10 Based on RFP outcome, pilot in 2016– 17 and fully implement in 2017–18 Requires setting a proficiency standard for accountability reports if used as federal measure 10

11. Next Steps Provide sampled school list to districts Conduct webinar for district and school level staff Provide test specifications for each interim (Superintendents’ Quarterly) Provide professional development for teachers of selected schools 11