Credit for Demonstrated Mastery (CDM): Policy Overview & Conversation

WS/FCS Board of Education Meeting

Paula B. Wilkins &

Kenneth Simington

January 28, 2014

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)

• Approved by SBE on 12/2012 and updated on 12/5/2013 (State BOE Policy GCS-M-001.13)

• “Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is the process by which LEAs shall, based upon a body-of-evidence, award a student credit in a particular course without requiring the student to complete classroom instruction for a certain amount of seat time.

What is CDM? 

• CDM offers NC students the opportunity to personalize and accelerate their learning by earning course credit through a demonstration of mastery of course material without sitting through the course; students show mastery via assessment & artifact(s)

•Students receive a pass/fail grade - Does NOT impact GPA

Overview of CDM

• “Mastery” is defined as a student’s command of course material at a level that demonstrates a deep understanding of the content standards and application of knowledge.

• Beginning with the 2014-15 school year, to inform student placement for the 2015-16 school year, Credit by Demonstrated Mastery shall be available for all NC students in grades, 9-12 for high school courses and in grades 6-8 for high school courses offered in middle school (Math I, Math II, E/E) .

• LEAs may choose to make CDM available for students in grades 6-8 for middle grades content.

CDM & Multi-phase Assessment• This multi-phase assessment process builds a body-of-evidence

that allows a committee to determine if the student has a deep understanding of the standards for the course or subject area, as defined by the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, thereby earning credit for the course without experiencing it in the school setting.

• Mastery Assessment

Phase #1

• Artifacts/ EvidencePhase #2

• Student applies for CDM—LEA sets timeline for applying for CDM • Assessment Phase #1: standard examination exam (94% or higher)

• EOC - testing windows defined by state• Non EOC – assessment developed by WS/FCS

• Assessment Phase #2: artifacts scored by CDM review team (district- based or school based—LEA decision)• requires the student to apply knowledge and skills relevant to the

content standards. LEAs may require additional requirements, such as performance tasks.

• CDM Committee Reviews documentation and makes decision• Parents/Students are communicated about decision

CDM Process (District establishes CDM Policy)

Appeals Process

• Appeal Process available only to students that reach phase #2• Developed by the District• Allows for opportunity for family to appeal committee decision

regarding earning CDM• Policy should be provided to families prior to starting CDM

process• Appeals should occur within 10 days of receiving notification of

unsuccessful attempt• A subset of CDM review teams will review and finalize appeal

decision within 10 days of submission• Decisions of the Appeals teams are final• Note: EOG/EOC scores are not appealable

Unsuccessful CandidatesPhase #1:→ No retesting; Student may not try again → No transcript record of failed attempts

→ May not affect grades (GPA)

Phase #2:→ Timeline/Process for appeal…committee makes decision based on information

All standard level high school courses included unless on exemption list. Does NOT include:• Honors, AP or IB• CTE (work-based learning courses, those with

clinical setting)• CTE Advanced Studies courses• ELL courses• Healthful Living required courses

Sequential courses: next course in sequence

What courses are included in CDM?

Role of District in CDM Process

Create Master Timeline/Guidelines→ Include district specialists to create guidelines/expectations for courses

→ Develop CDM review teams→ Help facilitate appeals process

Role of School in CDM Process

• Counselors—• Serve on CDM team - student application

begins with counseling session • Facilitate scheduling of replacement courses

• Principal--Serve on CDM team – required to sign off on final decision form

• Teachers— Content experts selected to serve on CDM review teams to evaluate student artifacts

General School Role—Serve as point of contact for Appeals Process

→ Parent/Guardian may appeal in writing within ten days of decision

→ Panel will review appeals within twenty days of recommendation and collect any additional data requested by the panel

→ Final recommendations will be made within 10 days of Appeals Review.

Role of School in CDM Process (cont.)

Proposed Timeline for 2014-2015

Spring Timeline: This timeline is for students attempting to earn CDM during the spring 2015 semester for courses scheduled in the fall 2015.

Late January/Early February: Develop local processes and practices to implement CDM and communicate with schools

Mid-February: Share CDM opportunities with students and families and accept applications. Have student/family discussions and advisement. Application deadline: Feb. 17

February 19-March 5: Implement Phase 1 Assessment of the CDM process - official DPI testing window for EOC courses (Math I, Biology, English II)

By March 10: Report results to students/families.

Remainder of March: Schedule Phase 2 artifact work for students who achieve the required standard on the assessment.

April 7-11: WS/FCS conducts district–level artifact review. Content specialists meet to review artifacts and determine results. Results shared with schools by April 21.

By April 28: Provide results to students/families and discuss course schedule changes. Begin a ten-calendar-day window for submission of appeals.

First week of May: Conduct appeals reviews.

Second week of May: Finalize appeal decisions and share results by May 12.

Proposed Timeline 2014-2015 (Cont.)

Long-term Considerations

Long Term Considerations (page 8 of toolkit)→ all pathways for advanced learning through grade 12 should be considered

→ GPA and quality points – will NOT be earned, only credit

→ Athletics – not recommended for collegiate athletes

→ Diploma Endorsements – implications for requirements of NC Academic Scholars Endorsement and others

State Support Structures

• Overview of DPI CDM Toolkit: FAQ for Schools FAQ for Students Long Term Considerations Process Flow Chart Decision Form, Application Student Record Form

• Wiki with Implementation Guide http://cdm.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Home

Questions/Concerns?