North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H773 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 773
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH10349-NG-99
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: School Performance Grade Changes. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Biggs, Cotham, Willis, and Rhyne (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Education - K-12, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules,
11		-	Calendar, and Operations of the House
12		-	April 7, 2025
13		-	H773 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Biggs.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH10349 -NG-99
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO MODIFY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE METRICS AND GRADES TO BETTER 2
16	15		REFLECT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. 3
17	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
18	17		SECTION 1. Part 1B of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes reads as 5
19	18		rewritten: 6
20	19		"Part 1B. School Performance. 7
21	20		"§ 115C-83.15. School achievement, growth, performance scores, and grades. 8
22	21		(a) School Scores and Grades. – The State Board of Education shall award school 9
23	22		achievement, growth, and performance scores and an associated performance grade as required 10
24	23		by G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., and calculated as provided in this section. 11
25	24		(b) Calculation of the School Achievement Score. – In calculating the overall school 12
26	25		achievement score earned by schools, the State Board of Education shall total the sum of points 13
27	26		earned by a school as follows: 14
28	27		(1) For schools serving any students in kindergarten through eighth fifth grade, 15
29	28		the State Board shall assign points on the following measures available for 16
30	29		that school: 17
31	30		a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 18
32	31		on annual assessments for mathematics in grades three through eight. 19
33	32		five. For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for 20
34	33		mathematics shall include any mathematics course with an 21
35	34		end-of-course test. 22
36	35		b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 23
37	36		on annual assessments for for the reading assessment given in grades 24
38	37		three through eight.grade three. 25
39	38		c. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 26
40	39		on annual assessments for science in grades five and eight.grade five. 27
41	40		d. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 28
42	41		English language proficiency on annual assessments in grades three 29
43	42		through eight.five or scores at or above proficient on annual 30
44	43		assessments for English Language Arts in grades three through five. 31
45	44		For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for English 32
46	45		Language Arts shall include any English Language Arts course with 33
47		-	an end-of-course test. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 773-First Edition
49		-	(1a) For schools serving any students in sixth through eighth grade, the State Board 1
50		-	shall assign points on the following measures available for that school: 2
51		-	a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 3
52		-	on annual assessments for mathematics in grades six through eight. 4
53		-	For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for mathematics 5
54		-	shall include any mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 6
55		-	b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 7
56		-	on annual assessments for science in grades six through eight. 8
57		-	c. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 9
58		-	English language proficiency on annual assessments in grades five 10
59		-	through eight. 11
60		-	d. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 12
61		-	on annual assessments for English Language Arts in grades six 13
62		-	through eight. For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for 14
63		-	English Language Arts shall include any English Language Arts 15
64		-	course with an end-of-course test. 16
65		-	e. One point for each percent of students in grade eight who complete a 17
66		-	high school level course. 18
67		-	(2) For schools serving any students in ninth through twelfth grade, the State 19
68		-	Board shall assign points on the following measures available for that school: 20
69		-	a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 21
70		-	on either the Algebra I or Integrated Math I end-of-course test or, for 22
71		-	students who completed Algebra I or Integrated Math I before ninth 23
72		-	grade, another mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 24
73		-	b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 25
74		-	on the English II end-of-course test. 26
75		-	c. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 27
76		-	on the Biology end-of-course test. 28
77		-	d. One point for each percent of students who complete Algebra II or 29
78		-	Integrated Math III with a passing grade. 30
79		-	e. One point for each percent of students who either (i) achieve the 31
80		-	minimum score required for admission into a constituent institution of 32
81		-	The University of North Carolina on a nationally normed test of 33
82		-	college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical 34
83		-	Education courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels on a 35
84		-	nationally normed test of workplace readiness.earn a passing score on 36
85		-	an advanced course exam, (ii) earn a passing grade in a dual enrollment 37
86		-	course, (iii) earn at least five credits through Career and College 38
87		-	Promise or any dual enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services 39
88		-	Qualification Test score that falls within Category II or higher on the 40
89		-	Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) earn an industry 41
