NC Education Code · Regulation
Title 16 — root / Chapter 06 — 16 NCAC 06D .0309
Plain English summary
This rule establishes mandatory requirements for End-of-Course (EOC) testing in North Carolina public school units, requiring all enrolled students to participate in EOC assessments either through standard administration or alternate assessment. EOC results must be included in permanent records and transcripts, and must count as a minimum of 20 percent of a student's final grade, with limited exceptions for students with IEPs, first-year English Learners, and initial implementation years. The rule also governs course drop deadlines, retake score usage, and prohibits exemptions from EOC even when local exam exemption policies exist.
Key requirements
- All students enrolled in a course requiring an end-of-course test (EOC) in the Annual Testing Program defined in Rule .0307(c) of this Section shall participate in the administration of the EOC, either a standard administration with or without accommodations or an alternate assessment, as defined in G.S. 115C-83.3.
- PSUs shall include each student's end-of-course (EOC) results in the student's permanent records and high school transcript.
- PSUs shall adopt policies and use results from all EOCs as a minimum of 20 percent of the student's final grade for each respective course.
- PSU students who are enrolled for credit in courses in which an EOC is required shall take the EOC.
- PSU students who are exempt from final exams by local board of education policy shall not be exempt from the required EOC.
- PSU students shall take the EOC the first time the student takes the course requiring the EOC.
- PSU students shall take the EOC at the end of the course regardless of the grade level in which the course is offered.
- PSU students who are identified as failing a course for which an EOC is required shall take the EOC.
- PSU students may drop a course with an EOC within the first 10 days of enrollment in a semester block schedule or within the first 20 days of enrollment in a yearlong traditional schedule.
- Students who are enrolled for credit after the 10 or 20 days shall not drop a course with a required EOC and shall participate in the EOC administration at the completion of the course.
- PSU students who obtain a proficient score on an EOC and retake that course may use their higher EOC score as a minimum of 20 percent of their final course grade.
Affected parties
- All students enrolled in EOC-required courses in public school units
- Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- English Learner (EL) students in their first year in a U.S. school
- Public School Units (PSUs)
- Local boards of education