Board approves optional summer remediation and retesting after debate over timing and teacher impact

The Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education on March 4 approved an optional summer remediation and retesting program that allows students who did not pass an EOG or EOC to return after the school year to receive brief remediation and retake exams.

The proposal, presented by Andrew Craft, chief accountability officer, would offer remediation and retesting on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28, with child nutrition and transportation provided. Craft emphasized the option is voluntary for families and noted some state testing exceptions: “They are renorming the science test. And so the science test will not be included this year in retesting,” he said, and second‑semester high school EOCs and fifth‑ and eighth‑grade science (and biology) would not be available for retesting this year because of the renorming.

Board members pressed staff on practical details, including who gives tests, teacher workload and costs. Board member Brown Gaither asked whether teachers who teach a tested subject can administer tests the same day; Craft replied this rule still applies during the school year but is permitted for the district’s summer retesting days. Lauren (last name not given), who described child nutrition and transportation operations, said cafeteria staff are already scheduled for those days and that transportation costs last year were about $200,000; staff said they plan to reduce routes this year and hope to lower transportation expenses “below $100,000.”

Why it matters: passage can change school performance grades and affect whether a school appears on the state low‑performing list. Craft showed 2023 results in which retesting produced measurable increases in school achievement scores in some schools; he said five schools raised their school performance grades in 2023 and one school came off the low‑performing list after retesting. Craft also gave systemwide participation figures from 2023: about 27,000 students were eligible at the elementary and middle school levels and roughly 4,800 (about 18%) returned to retest; at the high‑school level turnout was lower, roughly 3%. Of those who retested, Craft said about 25–30% reached proficiency on retest attempts.

Discussion highlights: several board members sought to protect teacher planning time and to ensure retesting does not unduly increase workloads for a small number of teachers. Board member Crowley asked how principals could staff testing without requiring all teachers to forgo post‑planning time; Craft and other board members said in an average school only a fraction of teachers are needed on test days because not all eligible students return. Board member Miller, a former teacher, argued for second chances: “I believe in second chances, and I do believe the students benefit from this greatly,” she said.

Implementation details provided in the presentation and discussed at the meeting: - Dates proposed: May 27 and May 28 (remediation and testing on the same day). - Eligibility: any student who did not pass an EOG or EOC (participation is optional and requires attending remediation to retest). - Exclusions this year: fifth‑ and eighth‑grade science and biology, plus second‑semester high‑school EOCs, because of state renorming/timing. - Supports: child nutrition and transportation will be provided; principals indicated ~75% favor offering retesting in their buildings, while ~25% did not. - Expected fiscal impacts: no additional personnel costs for instruction; potential transportation costs (district spent about $200,000 last year and hopes to reduce that this year).

Formal action: Board member Susan Miller moved to approve the optional summer remediation and retesting proposal; Board member Watts seconded. The motion passed (board announcement: “Motion passes 7 to 2”).

Next steps: staff will schedule remediation and retesting on the approved dates and coordinate with principals to finalize rosters, bus runs and food counts. Craft and staff emphasized that participation remains optional for families and that principals will determine local staffing and volunteer plans to reduce impact on teachers.