90		-	credential. 42
91		-	f. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-142, s. 1, effective July 19, 2019, and 43
92		-	applicable to measures based on data from the 2018-2019 school year 44
93		-	and each school year thereafter. 45
94		-	g. One point for each percent of students who graduate within four years 46
95		-	of entering high school. 47
96		-	h. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 48
97		-	English language proficiency. 49
98		-	In calculating the overall school achievement score earned by schools, the State Board of 50
99		-	Education shall (i) use a composite approach to weigh the achievement elements based on the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100		-	House Bill 773-First Edition Page 3
101		-	number of students measured by any given achievement element give equal weight to each 1
102		-	achievement element listed in each subdivision of this subsection and (ii) proportionally adjust 2
103		-	the scale to account for the absence of a school achievement element for award of scores to a 3
104		-	school that does not have a measure of one of the school achievement elements annually assessed 4
105		-	for the grades taught at that school. The overall school achievement score shall be translated to a 5
106		-	100-point scale and used for school reporting purposes as provided in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 6
107		-	115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 7
108		-	(c) Calculation of the School Growth Score. – Using the Education Value-Added 8
109		-	Assessment System (EVAAS), the State Board shall calculate the overall growth score earned 9
110		-	by schools. In calculating the total growth score earned by schools, the State Board of Education 10
111		-	shall weight student growth for schools serving students in grades one through five on the 11
112		-	achievement measures as provided in calculated under sub-subdivisions a. and d. of subdivision 12
113		-	(1) of subsection (b) of this section that have available growth values; provided that, section, for 13
114		-	schools serving students in grades six through eight on the achievement measures calculated 14
115		-	under sub-subdivisions a. and c. of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, and for 15
116		-	schools serving students in grades nine through 12, the growth score shall only include growth 16
117		-	values for 12 on the achievement measures calculated under sub-subdivisions a. and b. of 17
118		-	subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The growth score shall also include (i) the 18
119		-	percentage of students in the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) in English Language Arts, as 19
120		-	identified by prior year performance on an annual assessment, and (ii) the percentage of students 20
121		-	in the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) in mathematics, as identified by prior year performance 21
122		-	on an annual assessment. The numerical values used to determine whether a school has met, 22
123		-	exceeded, or has not met expected growth shall be translated to a 100-point scale and used for 23
124		-	school reporting purposes as provided in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 24
125		-	116-239.8. 25
126		-	(d) Calculation of the Overall School Performance Scores and Grades. – The State Board 26
127		-	of Education shall calculate the overall school performance score by adding the school 27
128		-	achievement score, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, and the school growth score, as 28
129		-	determined using EVAAS as provided in subsection (c) of this section, earned by a school. The 29
130		-	school achievement score shall account for eighty percent (80%), and the school growth score 30
131		-	shall account for twenty percent (20%) of the total sum. achievement metrics from each 31
132		-	sub-subdivision in the respective subdivisions of subsection (b) of this section to the four growth 32
133		-	metrics listed in subsection (c) of this section, all in equal weight. For all schools, the total school 33
134		-	performance score shall be converted to a 100-point scale and used to determine an overall school 34
135		-	performance grade. The overall school performance grade shall be based on the following scale 35
136		-	and shall not be modified to add any other designation related to other performance measures, 36
137		-	such as a "plus" or "minus": 37
138		-	(1) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 85 62 is 38
139		-	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of A. 39
140		-	(1a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 40
141		-	or higher, a school performance score of at least 64 is equivalent to an overall 41
142		-	school performance grade of A. 42
143		-	(2) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 70 54 is 43
144		-	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of B. 44
145		-	(2a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 45
146		-	or higher, a school performance score of at least 57 is equivalent to an overall 46
147		-	school performance grade of B. 47
148		-	(3) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 55 41 is 48
149		-	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of C. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 House Bill 773-First Edition
151		-	(3a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 1
152		-	or higher, a school performance score of at least 44 is equivalent to an overall 2
153		-	school performance grade of C. 3
154		-	(4) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 40 32 is 4
155		-	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of D. 5
156		-	(4a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 6
157		-	or higher, a school performance score of at least 34 is equivalent to an overall 7
158		-	school performance grade of D. 8
159		-	(5) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of less than 40 32 is 9
