GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                     1

SENATE BILL 855

 

 

Short Title:      Modify School Performance Grades.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Senators McKissick, Smith-Ingram, Waddell (Primary Sponsors);  Bryant, Foushee, and Smith.

Referred to:

Rules and Operations of the Senate

May 11, 2016

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to modify the CALCULATION of school performance grades and to appropriate funds to the department of public instruction to study potential factors to include in the calculation of grades.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑83.15 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑83.15.  School achievement, growth, performance scores, and grades.

…

(d)       Calculation of the School Performance Scores and Grades. – The State Board of Education shall use EVAAS to calculate the school performance score by adding the school achievement score, as provided in subsection (b) of this section, and the school growth score, as provided in subsection (c) of this section, earned by a school. The school achievement score shall account for eighty percent (80%), fifty percent (50%), and the school growth score shall account for twenty percent (20%) fifty percent (50%) of the total sum. If a school has met expected growth and inclusion of the school's growth score reduces the school's performance score and grade, a school may choose to use the school achievement score solely to calculate the performance score and grade. For all schools, the total school performance score shall be converted to a 100‑point scale and used to determine a school performance grade based on the following scale:

(1)        A school performance score of at least 90 is equivalent to an overall school performance grade of A.

(2)        A school performance score of at least 80 is equivalent to an overall school performance grade of B.

(3)        A school performance score of at least 70 is equivalent to an overall school performance grade of C.

(4)        A school performance score of at least 60 is equivalent to an overall school performance grade of D.

(5)        A school performance score of less than 60 points is equivalent to an overall school performance grade of F.

(e)        Elementary and Middle School Reading and Math Achievement Scores. – For schools serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the school achievement scores in reading and mathematics, respectively, shall be reported separately on the annual school report card provided under G.S. 115C‑12(9)c1., 115C‑218.65, and 115C‑238.66.

(f)        Indication and Significance of Growth. – In addition to awarding the overall school scores for achievement, growth, and performance and the performance grade, using EVAAS, the State Board shall designate that a school has met, exceeded, or has not met expected growth. The designation of student growth shall be clearly displayed in the annual school report card provided under G.S. 115C‑12(9)c1., 115C‑218.65, and 115C‑238.66. For schools that receive a letter grade of B or lower, if the school has exceeded growth, the State Board shall assign a performance grade one letter grade higher than the school performance grade determined for the school under subsection (d) of this section."

SECTION 2.(a)  The State Board of Education shall create a task force within the Department of Public Instruction to study the school performance grading system calculation method and distribution of those grades under G.S. 115C‑83.15. The task force shall consider the method of calculation of school performance grades in other states and the inclusion of additional school performance indicators in the school performance grading system calculation method that may more accurately reflect the overall performance of a school, including the number of a school's accelerated courses and industry certifications, points for advanced placement courses, graduation rate, at‑risk graduation rate, and scores of students taking SAT and ACT.

SECTION 2.(b)  By December 15, 2016, the State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the findings from the study, including recommendations and any legislative proposals for modifications to the school performance grading system.

SECTION 2.(c)  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to conduct the study required by this section.

SECTION 3.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2016. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.