As I have shared with you previously, the selection of high quality, aligned assessments is one of the most important tasks for the future of education in our state, and the NC Chamber has strongly urged the State Board of Education (SBOE) Task Force on Summative Assessments to fully align our summative assessments with the state’s rigorous education standards.

To update you on the progress, three working groups of the SBOE Task Force on Summative Assessments have completed their work, and the task force continues to make steady progress toward its goal of making recommendations on the state’s testing system. In addition, the Department of Public Instruction has submitted a draft framework for principles of an assessment program for grades three through 12. It was stressed in all the working groups that this document is a draft to open discussion. In particular, note the proposal’s intent to reduce the number of summative end of year tests and replace with additional interim/benchmark testing.

The task force is coalescing around a set of principles for assessment selection in North Carolina. For those interested in reviewing, here are three documents you might find beneficial: DPI draft framework, middle school draft recommendations, elementary school draft recommendations.

The NC Chamber continues to be engaged with the activity of both the SBOE Task Force on Summative Assessments and the Academic Standards Review Commission to ensure accountability and high educational achievement. We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of these groups.

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber