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Nash County to retest students during regular testing windows; principals preferred Option 1
Summary
After reviewing new Department of Public Instruction guidance, Nash County Public Schools chose to retest students during the regular testing windows rather than in an eight-day summer program; principals moreover supported counting a student's higher score as the exam grade.
Nash County Public Schools staff told the Academic Services committee that the district will use the Department of Public Instruction's Option 1 for retesting — administering retests during the regular legislative testing windows — and will permit students to use the higher of their two scores as the exam grade where district policy allows.
Doctor Mike (presenting) summarized DPI's two retesting options: Option 1 requires retests during the regular testing window (the last five days of a semester for semester courses or the last 10 days for year‑long courses); Option 2 would permit retesting only as part of a minimum eight‑day summer remediation program, and scores from Option 2 would count for achievement but not growth. He noted English II has a limited four‑day flexibility if scoring delays delay results.
Staff reported principals' feedback: 88% preferred Option 1; 100% supported allowing students the option to count the higher of two scores for course exam grade; and 100% preferred using the Read‑to‑Achieve (RTA) assessment for third‑grade reading retests. Based on that input, the district will offer retesting to all students and subjects during the test window and will count the higher score as the exam grade if the district elects to do so locally.
District staff warned of calendar compression: December 15–19 is the first high‑school test window (with retesting during the same period), and spring windows run May 5–18 for grades 3–8 and May 11–18 (or May 12–18 for some traditional high schools) for high‑school course testing and retesting. The compressed schedule requires coordination with CTE, AP and other exam calendars; staff said they will build remediation opportunities into the retesting schedule where possible.
Next steps: staff presented the retesting plan for information and will submit required materials to DPI where necessary; no board approval was required because the district is not pursuing a summer‑program retest under Option 2.