160		-	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of F. 10
161		-	(5a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 11
162		-	or higher, a school performance score of less than 34 is equivalent to an overall 12
163		-	school performance grade of F. 13
164		-	(d1) Establishment of Subgroups of Students. – The State Board shall establish the 14
165		-	minimum number of students in a subgroup served by a school that is necessary to disaggregate 15
166		-	information on student performance and to determine a subgroup performance score and grade 16
167		-	for the following subgroups of students: 17
168		-	(1) Economically disadvantaged students. 18
169		-	(2) Students from major racial and ethnic groups. 19
170		-	(3) Children with disabilities. 20
171		-	(4) English learners. 21
172		-	(d2) Calculation of the School Performance Scores and Grades for Certain Subgroups of 22
173		-	Students Served by a School. – In addition to the overall school performance scores and grades 23
174		-	awarded under this section, for each school that serves a minimum number of students in a 24
175		-	subgroup of students listed in subsection (d1) of this section, the State Board of Education shall 25
176		-	calculate school performance scores and shall determine a corresponding school performance 26
177		-	grade for each subgroup using the same method as set forth in subsection (d) of this section. 27
178		-	School performance scores for subgroups of students shall not be included in the calculation of 28
179		-	the overall school performance scores and grades under subsection (d) of this section. 29
180		-	(d3) Report of Subgroup Performance Scores and Grades. – The subgroup performance 30
181		-	scores and grades shall be reported separately on the annual school report card provided under 31
182		-	G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8 in a way that provides the 32
183		-	following information: 33
184		-	(1) For the current year and the previous two years, the achievement score for 34
185		-	each subgroup of students defined in subsection (d1) of this section for the 35
186		-	school. 36
187		-	(2) The statewide average achievement score for each subgroup defined in 37
188		-	subsection (d1) of this section. 38
189		-	(3) The difference between the achievement score for all students in the school 39
190		-	and the achievement score for each subgroup that meets the minimum number 40
191		-	of students defined in subsection (d1) of this section. 41
192		-	(4) Based on the information reported in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the 42
193		-	State Board shall determine and identify schools that are closing achievement 43
194		-	gaps, experiencing a widening of gaps, or seeing no significant gap changes. 44
195		-	(e) Elementary and Middle School Reading and Math Achievement Scores. – For schools 45
196		-	serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the school achievement scores in reading 46
197		-	and mathematics, respectively, shall be reported separately on the annual school report card 47
198		-	provided under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 48
199		-	(e1) Career and College Readiness Scores. – For schools serving any students in ninth 49
200		-	through twelfth grade, the percentage of students who either (i) achieve the minimum score 50
201		-	required for admission into a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina on a 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
202		-	House Bill 773-First Edition Page 5
203		-	nationally normed test of college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical Education 1
204		-	courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels on a nationally normed test of workplace 2
205		-	readiness who either (i) earn a passing score on an advanced course exam, (ii) earn a passing 3
206		-	grade in a dual enrollment course, (iii) earn at least five credits through Career and College 4
207		-	Promise or any dual enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services Qualification Test score 5
208		-	that falls within Category II or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) 6
209		-	earn an industry credential shall be reported on the annual school report card provided under 7
210		-	G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 8
211		-	(f) Indication of Growth. – In addition to awarding the overall school scores for 9
212		-	achievement, growth, and performance and the performance grade, using EVAAS, the State 10
213		-	Board shall designate that a school has met, exceeded, or has not met expected growth. The 11
214		-	designation of student growth shall be clearly displayed in the annual school report card provided 12
215		-	under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 13
216		-	(g) Access to Annual Report Card Information on the Department's Web Site. Website. 14
217		-	– Beginning with data collected in the 2017-2018 school year, the State Board of Education shall 15
218		-	provide user-friendly access to the public on the annual report cards issued for local school 16
219		-	administrative units and individual schools provided under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 17
220		-	115C-238.66, and 116-239.8 through the Department of Public Instruction's Web site. website. 18
221		-	The annual report card shall be designed and organized to display the following information more 19
222		-	prominently than any other information: 20
223		-	(1) A summary for each local school administrative unit and for each individual 21
224		-	school of the school performance grades, whether the school has met, 22
225		-	exceeded, or has not met expected growth, and any other information required 23
226		-	to be provided as part of the annual report card. 24
227		-	(2) The percentage of schools receiving an overall school performance letter 25
228		-	grade of A, B, C, D, or F earned by each school located within a local school 26
