1. Credit by Demonstrated Mastery
Wayne County Schools
Spring 2015

2. What is Credit by Demonstrated Mastery?
Approved by SBE on 12/2012 and updated on 12/5/2013 (State BOE Policy GCS-M )
“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.
It is a way for highly advanced students to benefit from subject level acceleration as opposed to whole grade acceleration/grade skipping.

3. What is Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)?
CDM offers all NC students the opportunity to personalize and accelerate their learning by earning high school course credit through a demonstration of mastery of course material without sitting through the course; students show mastery via assessment & artifact(s)
“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.
Students receive a pass/fail grade – CDM does NOT impact a student’s GPA

4. How Does CDM Work? Phase #1 Phase #2 Mastery Assessment
There is a multi-phase assessment process that 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/ Evidence
Phase #2

5. What is the Timeline?
Student applies for CDM—Applications will be issued and accepted the week of January 12-16, 2015
Assessment Phase #1: standard examination (94% or higher), EOC is determined by a scale score, CTE scale score 93%
EOC – February 17-27, 2015
Non EOC – February 17-27, 2015
Assessment Phase #2: artifacts scored by CDM review team
March 30-April 3, 2015
requires the student to apply knowledge and skills relevant to the content standards. WCPS may require additional requirements, such as performance tasks or interviews.
CDM Committee reviews documentation and makes decision
Parents/Students are notified about decision May 8, 2015
Appeal Process available only to students that reach phase #2 and must be completed in 5 working days.

6. Unsuccessful Attempts?
Phase #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

7. CDM Courses
All standard level high school courses are included unless on exemption list. Does NOT include:
Honors, AP
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

8. What is your role in CDM? 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

9. To be considered… Long Term Considerations
→ 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