NC S388

Requires the State Board of Education to approve three valid, reliable, formative, and diagnostic reading assessment instruments for use in kindergarten through third grade, rather than providing a single assessment.

Each approved assessment must include a minimum of four benchmark assessments, interim formative assessments, and progress monitoring capabilities.

Directs the State Board to consider assessment approval factors including time required to conduct assessments, integration with instructional support, timeliness of reporting results to teachers and administrators, and ability to provide timely results to parents and guardians.

Allows local school administrative units to select one of the three State Board-approved assessments rather than using a state-mandated assessment, while prohibiting standardized tests for summative assessment of kindergarten, first, and second grade students except when required for federal grants.

Prohibits approval of assessment instruments if their cost per student (including materials and resources) exceeds appropriated funds divided by projected enrollment in kindergarten through third grade.