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Education Acronyms
ACT
American College Test. An assessment taken by students as a precursor to
college/university admission.
ADM
Average Daily Membership. The number of days a student is in membership at a
school divided by the number of days in a school month or school year.
AP
Advanced Placement. A program that enables high school students to complete
college-level courses for college placement and/or credit.
BOG3
Beginning of Grade 3. Test taken in English language arts/reading by third
grade students starting on the 11th day of the school year and continuing
through the 15th day.
CECAS
Comprehensive Exceptional Children Accountability System. A secure web-based
student information system for exceptional children that supports online case
management, compliance monitoring, data analysis, and federal and state
reporting requirements.
CEDARS
Common Education Data Analysis & Reporting System. CEDARS is North
Carolina's PreK-13 State Longitudinal Data System. CEDARS enables state, local
and federal policymakers and service providers to make data-driven decisions
based on analysis of trends and relationships between various educational
factors and student performance over time.
CTE
Career and Technical Education. CTE provides high school students the
opportunity to take courses in eight program areas so that they can explore
interests and careers while building and strengthening their career-specific
knowledge and skills. The eight education program areas are: Agricultural;
Business, Finance and Information Technology; Career Development; Family and
Consumer Sciences; Health Science; Marketing and Entrepreneurship; Technology
Engineering and Design; and Trade and Industrial.
ECATS
Exceptional Children Accountability Tracking System. A secure web-based student
information system for exceptional children that supports online case
management, compliance monitoring, data analysis, and federal and state
reporting requirements.
ECATS MTSS Module
The Every Child Accountability and Tracking system
MTSS module, a secure web-based solution offered by Public Consulting Group
(PCG) that provides North Carolina LEAs and charters with a PK-13 integrated
solution for MTSS Planning and Implementation. The ECATS MTSS Module provides
an early warning system for identifying students at risk, captures all general
education interventions and facilitates the analysis of that data/reporting to
make efficient and effective decisions.
EDDIE
Educational Directory & Demographical Information Exchange. EDDIE is the
authoritative source for North Carolina public school information including LEA
numbers, school numbers, administrative contacts, school types, grade levels,
calendar types, program types and addresses. Information contained in EDDIE is
populated by local districts and feeds multiple NCDPI systems including
Accountability, PowerSchool, and NC School Report Cards, and is used to meet
federal reporting requirements. EDDIE replaced the School, Name and Address
(SNA) file in April 2010.
EL
An individual whose native language is a language other than English or who
comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a
significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency
and who requires a specialized language support program to participate fully in
the curriculum and state-wide assessment program.
ELA
English Language Arts. Part of the Common Core curriculum in the NC Standard
Course of Study, ELA refers to reading, literature, reading, writing and
speaking and listening.
EOC
End-of-Course tests designed to access the competencies defined by the Standard
Course of Study for three mandated courses: NC Math I, English II and Biology.
Tests are taken during the last two weeks of school for students on a
traditional calendar and the last week of the course for students on a block
schedule.
EOG
End-of-Grade tests in English language arts/reading and mathematics (grades
3-8) and science (grades 5 and 8) that are taken by students during the last
ten days of the school year.
ESEA
Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This is the principal federal law
affecting K-12 education with its longstanding commitment to equal opportunity
for all students. The ESEA of 1965 was later amended and reauthorized by the No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. In December of 2015, the ESEA was again
amended and reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds
Act (ESSA).
ESL
English as a Second Language. A program model that delivers specialized
instruction to students who are learning English as a new language.
ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act. This is the name of the latest reauthorization of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. See ESEA above. The ESSA
was signed into law in 2015 and requires each state to create a plan to meet
the components of the law.
EVAAS
Education Value Added Assessment System. SAS® EVAAS™ for K-12 is a customized
software system available to all NC school districts that provides diagnostic
reports quickly to district and school staff. EVAAS tools provide a precise
measurement of student progress over time and a reliable diagnosis of
opportunities for growth that help to identify which students are at risk for
under-achievement. By viewing easy-to-understand charts and graphs accessed via
the Web, users can produce reports that predict student success, show the
effects of instruction at particular schools, or reveal patterns in subgroup
performance.
FRL
Free and Reduced Priced Lunch. Children qualify, based upon parent or guardian
financial status, to receive either free or reduced priced lunch through a
federal governmental program.
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This federal law, reauthorized in
2004, is designed to ensure that all children with disabilities have available
to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special
education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare
them for further education, employment and independent living.