229		-	administrative unit and statewide. 27
230		-	(3) The number of schools that have met, exceeded, or have not met expected 28
231		-	growth by each school located within a local school administrative unit and 29
232		-	statewide. 30
233		-	(4) A Web page website for each individual school that prominently displays the 31
234		-	school's performance grades, whether the school has met, exceeded, or has not 32
235		-	met expected growth, and the school's performance and growth scores in a 33
236		-	way that is easy for the user to read. 34
237		-	(5) The ability to easily compare annual report card information, including school 35
238		-	performance grades and whether schools have met, exceeded, or have not met 36
239		-	expected growth, for local school administrative units and for individual 37
240		-	schools for a time span of at least three years. 38
241		-	"§ 115C-83.16. School performance indicators for the purpose of compliance with federal 39
242		-	law. 40
243		-	(a) The State Board of Education shall use the school performance scores and grades as 41
244		-	calculated under G.S. 115C-83.15 to satisfy the federal requirement under the Elementary and 42
245		-	Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), P.L. 43
246		-	114-95, to meaningfully differentiate the performance of schools on an annual basis. For the 44
247		-	purpose of compliance with federal law, the indicators shall be defined as follows: 45
248		-	(1) For schools serving any students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the 46
249		-	State Board shall define the indicators as follows: 47
250		-	a. Academic indicators. – 48
251		-	1. The academic achievement indicator shall include the 49
252		-	following measures: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
253		-	Page 6 House Bill 773-First Edition
254		-	I. Proficiency on annual assessments for mathematics in 1
255		-	grades three through eight. 2
256		-	II. Proficiency on annual assessments for reading in 3
257		-	grades three through eight. 4
258		-	2. The other academic indicator shall include the following 5
259		-	measures: 6
260		-	I. Proficiency on annual assessments for science in grade 7
261		-	five. 8
262		-	II. Proficiency on annual assessments for science in grade 9
263		-	eight. 10
264		-	3. The English language proficiency indicator shall be the 11
265		-	percentage of students who progress in achieving English 12
266		-	language proficiency on annual assessments in grades three 13
267		-	through eight. 14
268		-	b. School quality and student success indicator. – The measure of school 15
269		-	quality and student success shall be the growth score earned by 16
270		-	schools. 17
271		-	(2) For schools serving any students in ninth through twelfth grade, the State 18
272		-	Board shall define the indicators as follows: 19
273		-	a. Academic indicators. – 20
274		-	1. The academic achievement indicator shall include the 21
275		-	following measures: 22
276		-	I. Proficiency on either the Algebra I or Integrated Math 23
277		-	I end-of-course test or, for students who completed 24
278		-	Algebra I or Integrated Math I before ninth grade, 25
279		-	another mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 26
280		-	II. Proficiency on the English II end-of-course test. 27
281		-	III. The growth score earned by schools. 28
282		-	2. Repealed by Session Laws 2017-206, s. 1(b), effective August 29
283		-	30, 2017, and applicable beginning with the 2017-2018 school 30
284		-	year. 31
285		-	3. The graduation rate indicator shall be the percentage of 32
286		-	students who graduate within four years of entering high 33
287		-	school. 34
288		-	4. The English language proficiency indicator shall be the 35
289		-	percentage of students who progress in achieving English 36
290		-	language proficiency. 37
291		-	b. School quality and student success indicator. – The school quality and 38
292		-	student success indicator shall be made up of the following measures: 39
293		-	1. Proficiency on the Biology end-of-course test. 40
294		-	2. The percentage of students who complete Algebra II or 41
295		-	Integrated Math III with a passing grade. 42
296		-	3. The percentage of students who either (i) achieve the minimum 43
297		-	score required for admission into a constituent institution of 44
298		-	The University of North Carolina on a nationally normed test 45
299		-	of college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical 46
300		-	Education courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels 47
301		-	on a nationally normed test of workplace readiness.who either 48
302		-	(i) earn a passing score on an advanced course exam, (ii) earn 49
303		-	a passing grade in a dual enrollment course, (iii) earn at least 50
304		-	five credits through Career and College Promise or any dual 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
305		-	House Bill 773-First Edition Page 7
306		-	enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services Qualification 1
307		-	Test score that falls within Category II or higher on the Armed 2
308		-	Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) earn an industry 3
309		-	credential. 4
310		-	4. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-142, s. 2, effective July 19, 5
311		-	2019, and applicable to measures based on data from the 6
312		-	2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter. 7
313		-	(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and only for the purpose of conforming 8
314		-	with ESSA, the State Board may label measures as indicators different from those described in 9
315		-	subsection (a) of this section; provided that each measure shall be calculated in accordance with 10
316		-	the requirements of G.S. 115C-83.15. 11
317		-	"§ 115C-83.17. Definitions. 12
318		-	The following definitions apply in this Part: 13
319		-	(1) Achievement score. – A numerical score on a scale of zero to 100 that is based 14
320		-	on the sum of points earned by a school or by a subgroup of students pursuant 15
