Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)

1. Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) Wilkes County Schools

2. What is CDM? • Credit by Demonstrated Mastery offers NC students the opportunity to earn course credit through a demonstration of mastery of course material without the seat time, beginning by the end of the 2014-2015 school year for course placement in 2015-2016

3. What Does That Mean? • Your student may challenge a class that he/she feels they have a mastery of without actually taking the class

4. Which Classes Can I Not Challenge? • CTE work-based learning courses (co-op, internships, apprenticeship) • CTE courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement of the course, such as ProStart Early Childhood Education I/II and Nursing Fundamentals • CTE Advanced Studies courses • ELL courses • Healthful Living required courses • AP/IB courses • CDM can be offered for classes taught in the LEA but may not be at a specific school

5. What is the Criteria? • Open to all students • Only standard-level courses • Phase 1: A standard exam (EOC or final exam) • Phase 2: An artifact which requires the student to apply knowledge and skills relevant to the content standards • Phase 3: An interview with the review panel to discuss the artifact

6. What Are The Considerations? • CDM courses will not earn grades or quality points towards GPA • Students may complete high school graduation requirements early • Maintaining eligibility in high school athletics • Honors classes cannot be considered for CDM • CDM classes would not be used in the initial-eligibility process for NCAA athletics • Community Colleges will review classes on a case-by-case decision regarding credit but CTE courses will not be eligible for articulated credit

7. How Will the Tests Be Administered? • Only students who have submitted applications by the deadline will be scheduled for testing • Exams will be administered during the normal school day • Modifications based on IEP/504 will be addressed • Re-testing is not permitted

8. What Scores Do I Need in Phase 1? EOC Courses • Math 1 >264 • Biology > 261 • English II >165 CTE Courses • Scale score of 93 or higher Non-EOC courses • Scale score of 94 or higher

9. What Happens If I Am Awarded Credit? • Receive credit for the course toward graduation requirements • Credit is given on the transcript as a “pass” • No number or letter grade for the course is given and does not calculate toward a GPA

10. What If I Am Unsuccessful? • Enroll in and complete the course • Receive a passing grade and re-take the EOC • No record of the unsuccessful attempt will be reported on the transcripts

11. What Is The Timeline? • Application Deadline: December 9 • Testing Window: February 16-27 (non-negotiable) • Results are reported to students by March 6 • Artifact Assignments Distributed: March 16 • Artifacts Due to Department Chair: March 30 • Phase 2-3 Reviews: Completed by April 2 • Results: No later than April 13 • Appeals: 10 days from the time the parent receives results

12. Is February My Only Testing Window? • No, another testing window will be available in the last two weeks of July for the fall semester and the last two week of September for spring semester

13. How Do I Appeal a Decision? • Students and their parents should submit appeals within ten days of receiving notification that an attempt for CDM was not successful • Appeals should be in writing addressed to the school principal. The appeal should include reasoning for appeal and the date of submission • The District CDM Review Panel will review the appeal within ten days of receipt and will collect any additional data requestedand provide final recommendations within ten days of their review • The decisions of the appeals panel are final

14. Additional Questions • Contact Wilkes Central High School or Dr. Donna Cotton or Angie Lamb at Wilkes County Board of Education