Johnston County board approves summer retest plan; asks for uniform incentive proposals

The Johnston County Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved the district's summer program retest plan that allows students who score not proficient on end-of-grade (EOG) and end-of-course (EOC) tests to receive remediation and retake assessments through June 30.

The plan, presented by district staff, directs elementary and middle schools to provide at least two hours of remediation on selected days before readministration. High schools may extend remediation windows and use credit recovery options; for English II, the district set an earlier deadline. Transportation will run regular routes on scheduled days for the retest window.

Board members said the readministration policy is important because retest scores count toward a school's proficiency calculations, even though growth measures are not affected. Christy Stephenson, the staff member who presented the plan, told the board the state's new science assessments are being re-normed and will not be available for readministration this summer.

Board members asked district staff to collect and present any incentive plans schools plan to use to encourage students to attend remediation sessions. The plan that the district submits to the state does not include incentives, Superintendent Eric Bracey and other staff said, but principals and area superintendents may develop local programs. Several board members requested the district present a uniform framework for incentives to ensure equity across schools before the May testing window.

Board member discussion also covered logistics such as transportation dates and the district's ability to schedule remediation beyond posted dates when families cannot attend the designated days.

The board moved to approve the plan, with a motion recorded and seconded; the vote was unanimous.