321		-	to G.S. 115C-83.15. 16
322		-	(1a) Advanced course exam. – An examination given at the conclusion of an 17
323		-	associated Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced 18
324		-	International Certificate of Education course. 19
325		-	(2) Growth score. – A numerical score measuring student growth calculated for a 20
326		-	school or for a subgroup of students pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15. 21
327		-	(3) Overall school performance grade. – The letter grade earned by a school for 22
328		-	all students served by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d). 23
329		-	(4) Overall school performance score. – The numerical score earned by a school 24
330		-	that is calculated by adding the school achievement score and the school 25
331		-	growth score earned by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d). 26
332		-	(5) Subgroup performance grade. – The letter grade earned by a school for a 27
333		-	subgroup of students served by the school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d2). 28
334		-	(6) Subgroup performance score. – The numerical score earned by a school that 29
335		-	is calculated by adding the subgroup achievement score and the subgroup 30
336		-	growth score earned by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d2)." 31
337		-	SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to school 32
338		-	performance grades and metrics based on data from the 2025-2026 school year. 33
	46	+	an end-of-course test. 34
	47	+	(1a) For schools serving any students in sixth through eighth grade, the State Board 35
	48	+	shall assign points on the following measures available for that school: 36
	49	+	H.B. 773
	50	+	Apr 3, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH10349-NG-99
	53	+	a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 1
	54	+	on annual assessments for mathematics in grades six through eight. 2
	55	+	For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for mathematics 3
	56	+	shall include any mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 4
	57	+	b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 5
	58	+	on annual assessments for science in grades six through eight. 6
	59	+	c. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 7
	60	+	English language proficiency on annual assessments in grades five 8
	61	+	through eight. 9
	62	+	d. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 10
	63	+	on annual assessments for English Language Arts in grades six 11
	64	+	through eight. For the purposes of this Part, an annual assessment for 12
	65	+	English Language Arts shall include any English Language Arts 13
	66	+	course with an end-of-course test. 14
	67	+	e. One point for each percent of students in grade eight who complete a 15
	68	+	high school level course. 16
	69	+	(2) For schools serving any students in ninth through twelfth grade, the State 17
	70	+	Board shall assign points on the following measures available for that school: 18
	71	+	a. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 19
	72	+	on either the Algebra I or Integrated Math I end-of-course test or, for 20
	73	+	students who completed Algebra I or Integrated Math I before ninth 21
	74	+	grade, another mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 22
	75	+	b. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 23
	76	+	on the English II end-of-course test. 24
	77	+	c. One point for each percent of students who score at or above proficient 25
	78	+	on the Biology end-of-course test. 26
	79	+	d. One point for each percent of students who complete Algebra II or 27
	80	+	Integrated Math III with a passing grade. 28
	81	+	e. One point for each percent of students who either (i) achieve the 29
	82	+	minimum score required for admission into a constituent institution of 30
	83	+	The University of North Carolina on a nationally normed test of 31
	84	+	college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical 32
	85	+	Education courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels on a 33
	86	+	nationally normed test of workplace readiness.earn a passing score on 34
	87	+	an advanced course exam, (ii) earn a passing grade in a dual enrollment 35
	88	+	course, (iii) earn at least five credits through Career and College 36
	89	+	Promise or any dual enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services 37
	90	+	Qualification Test score that falls within Category II or higher on the 38
	91	+	Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) earn an industry 39
	92	+	credential. 40
	93	+	f. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-142, s. 1, effective July 19, 2019, and 41
	94	+	applicable to measures based on data from the 2018-2019 school year 42
	95	+	and each school year thereafter. 43
	96	+	g. One point for each percent of students who graduate within four years 44
	97	+	of entering high school. 45
	98	+	h. One point for each percent of students who progress in achieving 46
	99	+	English language proficiency. 47
	100	+	In calculating the overall school achievement score earned by schools, the State Board of 48
	101	+	Education shall (i) use a composite approach to weigh the achievement elements based on the 49
	102	+	number of students measured by any given achievement element give equal weight to each 50
	103	+	achievement element listed in each subdivision of this subsection and (ii) proportionally adjust 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH10349-NG-99 Page 3
	105	+	the scale to account for the absence of a school achievement element for award of scores to a 1
	106	+	school that does not have a measure of one of the school achievement elements annually assessed 2
	107	+	for the grades taught at that school. The overall school achievement score shall be translated to a 3
	108	+	100-point scale and used for school reporting purposes as provided in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 4
