Education Acronyms

In education, as in most specialized professions, educators use terms that may be unfamiliar. For example, most people associate the ABCs with the alphabet and having PEP with energy. But if a North Carolina principal or teacher uses these terms, they take on a whole new meaning. This list of the more commonly used acronyms or abbreviations and their meanings has been developed to help everyone involved in public schools communicate better.

ABCs The ABCs of Public Education. The ABCs is North Carolina’s comprehensive plan to improve public schools that is based on three goals: strong local accountability, an emphasis on student mastery of basic skills, and as much local control as possible. The ABCs has been in operation in all schools since 1997-98. The model focuses on schools meeting growth expectations for student achievement as well as on the overall percentage of students who scored at or above grade level. The model uses end-of-grade tests in grades 3-8 in reading and mathematics to measure growth at the elementary and middle school levels and end-of-course tests to measure growth at the high school level and at the middle school level where appropriate. Certified staff receives bonuses based on student growth and schools receive recognition based on the percentage of students’ scores at or above grade level.

ACT American College Testing. An alternative test to the SAT that students take as a precursor to college/university admission.

ADM Average Daily Membership. The number of days a student is enrolled in school divided by the number of days in that school year.

AP Advanced Placement. The AP program enables high school students to complete college-level courses for college placement and/or credit.

AYP Adequate Yearly Progress. Required under the federal No Child Left Behind law, AYP provides another way to measure school performance. To meet AYP, a school must meet target goals for each group of students that numbers 40 or more. Target goals are set annually by the state for reading and mathematics at grades 3-8 and 10, and for attendance rates or graduation rates as well. AYP is an all-or-nothing model. If a school misses one target, it does not make AYP. The long-term goal of AYP is to have every school at 100 percent student proficiency by 2013-14.

EOC End-of-Course. EOC tests are designed to assess the competencies defined by the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for each of the following courses: Algebra I, Algebra II, English I, Biology, Chemistry, Geometry, Physical Science, Physics, Civics and Economics, and US History. Tests are taken during the last 10 days of school or the equivalent for alternative schedules.

EOG End-of-Grade. EOG tests in reading and mathematics are taken by students in grades 3–8 during the last three weeks of the school year.

ESEA Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This is the principal federal law affecting K–12 education.

ESL English as a Second Language. ESL is a program model that delivers specialized instruction to students who are learning English as a new language.

F&R Free and Reduced Price Lunches. Children who qualify, due to their parent’s financial status, receive either free or reduced priced lunches through a federal government program.

IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This federal act requires all states to develop alternate assessments for students with disabilities for whom the standard statewide assessment program is not appropriate.

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.

LEA Local Education Agency. Synonymous with local school system and 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. Students whose first language is one other than English and who need language assistance to participate fully in the regular curriculum.

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 the best data for comparing the performance of students in North Carolina to that of their peers across the nation.

NC DPI The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction administers the policies adopted by the State Board of Education and offers instructional, financial, technological and personnel support to all public school systems in the state.

NC WISE North Carolina Window of Information on Student Education. This secure Web-based tool provides educators with direct and immediate access to a full spectrum of data on a student's entire career in the North Carolina public school system.

NCAAAI North Carolina Alternate Assessment Academic Inventory. NCAAAI is a curriculum-based inventory used for assessment of students with disabilities who are following the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and are unable to take the standard statewide assessments, even with accommodations.

NCAAP North Carolina Alternate Assessment Portfolio. NCAAP is an alternate assessment based on data collection that assesses students with disabilities who have serious cognitive deficits, and are following a course of study that focuses on the acquisition of functional life skills.

NCHSCT North Carolina High School Comprehensive Test. A multiple-choice test designed to assess the English Language Arts and Mathematics competencies the typical student should master by the end of the 10th grade.

NCLB No Child Left Behind. NCLB is the more recent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Authorization Act and represents a sweeping change in the federal government’s role in local public education. NCLB has a variety of goals, but the most dominate ones are for every school to be at 100 percent proficiency by 2013-14 as measured by student achievement on state tests and for every child to be taught by a “Highly Qualified” teacher. The new law emphasizes new standards for teachers and new consequences for Title I schools that do not meet student achievement standards for two or more consecutive years. For more information on NCLB, please go to www.ncpublicschools/nclb.

PEP Personalized Education Plan. Plans specifically designed to improve a student’s performance to grade-level proficiency. PEP also stands for Principals’ Executive Program. This preparation program for principals provides relevant and rigorous professional development opportunities based on the best current theories and practices.

PSAT Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test. The PSAT is 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.

SAS Student Accountability Standards. Statewide standards North Carolina public schools students are required to meet as one consideration for promotion from grades 3, 5 and 8.

SAT Scholastic Assessment Test. The SAT, which is often taken by high school juniors and seniors as a precursor to college/university admission, assesses a student’s verbal and mathematical skills.

SBE State Board of Education. The State Board of Education is charged with supervising and administering “the free public school system and the education funds provided for its support.” The Board consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, and 11 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly in Joint Session.

SCS Standard Course of Study. The North Carolina Standard Course of Study is the guiding document as to what should be taught in North Carolina public school classrooms.

SIMS Student Information Management System. SIMS is the school-based statewide student information system currently being replaced by NC WISE. SIMS consists of a highly modified, DOS-based, cots software package installed as either a stand-alone application or on a local area network in each individual school. Local school systems’ central offices, and charter schools are responsible for transferring individual school data to the state.

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.

Title I A federal funding program for schools to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. Funding is based on the number of low-income children in a school, generally those eligible for the free lunch program. Title I money supplements state and district funds.

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.