Testing and Reporting Process

Testing and Reporting Process

The statute that governs the Opportunity Scholarship and Education Student Accounts programs (the “K12 Programs”) requires that nonpublic schools submit test results for all scholarship students in grades three and higher to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) no later than July 15 of each year for the previous school year.

Test Requirements

  • Tests must be nationally standardized to measure achievement in the following areas:

    • For grades three through eight: English, grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics

    • For grades nine, ten and 12: must measure either (i) achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics or (ii) competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.

    • Students in grade 11 are required to take the ACT. For more information about ACT testing in the 2024-25 school year, see this guidance.

  • For 3rd and 8th graders, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has been charged with recommending and designating the nationally standardized test to be used for grades 3 and 8. At this time, a standardized test has not been selected by DPI for 3rd and 8th grade students.  Therefore, schools may use any nationally standardized test or its equivalent that meets the requirements set forth above for the 2024-25 school year.

  • Except as otherwise provided herein, tests which may be given include, but are not limited to, the Stanford Achievement Test, the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and TerraNova. Consult the North Carolina Division of Nonpublic Education (DNPE) website for more information about nationally standardized tests.

  • Tests must have been normed within the last ten years.

  • All scholarship students in grades three and higher must be tested every year. Submit test scores from all these students for whom your school received funds.

Not all tests may measure achievement or competency in the areas required and therefore may not meet the K12 Program testing requirements. Contact your test vendor to confirm that tests contain all the areas in which the student should be evaluated.

 

Reporting Requirements

  • NCSEAA requires schools to submit the original PDF documents provided electronically by the testing companies.

  • The Standard or Scaled Score and the National Percentile Rank are required scores. If available, also include the National Stanine, Normal Curve Equivalent, or Grade Equivalent.

  • All schools must submit individual test results for scholarship students in grades three and higher.

  • Schools with 25 or more 11th grade scholarship students must submit an aggregate report of the test results for those students. 

  • Do not submit hand-graded test results.

  • Do not submit scanned copies of paper test reports.

  • Do not use a camera to create an image of test reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

NCSEAA does not anticipate changes for the 2024-2025 school year. In the event that testing requirements change during the school year, NCSEAA will provide additional guidance and direction to schools at that time.

The nonpublic school must schedule a make-up day to test that student.

In general, the school where the student is enrolled during the spring semester is responsible for testing and reporting scores. If the spring semester school confirms that the student was tested by the fall semester school prior to the student’s transfer, the spring semester school does not need to re-test the student. The spring semester school should document the name of the school which did the testing, the name of the school official, and the date of the test.

If a student transfers within the spring semester, the second school is responsible for testing and reporting scores. If the second spring school confirms that the student was tested by the first spring school prior to the transfer, the second spring school does not need to re-test the student. The second spring school should document the name of the school which did the testing, the name of the school official, and the date of the test.

The nonpublic school should schedule an independent test day for that student.

If the student is in public school or has moved away, this nonpublic school should make the good faith effort to get the student back in to be tested. The nonpublic school should contact the family and arrange to have the student tested at the school. Contact NCSEAA prior to the end of the school year if you are unable to reach the family after reasonable efforts or if the family refuses to cooperate.

The nonpublic school should review the Opportunity Scholarship Program Rules with the family. If the student has an Education Student Account, the nonpublic school should advise the parent to review the program’s Parental Agreement. Families who do not allow their students to be tested will not be permitted to renew the scholarship.

The nonpublic school should have documentation to support the educationally appropriate testing choice for the student with a disability and should keep the documentation of the test selection on file pending review by NCSEAA.

Contact NCSEAA for instructions immediately. Your school can mitigate the consequences of not complying with the requirement by reporting the problem before the next school year begins.

Do not report data to NCSEAA for students who are not Opportunity Scholarship or Education Student Accounts students.

Questions?

Do you have additional questions about testing and reporting? Contact us.

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