	109	+	115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 5
	110	+	(c) Calculation of the School Growth Score. – Using the Education Value-Added 6
	111	+	Assessment System (EVAAS), the State Board shall calculate the overall growth score earned 7
	112	+	by schools. In calculating the total growth score earned by schools, the State Board of Education 8
	113	+	shall weight student growth for schools serving students in grades one through five on the 9
	114	+	achievement measures as provided in calculated under sub-subdivisions a. and d. of subdivision 10
	115	+	(1) of subsection (b) of this section that have available growth values; provided that, section, for 11
	116	+	schools serving students in grades six through eight on the achievement measures calculated 12
	117	+	under sub-subdivisions a. and c. of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, and for 13
	118	+	schools serving students in grades nine through 12, the growth score shall only include growth 14
	119	+	values for 12 on the achievement measures calculated under sub-subdivisions a. and b. of 15
	120	+	subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The growth score shall also include (i) the 16
	121	+	percentage of students in the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) in English Language Arts, as 17
	122	+	identified by prior year performance on an annual assessment, and (ii) the percentage of students 18
	123	+	in the lowest twenty-five percent (25%) in mathematics, as identified by prior year performance 19
	124	+	on an annual assessment. The numerical values used to determine whether a school has met, 20
	125	+	exceeded, or has not met expected growth shall be translated to a 100-point scale and used for 21
	126	+	school reporting purposes as provided in G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 22
	127	+	116-239.8. 23
	128	+	(d) Calculation of the Overall School Performance Scores and Grades. – The State Board 24
	129	+	of Education shall calculate the overall school performance score by adding the school 25
	130	+	achievement score, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, and the school growth score, as 26
	131	+	determined using EVAAS as provided in subsection (c) of this section, earned by a school. The 27
	132	+	school achievement score shall account for eighty percent (80%), and the school growth score 28
	133	+	shall account for twenty percent (20%) of the total sum. achievement metrics from each 29
	134	+	sub-subdivision in the respective subdivisions of subsection (b) of this section to the four growth 30
	135	+	metrics listed in subsection (c) of this section, all in equal weight. For all schools, the total school 31
	136	+	performance score shall be converted to a 100-point scale and used to determine an overall school 32
	137	+	performance grade. The overall school performance grade shall be based on the following scale 33
	138	+	and shall not be modified to add any other designation related to other performance measures, 34
	139	+	such as a "plus" or "minus": 35
	140	+	(1) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 85 62 is 36
	141	+	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of A. 37
	142	+	(1a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 38
	143	+	or higher, a school performance score of at least 64 is equivalent to an overall 39
	144	+	school performance grade of A. 40
	145	+	(2) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 70 54 is 41
	146	+	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of B. 42
	147	+	(2a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 43
	148	+	or higher, a school performance score of at least 57 is equivalent to an overall 44
	149	+	school performance grade of B. 45
	150	+	(3) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 55 41 is 46
	151	+	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of C. 47
	152	+	(3a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 48
	153	+	or higher, a school performance score of at least 44 is equivalent to an overall 49
	154	+	school performance grade of C. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	155	+	Page 4 DRH10349-NG-99
	156	+	(4) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of at least 40 32 is 1
	157	+	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of D. 2
	158	+	(4a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 3
	159	+	or higher, a school performance score of at least 34 is equivalent to an overall 4
	160	+	school performance grade of D. 5
	161	+	(5) A For elementary schools, a school performance score of less than 40 32 is 6
	162	+	equivalent to an overall school performance grade of F. 7
	163	+	(5a) For middle schools, high schools, and schools serving any student in grade six 8
	164	+	or higher, a school performance score of less than 34 is equivalent to an overall 9
	165	+	school performance grade of F. 10
	166	+	(d1) Establishment of Subgroups of Students. – The State Board shall establish the 11
	167	+	minimum number of students in a subgroup served by a school that is necessary to disaggregate 12
	168	+	information on student performance and to determine a subgroup performance score and grade 13
	169	+	for the following subgroups of students: 14
	170	+	(1) Economically disadvantaged students. 15
	171	+	(2) Students from major racial and ethnic groups. 16
	172	+	(3) Children with disabilities. 17
	173	+	(4) English learners. 18
	174	+	(d2) Calculation of the School Performance Scores and Grades for Certain Subgroups of 19
	175	+	Students Served by a School. – In addition to the overall school performance scores and grades 20
	176	+	awarded under this section, for each school that serves a minimum number of students in a 21
	177	+	subgroup of students listed in subsection (d1) of this section, the State Board of Education shall 22
	178	+	calculate school performance scores and shall determine a corresponding school performance 23
	179	+	grade for each subgroup using the same method as set forth in subsection (d) of this section. 24
