NC Education Code · Regulation
Title 16 — root / Chapter 06 — 16 NCAC 06D .0307
Plain English summary
This regulation governs the administration of secure tests in NC public schools, specifying who may administer them, how LEAs must store and protect test materials, and how violations and score reporting must be handled. Only trained professional educators employed by LEAs may administer secure tests, and LEAs must safeguard test content, monitor compliance, and report scores to students and parents within 30 days. LEAs are also required to notify families at the start of each school year about required state and district tests, including dates and intended uses of results.
Key requirements
- Only current or retired professional educators as defined in G.S. 115C-270.1 or teachers who are employed by local education agencies (LEAs) and have training in the Annual Testing Program as required in Rule .0308 of this Section shall administer secure tests.
- LEAs shall account to the NCDPI for all secure tests received.
- LEAs shall provide a secure, locked storage facility for all secure tests received.
- LEAs shall prohibit the reproduction of any or all parts of a secure test.
- LEAs shall prohibit their employees from disclosing the content of a secure test or specific items contained in a secure except as necessary to administer the test.
- LEAs shall monitor test administration procedures.
- If a school employee discovers any violation of the rules in this Subchapter, he or she shall notify the principal, charter school director, or school test coordinator who shall notify the superintendent or the LEA test coordinator.
- If the superintendent or the LEA test coordinator determines that the violation affected the validity of the test for its intended purpose, he or she shall have the authority to order the affected students to be retested.
- LEAs shall, at the beginning of each school year, provide information to students and parents or guardians advising them of the districtwide and State-mandated tests that students will be required to take during that school year.
- LEAs shall advise students and parents or guardians of the dates the tests will be administered and how the results from the tests will be used.
- Information provided to parents shall include whether the State Board of Education or the local board of education requires the test(s).
- LEAs shall report scores resulting from the administration State-mandated tests from the Annual Testing Program to students and parents or guardians no later than 30 days after the test is administered and along with available score interpretation information within 30 days from receipt of the scores and interpretive documentation from the NCDPI.
- LEAs shall participate in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and other national or international assessments as designated by the SBE.
Affected parties
- Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
- Public school students
- Parents and guardians
- Professional educators (current and retired)
- School principals
- Charter school directors
- School test coordinators
- Superintendents
- LEA test coordinators
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)