Board updates Policy 3.8 to align high-school EOC grading and reporting cadence for local testing

The Catawba County Board of Education approved proposed amendments to Policy 3.8 (Testing and Assessment Program) at its June 9 meeting to align district policy with changes from the State Board of Education.

Crystal Davis presented the changes staff recommended. One change updates the language for high school end-of-course (EOC) testing and CTE state assessments: those results "will count as 20% of a student's final grade in each high school course for which there is an EOC test or CTE" except for three specified categories. The exceptions stated in the policy text presented are: 1) English learner students in their year in a U.S. school; 2) students following the occupational course of study pathway or whose individualized education program (IEP) excludes EOC results; and 3) students enrolled in a course during the initial implementation year of a new assessment for that course where proficiency scores are not available due to standards-testing transitions.

Another recommended change clarifies that a report on local standardized testing will be provided to the board in even-numbered years and, if required, a plan to reduce time spent on such testing will be prepared and submitted to the State Board of Education in compliance with state law.

Staff said the policy wording was reviewed by district staff (Miller and Ramsey were noted as reviewers). A board member moved to approve both amendments; the motion carried unanimously.

The board record shows the amendments are intended to make the district policy consistent with state policy and to set a local reporting cadence for standardized testing. The board did not add additional exceptions or changes during the meeting.