North Carolina: College and Career Policies

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Educator Licensure Authority

The North Carolina State Board of Education oversees the entire certification process within the state.

Student Assessments: Science

The North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. North Carolina's Standard Course of Study defines the appropriate content standards for each grade level and each high school course to provide a uniform set of learning standards for every public school in North Carolina.The Essential Standards includes the standards for the newly adopted curriculum in the following areas: English as a Second Language, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Arts Education and Healthful Living. NCEXTEND2 alternate assessments will no longer be available effective with the 2014-15 school year.

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Educator Licensure Policy

In order to become a certified teacher in North Carolina, an applicant must hold a bachelor's degree, attend an accredited institution with an approved teacher preparation program, and pass state certification examinations.

Content Standards: Social Studies

North Carolina updated the social studies standards in 2010.

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Educator Preparation Authority

The North Carolina State Board of Education oversees the approval of teacher preparation programs.

Graduation Requirements: Social Studies

North Carolina requires 4 credits of social studies to graduate.

Professional Program Standards and Requirements: Educator Preparation Policy

To be approved, programs must meet the following 6 standards: knowledge, skills, and dispositions, assessment system and evaluation, field experiences and clinical practice, diversity, faculty qualifications, performance, and development, and program governance and resources.

Student Assessments: Social Studies

The Essential Standards includes the standards for the newly adopted curriculum in the following areas: English as a Second Language, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Arts Education and Healthful Living. NCEXTEND2 alternate assessments will no longer be available effective with the 2014-15 school year.

Content Standards: English as a Second Language

North Carolina has standards in 11 content areas including arts, driver education program standards, English as a second language standards, English language arts, health, technology, math, world languages, science, social studies, and career and technical education.

Content Standards: Standards Authority

The State Board of Education has full authority to adopt standards.

Content Standards: English Language Arts

North Carolina updated the English language arts standards in 2011. These standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Educator Preparation and Licensure: Teacher Licensure Renewal

Continuing education credits are required for certificate renewal in North Carolina.

Graduation Requirements: English Language Arts

Content Standards: Technology

During 2009, Instructional Technology staff members worked with LEA representatives and other DPI staff to create Information and Technology Essential Standards for media and technology. These standards were developed using Bloom's Revised Technology and replace the Computer Skills and Information Literacy Standard Courses of Study. The Information and Technology Essential Standards are posted on the ACRE section of the NC Public Schools web site.

Graduation Requirements: Additional Graduation Requirements

North Carolina requires 7 additional credits of "other" courses for graduation.

Student Assessments: English Language Arts

The North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. North Carolina's Standard Course of Study defines the appropriate content standards for each grade level and each high school course to provide a uniform set of learning standards for every public school in North Carolina. North Carolina adopted the Common Core State Standards in K-12 Mathematics and K-12 English Language Arts released by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Content Standards: World Languages

The new World Language Essential Standards, which incorporates revisions from the 2004 Standard of Course of Study and the documents for American Sign Language and Dual Language Immersion, were approved in September 2010 by the North Carolina State Board of Education. The World Language Essential Standards will be taught and assessed starting with the 2012-13 school year.

Educator Professional Growth and Development: Administrator Licensure Renewal

In order to renew a license, administrators are required to complete 15 units of renewal credit. Ways to earn this credit are outlined in the policy.

Content Standards: Health

North Carolina adopted new standards in 2010, but they were not taught until 2012.

Content Standards: Arts (Fine Arts)

North Carolina has fine arts standards in Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts.

Content Standards: Mathematics

North Carolina updated the math standards in 2011. These standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

Student Assessments: Arts (Performing)

The North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. North Carolina's Standard Course of Study defines the appropriate content standards for each grade level and each high school course to provide a uniform set of learning standards for every public school in North Carolina. North Carolina adopted the Common Core State Standards in K-12 Mathematics and K-12 English Language Arts released by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Graduation Requirements: Mathematics

This includes:
-Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II OR Integrated Math I, II, III; and,
-a 4th Math Course to be aligned with the student’s post high school plans.

A student, in rare instances, may be able to take an alternative math course sequence as outlined under State Board of Education policy. Please see your school counselor for more details.

Student Assessments: Arts (Visual)

The North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. North Carolina's Standard Course of Study defines the appropriate content standards for each grade level and each high school course to provide a uniform set of learning standards for every public school in North Carolina. North Carolina adopted the Common Core State Standards in K-12 Mathematics and K-12 English Language Arts released by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Student Assessments: Mathematics

The North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. North Carolina's Standard Course of Study defines the appropriate content standards for each grade level and each high school course to provide a uniform set of learning standards for every public school in North Carolina. North Carolina adopted the Common Core State Standards in K-12 Mathematics released by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. NCEXTEND2 alternate assessments will no longer be available effective with the 2014-15 school year.

Student Assessments: Assessment Authority

The North Carolina State Board of Education has full authority to adopt assessments.

Content Standards: Driver and Traffic Safety

Content Standards: Career and Technical Education

The State Board of Education has full authority over Career and Technical Education standards. These standards were adopted in 2011.

Educator Professional Growth and Development: Professional Development

North Carolina follows the Learning Forward standards of learning communities, leadership, resources, data, learning designs, implementation, and outcomes.

Educator Performance Evaluation: Educator Evaluation Authority

Adopted by State Board. In October 2008, the NC State Board of Education approved the policy adopting the Rubric for Evaluating North Carolina Teachers and the Teacher Evaluation Process. In September 2011, the policy was updated to include abbreviated evaluations for Career-Status Teachers.

Content Standards: Science

The State Board of Education approved new Extended Content Standards based on the State Common Core Standards and the State Essential Standards in February and March of 2011. These will be operational for the 2012-13 school year. The new extended standards can be found on this webpage.

Educator Performance Evaluation: Educator Evaluation Policy

Effective with the 2011 – 2012 school year, Teachers are to be evaluated annually using the North Carolina Teacher Evaluation Rubric in its full or abbreviated form. The intended purpose of the teacher evaluation process is to provide teachers with meaningful feedback on their performance while assessing their performance in relation to the Professional Teaching Standards.

Graduation Requirements: Science

North Carolina requires 3 credits of science courses for graduation.

State Policy Database

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