NC Check-Ins

Purpose

NC Check-Ins are interim assessments developed by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) that are aligned to North Carolina grade-level content standards (for reading and mathematics) and North Carolina Essential Standards (for science). The following NC Check-Ins are available:

• Grades 3–8 Reading (measures all assessible grade-level content standards and increases in text complexity)
• Grades 3–8 Mathematics (measures selected subsets of grade-level content standards)
• Grades 5 and 8 Science (measures Physical Science, Earth Science, and Life Science)
• Biology (measures Structure and Function of Living Organisms, Ecosystems, Evolution and Genetics, and Molecular Biology)
• NC Math 1 (measures selected subsets of course content standards)

The main purpose of NC Check-Ins is to provide students, teachers, and parents with immediate in-depth action data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on selected subsets of content standards. Both the end-of-grade (EOG) tests and the end-of course (EOC) tests share a common item bank with the NC Check-Ins, which then exposes NC Check-In students to similar item types and rigor found on the EOGs and EOCs.

The NCDPI does not have validity evidence to support using results from NC Check-Ins as a predictor of student performance on the EOG or EOC summative tests. Even though there is evidence of a significant correlation between scores from NC Check-Ins and EOGs/EOCs, this correlation evidence by itself does not signify prediction. The overall value of NC Check-Ins is in the use of data for formative purposes throughout the year to help students and teachers adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve students’ achievement of intended instructional outcomes.