IEP
Individualized Education Program. The IEP is a written statement for a student
with a disability that is developed, at least annually, by a team of
professionals knowledgeable about the student and the parent. The plan
describes the strengths of the child and the concerns of the parents for
enhancing the education of their child, and when, where, and how often services
will be provided. The IEP is required by federal law for all exceptional
children and must include specific information about how the student will be
served and what goals he or she should be meeting.
IHE
Institute of Higher Education. A college or university offering education
beyond grade 12.
IIS
Instructional Improvement System. The IIS provides portals for students,
teachers, parents, and school and district administrators to access data and
resources to inform decision-making related to instruction, assessment and
students’ career and college goals.
LEA
Local Education Agency. Synonymous with a local school system or a local school
district, indicating that a public board of education or other public authority
maintains administrative control of the public schools in a city or county.
LEP
Limited English Proficient. In the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, the term,
'English learner' replaces the term 'Limited English Proficient' used in
section 9101 of the ESEA, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
LMS
Learning Management System. A software application that is used to administer,
document, track, report and deliver educational courses or training programs.
LOR
Learner Object Repository. A storage site for digital content or "digital
library." An LOR lets educators share, manage and use educational
resources.
MCR
Math Course Rigor. MCR is the percent of students who take and pass the NC Math
3 course prior to graduation. It is a part of the school accountability model.
MFELs
Monitored former English Learners. Students who have exited English Learner
(EL) status, but remain in the EL subgroup for four years after the year they
exit EL status. MFELs are monitored at the school level to ensure continued
adequate English proficiency.
MTSS
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. NC MTSS is a school improvement framework that
encompasses academic, behavioral, social, and emotional instruction and
support. NC MTSS employs a systems approach using data-driven problem-solving
to maximize growth for all.
NAEP
National Assessment of Educational Progress. Also known as the “Nation’s Report
Card,” NAEP assesses the educational achievement of elementary and secondary
students in various subject areas. It provides data for comparing the
performance of students in North Carolina to that of their peers nationwide.
NCDPI
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The NCDPI is led by the State
Superintendent and administers the policies adopted by the State Board of
Education. It offers instructional, financial, technological and personnel
support to all public school systems in the state.
NCEES
The North Carolina Educator Evaluation System. A system used to evaluate the
performance of all teachers, principals, assistant principals, instructional
central office administrators and superintendents to promote effective
leadership, quality teaching and student learning while enhancing professional
practice that leads to improved instruction.
NCEXTEND1
The North Carolina EXTEND1 is an alternate assessment designed to measure the
performance of students with significant cognitive disabilities using alternate
achievement standards.
NCFEs
The North Carolina Final Exams. NCFEs are considered standardized artifacts
reflective of student growth for participants in the teacher evaluation
process.
OER
Open Educational Resources. Teaching, learning and research resources that
reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual
property license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others.
OLE
Online Learning Exchange. The exchange resides, as the title suggests, online
to connect teachers to libraries of subject-specific media assets, editable
content, and user-generated materials.
PBIS
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support. Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework
for supporting students' behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health.Positive Behavior
Intervention and Support programs are a way to impact school learning
environments by establishing and reinforcing clear behavioral expectations to
support high student performance and to reduce behavioral problems. PBIS site
schools work to integrate their Safe Schools Plans, character education efforts
and strategies, and discipline efforts to make the schools caring and safe
communities for learning.
PD
Professional Development. The term refers to skills and knowledge attained for
both personal development and career advancement such as continuous courses,
workshops, activities and learning objectives aimed at helping professional
educators and staff members improve their skills in their fields.
PLC
Professional Learning Communities. PLCs are defined by collaborative inquiry,
shared decision-making and joint planning of instruction among teachers.
Teachers are provided structured time to work together in planning instruction,
observing each other's classrooms, and sharing feedback.
PSAT
Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test. Normally taken by high school juniors as a
practice test for the SAT. Some schools use the PSAT as a diagnostic tool to
identify areas where students may need additional assistance or placement in
more rigorous courses.
READY
The READY initiative, which is being implemented in public schools in the
2012-13 school year, focuses not only on student proficiency in foundational
subjects but on ensuring students are career and college ready when they
graduate high school. The initiative is characterized by a new Standard Course
of Study, assessments and accountability model.
RESA
Regional Education Service Alliance. These regional alliances (sometimes called
consortium) provide staff development, leadership development, technical
assistance and help in spreading information related to state initiatives to
member public school systems in each of the state's nine geographic regions:
Northeast, Southeast, Central Carolina, Sandhills, Piedmont-Triad, Southwest,
Northwest, Western and Roanoke River Valley.
