Senate Bill 621 Summary

• Eliminates the NC Final Exam from the statewide testing program beginning with the 2020-2021 school year and requires the State Board of Education to submit a plan by March 15, 2020 on alternative means to assess teacher performance.

• Establishes reporting requirements for the North Carolina Personalized Assessment Tool (NCPAT) pilot program, with annual reports due from November 15, 2020 through November 15, 2024 to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

• Requires local boards of education to review standardized testing in even-numbered years and submit plans to reduce local testing if their average exceeds the state average over the prior two years.

• Mandates local school boards provide up to $75 in reimbursement from local funds for economically disadvantaged students if requiring a high school graduation project as a graduation condition.

• Directs the Department of Public Instruction to examine third-grade English Language Arts assessments and report by March 15, 2020 on modifications needed to better align with Read to Achieve program goals.