	180	+	School performance scores for subgroups of students shall not be included in the calculation of 25
	181	+	the overall school performance scores and grades under subsection (d) of this section. 26
	182	+	(d3) Report of Subgroup Performance Scores and Grades. – The subgroup performance 27
	183	+	scores and grades shall be reported separately on the annual school report card provided under 28
	184	+	G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8 in a way that provides the 29
	185	+	following information: 30
	186	+	(1) For the current year and the previous two years, the achievement score for 31
	187	+	each subgroup of students defined in subsection (d1) of this section for the 32
	188	+	school. 33
	189	+	(2) The statewide average achievement score for each subgroup defined in 34
	190	+	subsection (d1) of this section. 35
	191	+	(3) The difference between the achievement score for all students in the school 36
	192	+	and the achievement score for each subgroup that meets the minimum number 37
	193	+	of students defined in subsection (d1) of this section. 38
	194	+	(4) Based on the information reported in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the 39
	195	+	State Board shall determine and identify schools that are closing achievement 40
	196	+	gaps, experiencing a widening of gaps, or seeing no significant gap changes. 41
	197	+	(e) Elementary and Middle School Reading and Math Achievement Scores. – For schools 42
	198	+	serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the school achievement scores in reading 43
	199	+	and mathematics, respectively, shall be reported separately on the annual school report card 44
	200	+	provided under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 45
	201	+	(e1) Career and College Readiness Scores. – For schools serving any students in ninth 46
	202	+	through twelfth grade, the percentage of students who either (i) achieve the minimum score 47
	203	+	required for admission into a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina on a 48
	204	+	nationally normed test of college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical Education 49
	205	+	courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels on a nationally normed test of workplace 50
	206	+	readiness who either (i) earn a passing score on an advanced course exam, (ii) earn a passing 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	207	+	DRH10349-NG-99 Page 5
	208	+	grade in a dual enrollment course, (iii) earn at least five credits through Career and College 1
	209	+	Promise or any dual enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services Qualification Test score 2
	210	+	that falls within Category II or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) 3
	211	+	earn an industry credential shall be reported on the annual school report card provided under 4
	212	+	G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 5
	213	+	(f) Indication of Growth. – In addition to awarding the overall school scores for 6
	214	+	achievement, growth, and performance and the performance grade, using EVAAS, the State 7
	215	+	Board shall designate that a school has met, exceeded, or has not met expected growth. The 8
	216	+	designation of student growth shall be clearly displayed in the annual school report card provided 9
	217	+	under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 115C-238.66, and 116-239.8. 10
	218	+	(g) Access to Annual Report Card Information on the Department's Web Site. Website. 11
	219	+	– Beginning with data collected in the 2017-2018 school year, the State Board of Education shall 12
	220	+	provide user-friendly access to the public on the annual report cards issued for local school 13
	221	+	administrative units and individual schools provided under G.S. 115C-12(9)c1., 115C-218.65, 14
	222	+	115C-238.66, and 116-239.8 through the Department of Public Instruction's Web site. website. 15
	223	+	The annual report card shall be designed and organized to display the following information more 16
	224	+	prominently than any other information: 17
	225	+	(1) A summary for each local school administrative unit and for each individual 18
	226	+	school of the school performance grades, whether the school has met, 19
	227	+	exceeded, or has not met expected growth, and any other information required 20
	228	+	to be provided as part of the annual report card. 21
	229	+	(2) The percentage of schools receiving an overall school performance letter 22
	230	+	grade of A, B, C, D, or F earned by each school located within a local school 23
	231	+	administrative unit and statewide. 24
	232	+	(3) The number of schools that have met, exceeded, or have not met expected 25
	233	+	growth by each school located within a local school administrative unit and 26
	234	+	statewide. 27
	235	+	(4) A Web page website for each individual school that prominently displays the 28
	236	+	school's performance grades, whether the school has met, exceeded, or has not 29
	237	+	met expected growth, and the school's performance and growth scores in a 30
	238	+	way that is easy for the user to read. 31
	239	+	(5) The ability to easily compare annual report card information, including school 32
	240	+	performance grades and whether schools have met, exceeded, or have not met 33
	241	+	expected growth, for local school administrative units and for individual 34
	242	+	schools for a time span of at least three years. 35
	243	+	"§ 115C-83.16. School performance indicators for the purpose of compliance with federal 36
	244	+	law. 37
	245	+	(a) The State Board of Education shall use the school performance scores and grades as 38
	246	+	calculated under G.S. 115C-83.15 to satisfy the federal requirement under the Elementary and 39
	247	+	Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), P.L. 40
	248	+	114-95, to meaningfully differentiate the performance of schools on an annual basis. For the 41
	249	+	purpose of compliance with federal law, the indicators shall be defined as follows: 42