RtA
Read to Achieve. NC state law to ensure every student reads at or above grade
level by the end of third grade and progresses in reading proficiency so that
he or she can read, comprehend, integrate, and apply complex texts needed for
secondary education and career success.
RttT
Race to the Top. RttT was a federal grant program
that supported the efforts of the NCDPI, local school districts and many
charter schools to carry out the state’s Career & College: Ready, Set, Go!
initiative. This bold education reform effort focused on college- and career-ready
standards and assessments, data systems, great teachers and leaders, and school
turnarounds. North Carolina was one of 12 recipients of RttT grant awards. Approximately half of the $400 million in RttT funding was distributed to districts for their own initiatives that support
North Carolina’s Race to the Top plan through 2014.
SAT
The SAT is often taken by high school juniors and seniors as a precursor to
college/university admission. It assesses a student’s verbal, mathematical and
writing skills.
SBE
State Board of Education. The State Board of Education is charged with
supervising and administering “the free public school system and the
educational funds provided for its support.” The Board consists of the
Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, and eleven members appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly in Joint Session.
SCOS or SCS
(North Carolina) Standard Course of Study. The SCOS is the guiding document
outlining what should be taught in North Carolina public school classrooms.
SEA
State Education Agency. Federal term for each state education department. SEA
is another name for the NCDPI.
SEL
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human
development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults
acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy
identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and
show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and
make responsible and caring decisions. (CASEL, 2020)
SIP
School Improvement Plan. A plan that includes strategies for improving student
performance, how and when improvements will be implemented, use of state funds,
requests for waivers, etc. Plans are in effect for no more than three years.
SIS
Student Information System. SIS is a software application
educational institutions use to manage student data such as enrollment.
Sometimes called a student information management system (SIMS).
SLC
[North Carolina] Student Learning Conditions [Survey]. This survey provides
middle and high school students with the opportunity to express their
perceptions regarding the learning environment in their schools. Similar to the
NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey, student responses will be utilized for
school and district improvement efforts.
SPG
School Performance Grades. School Performance Grades are awarded to schools as
defined by G.S.§115C-83.15. A-F letter grades are calculated using achievement,
growth, and performance measures.
SSO
Single sign-on. This term refers to users logging into several technology tools
using one sign-on name and password.
STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM curriculum emphasizes
connections within and between the fields of mathematics and science;
integrates technology; introduces and engages students in the engineering
design process; cultivates creativity; and develops skills that drive
innovation.
TIMS
Transportation Information Management System. The computer system used by North
Carolina school districts for routing and scheduling school buses to ensure
safe and efficient bus routes.
TIPS
Team Initiated Problem Solving is a model created out of the University of
Oregon and University of NC at Charlotte for using data for problem solving and
decision making that includes a systematic team process generalize-able across
data sets.
Title I
Title I is the largest federal education funding program for schools. Its aim
is to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind.
School funding is based on the number of low-income children, generally those
eligible for the free and reduced price lunch program. Title I used to be known as Chapter I.
Title III
Title III is the section of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that
provides funding and addresses English language acquisition and standards and
accountability requirements for English learners.
Title IX
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 bans sex discrimination in
schools receiving federal funds, whether it is in academics or athletics.
TWC
[North Carolina] Teacher Working Conditions [Survey]. A biennial survey of all
North Carolina public schools’ licensed staff, the TWC survey provides
educators with an opportunity to express their perceptions about working
conditions at their schools. Information gathered from the survey is shared
with school staff, district administrators, parents and the community for
school improvement planning purposes. Survey results are available online
at
www.ncteachingconditions.org
. In addition, the new evaluation
instruments for superintendents, principals and teachers use TWC responses to
reflect on the presence of working conditions in the school.
USED
United States Education Department. The USED provides federal assistance to
state and local agencies primarily responsible for education and works to
ensure both equal access (e.g., disadvantaged, disabled, at-risk students) and
educational excellence. The department engages in four major types of
activities: establishes policies related to federal education funds,
administers distribution of funds and monitors their use; collects data and
oversees research on America’s schools; identifies major issues in education
and focuses national attention on them; and enforces federal laws prohibiting
discrimination in programs that receive federal funds (USED website).
WIDA
The WIDA Consortium is an educational consortium of state departments of
education that supports academic language development for students who are
English Learners. The WIDA suite of assessments are what North Carolina uses to
assess and monitor English language proficiency.