North Carolina State Assessments and Testing Schedules Guide

North Carolina State-Mandated Testing Regulations and Reporting

  • State Board Policy 16 NCAC 06D .0307(g): Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are required, at the beginning of each school year, to provide information to students and parents or guardians regarding districtwide and State-mandated tests. This information must include:

    • Specific tests required for the school year.
    • Administrative dates for the tests.
    • How the test results will be utilized.
    • Identification of whether the test is required by the State Board of Education or the local board of education.

  • State Board Policy 16 NCAC 06D .0307(h): LEAs must report scores from State-mandated tests within the Annual Testing Program to students and parents/guardians no later than 3030 days after the test is administered. Available score interpretation information must be provided within 3030 days from the receipt of the scores and interpretive documentation from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI).

  • Standard Administration Mode: All standard test administrations must be completed online. A paper format is available only for students with a documented accessibility need.

Early Literacy Assessment (mClass/DIBELS)

  • Test Name: mClass (DIBELS 8th Edition).
  • Test Purpose/Type: Formative and Diagnostic assessment.
  • Test Subject: ELA/Reading.
  • Test Delivery Mode: Online.
  • Grade Level(s): K−3K-3.
  • Testing Window: Locally determined.
  • Time Allotted: Unique to each individual student.
  • Results Availability: Governed by 16 NCAC 06D .0307.

Grade 3 Reading Assessments and Read to Achieve Requirements

  • Beginning-of-Grade 3 Reading Test:

    • Purpose: Summative End-of-Grade (EOG) administered at the start of Grade 33 to identify students needing support to meet Read to Achieve standards.
    • Subject: Reading.
    • Delivery: Online.
    • Grade: 33.
    • Testing Window (2025–26): Traditional and Year-round calendars use the first 1515 days of the school year (days 1−151-15). NCTest opens July 1818, 20252025.
    • Testing Window (2026–27): First 1515 days of the school year. NCTest opening date is TBD.
    • Time Allotted: 120120 minutes.

  • End-of-Grade (EOG) Reading Retest:

    • Purpose: Required by G.S. §115C-83.6(a) for Read to Achieve; a summative reading assessment.
    • Eligibility: Only for Grade 33 students who have not satisfied Read to Achieve law (G.S. §115C-83.7) requirements.
    • Testing Window: Final 1010 instructional days of the school year.
    • Time Allotted: 120120 minutes.

  • Read to Achieve Test for Grade 3:

    • Purpose: Alternative Assessment of reading comprehension approved by the State Board per G.S. §115C-83.7(b)(3).
    • Eligibility: Grade 33 or Grade 44 students in transitional 3rd3rd and 4th4th class combinations or 4th4th grade accelerated classes who have not met Read to Achieve requirements.
    • Testing Windows:
      • Summer (2025/2026): At the conclusion of reading camp.
      • Fall (2025/2026): By the November 11 midyear promotion deadline.
      • Spring (2026/2027): Final 1010 instructional days of the school year.
    • Time Allotted: 120120 minutes.

General End-of-Grade (EOG) and End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments

  • End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests:

    • Purpose: Summative tests for all students in membership at the specific grade level.
    • Subjects and Grades: Reading (Grades 3−83-8), Mathematics (Grades 3−83-8), and Science (Grades 55 and 88).
    • Testing Window: Final 1010 instructional days of the school year.
    • Time Allotted: 120120 minutes.

  • End-of-Course (EOC) Tests:

    • Purpose: Summative tests for students enrolled for credit in specified courses, per 16 N.C. Admin. Code 06D .0309.
    • Subjects: Biology, English II, NC Math 11, and NC Math 33.
    • Testing Window: Final 55 instructional days of the semester or final 1010 instructional days of a yearlong course.
    • Time Allotted by Subject:
      • Biology: 120120 minutes.
      • English II: 150150 minutes.
      • NC Math 11: 180180 minutes.
      • NC Math 33: 180180 minutes.

Alternate Assessments (NCEXTEND1 and CCRAA)

  • NCEXTEND1 Alternate Assessments:

    • Purpose: Alternate assessments based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards for EOG and EOC tests.
    • Subjects and Grades: Reading (Grades 3−83-8, and 1010), Math (Grades 3−83-8, and 1010), and Science (Grades 55, 88, and 1010).
    • Testing Window: Final 1010 instructional days of the school year (Spring for Grade 1111/EOC).
    • Time Allotted: Unique to each individual student.

  • College and Career Readiness Alternate Assessment (CCRAA):

    • Grade 10 Purpose: Diagnostic test aligned to the College Admissions Test. Time: 150150 minutes.
    • Grade 11 Purpose: Alternate assessment to the College Admissions Test. Time: 150150 minutes.
    • Delivery: Online.

English Learner (EL) Identification and Proficiency (WIDA)

  • WIDA Screener (Identification):

    • Purpose: State-adopted English Learner proficiency identification.
    • Timeline: Must be administered within 3030 calendar days of enrollment.
    • Modes and Times:
      • Kindergarten Screener (Paper): ≈10−40\approx 10-40 minutes.
      • Grades 1–12 Screener (Online): Reading (up to 1515 min), Listening (up to 1515 min), Speaking (up to 2525 min), Writing (up to 2525 min).
      • Alternate Screener (Paper, K–12): ≈30\approx 30 minutes or less.

  • WIDA ACCESS (Proficiency):

    • Purpose: State-adopted English Learner language proficiency test.
    • Testing Window (2025–26): January 1212 to March 1313, 20262026. (2026–27 Window is TBD).
    • Time Estimates (Grades 1–12 Online):
      • Listening: 35−5035-50 minutes.
      • Reading: 4545 minutes.
      • Writing: 50−7550-75 minutes.
      • Speaking: 3535 minutes.
    • Kindergarten ACCESS (Paper): ≈45\approx 45 minutes.
    • Alternate ACCESS (Paper, K–12): 3030 minutes per domain (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking).

College and Career Readiness

  • PreACT (Grade 10):

    • Purpose: Diagnostic test aligned to the College Admissions Test (English, Math, Reading, Science).
    • 2025-26 Window: October 1313 to November 2020, 20252025. (2026-27 Window TBD).
    • Time: 130130 minutes.

  • ACT WorkKeys / Career Readiness Test:

    • Purpose: Measures skills in Applied Math, Workplace Documents, and Graphic Literacy for CTE Concentrators.
    • 2025-26 Windows: Fall (Oct 2020-Dec 55, 20252025); Spring (Feb 1717-Mar 2727, 20262026).
    • Time: 165165 minutes.

  • The ACT (Grade 11):

    • Subjects: English, Math, Reading, and Science.
    • 2026 Paper Dates: Feb 2424, Mar 1010, and Mar 2424.
    • 2026 Online Windows: Three windows covering dates from Feb 2424 to April 33, 20262026.
    • Time: 165165 minutes.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Proof of Learning (POL)

  • CTE State Assessment (CTESA): Summative online post-assessment. Grade 9−129-12. Time: 120120 minutes. Window: Final 55 instructional days of semester or final 1010 days of yearlong course.
  • CTE Performance-based Measurement (PBM): Semester-long supervised work turned in by instructor's date. Does not impact the testing window.
  • CTE Credential: Summative/Vendor defined. Students take when ready at any point in the semester. Does not impact testing window.
  • CTE Local POL: Locally determined summative assessment or credential. Taken when ready. Does not impact testing window.