	250	+	(1) For schools serving any students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the 43
	251	+	State Board shall define the indicators as follows: 44
	252	+	a. Academic indicators. – 45
	253	+	1. The academic achievement indicator shall include the 46
	254	+	following measures: 47
	255	+	I. Proficiency on annual assessments for mathematics in 48
	256	+	grades three through eight. 49
	257	+	II. Proficiency on annual assessments for reading in 50
	258	+	grades three through eight. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	259	+	Page 6 DRH10349-NG-99
	260	+	2. The other academic indicator shall include the following 1
	261	+	measures: 2
	262	+	I. Proficiency on annual assessments for science in grade 3
	263	+	five. 4
	264	+	II. Proficiency on annual assessments for science in grade 5
	265	+	eight. 6
	266	+	3. The English language proficiency indicator shall be the 7
	267	+	percentage of students who progress in achieving English 8
	268	+	language proficiency on annual assessments in grades three 9
	269	+	through eight. 10
	270	+	b. School quality and student success indicator. – The measure of school 11
	271	+	quality and student success shall be the growth score earned by 12
	272	+	schools. 13
	273	+	(2) For schools serving any students in ninth through twelfth grade, the State 14
	274	+	Board shall define the indicators as follows: 15
	275	+	a. Academic indicators. – 16
	276	+	1. The academic achievement indicator shall include the 17
	277	+	following measures: 18
	278	+	I. Proficiency on either the Algebra I or Integrated Math 19
	279	+	I end-of-course test or, for students who completed 20
	280	+	Algebra I or Integrated Math I before ninth grade, 21
	281	+	another mathematics course with an end-of-course test. 22
	282	+	II. Proficiency on the English II end-of-course test. 23
	283	+	III. The growth score earned by schools. 24
	284	+	2. Repealed by Session Laws 2017-206, s. 1(b), effective August 25
	285	+	30, 2017, and applicable beginning with the 2017-2018 school 26
	286	+	year. 27
	287	+	3. The graduation rate indicator shall be the percentage of 28
	288	+	students who graduate within four years of entering high 29
	289	+	school. 30
	290	+	4. The English language proficiency indicator shall be the 31
	291	+	percentage of students who progress in achieving English 32
	292	+	language proficiency. 33
	293	+	b. School quality and student success indicator. – The school quality and 34
	294	+	student success indicator shall be made up of the following measures: 35
	295	+	1. Proficiency on the Biology end-of-course test. 36
	296	+	2. The percentage of students who complete Algebra II or 37
	297	+	Integrated Math III with a passing grade. 38
	298	+	3. The percentage of students who either (i) achieve the minimum 39
	299	+	score required for admission into a constituent institution of 40
	300	+	The University of North Carolina on a nationally normed test 41
	301	+	of college readiness or (ii) are enrolled in Career and Technical 42
	302	+	Education courses and score at Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels 43
	303	+	on a nationally normed test of workplace readiness.who either 44
	304	+	(i) earn a passing score on an advanced course exam, (ii) earn 45
	305	+	a passing grade in a dual enrollment course, (iii) earn at least 46
	306	+	five credits through Career and College Promise or any dual 47
	307	+	enrollment program, (iv) earn an Armed Services Qualification 48
	308	+	Test score that falls within Category II or higher on the Armed 49
	309	+	Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or (v) earn an industry 50
	310	+	credential. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	311	+	DRH10349-NG-99 Page 7
	312	+	4. Repealed by Session Laws 2019-142, s. 2, effective July 19, 1
	313	+	2019, and applicable to measures based on data from the 2
	314	+	2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter. 3
	315	+	(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section and only for the purpose of conforming 4
	316	+	with ESSA, the State Board may label measures as indicators different from those described in 5
	317	+	subsection (a) of this section; provided that each measure shall be calculated in accordance with 6
	318	+	the requirements of G.S. 115C-83.15. 7
	319	+	"§ 115C-83.17. Definitions. 8
	320	+	The following definitions apply in this Part: 9
	321	+	(1) Achievement score. – A numerical score on a scale of zero to 100 that is based 10
	322	+	on the sum of points earned by a school or by a subgroup of students pursuant 11
	323	+	to G.S. 115C-83.15. 12
	324	+	(1a) Advanced course exam. – An examination given at the conclusion of an 13
	325	+	associated Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced 14
	326	+	International Certificate of Education course. 15
	327	+	(2) Growth score. – A numerical score measuring student growth calculated for a 16
	328	+	school or for a subgroup of students pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15. 17
	329	+	(3) Overall school performance grade. – The letter grade earned by a school for 18
	330	+	all students served by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d). 19
	331	+	(4) Overall school performance score. – The numerical score earned by a school 20
	332	+	that is calculated by adding the school achievement score and the school 21
	333	+	growth score earned by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d). 22
	334	+	(5) Subgroup performance grade. – The letter grade earned by a school for a 23
	335	+	subgroup of students served by the school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d2). 24
	336	+	(6) Subgroup performance score. – The numerical score earned by a school that 25
	337	+	is calculated by adding the subgroup achievement score and the subgroup 26
	338	+	growth score earned by a school pursuant to G.S. 115C-83.15(d2)." 27
	339	+	SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to school 28
	340	+	performance grades and metrics based on data from the 2025-2026 school year. 29