Parent's Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA)
Based on Parents’ Bill of Rights - SB 49; Session Law 2023-106
It is the goal of Orange County Schools to provide parents and guardians of our students access to information pertaining to student achievement through the district’s Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA). Paper copies of this document and the information included within it can be obtained through a request from your child’s individual school. Expand each question below for information and links to resources.
- How can my child be promoted to the next grade level?
- What is my child learning at school? How can a parent review these materials?
- How will a parent learn about their child’s progress in school or a class?
- What are the qualifications of my child’s teachers?
- What are the requirements for school enrollment? What are the immunizations needed or recommended for children?
- How can a parent help their child learn and make progress?
- How can a parent help their child develop citizenship, social skills and respect for others?
- How can a parent strengthen communication with the school/teacher?
- What services are available for parents and their children?
- What are opportunities for parents to participate with school?
- What are the rigorous academic programs available to my child? How can I learn more about them?
- What school choices are available for my child?
- What rights do students with disabilities have based on the law?
- What is the contact information for the schools and district office?
- What are some resources to support my child’s health and wellbeing? What immunizations are required and when should they be scheduled?
How can my child be promoted to the next grade level?
The following are the relevant State and local requirements for a child to be promoted to the next grade level.
The relevant part of this link is found in Part 1A (pp. 15-28) regarding retention, promotion, alternatives to show reading proficiency, etc.: Grade Level Promotion
Information about Orange County Schools Student Promotion and Accountability can be reviewed at: Orange County Board Of Education Policy Code: 3420 Student Promotion and Accountability
What is my child learning at school? How can a parent review these materials?
In North Carolina, all public schools use the same Standard Course of Study, determined by the State Board of Education. These standards are the knowledge and skills students should understand by the end of each grade/course.
The standards can be found on the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards website. There are standards for:
- Arts Education,
- Career Technical Education,
- Computer Science,
- English Language Arts,
- English Language Development,
- Student Success Standards,
- Healthful Living,
- Information and Technology,
- Mathematics,
- Science,
- Social Studies, and
- World Language.
Local districts, schools and teachers determine how to teach these standards, including curriculum, supplementary materials, books, etc.
Curriculum
The following links provide information related to the curriculum in Orange County Schools:
Information pertaining to the inspection of instructional materials can be located at Inspection of Instructional Materials
Literacy Intervention Plan
Information pertaining to the Orange County Schools Literacy Intervention Plan can be located at the following: OCS Literacy Intervention Plan
If a student has an individual Intervention Plan, parents and guardians are notified and provided a copy of the plan by the school. If a parent or guardian does not have a copy of their child’s Intervention Plan, a request can be made to the school.
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Orange County Schools also offers courses in the area of Career and Technical Education (CTE). These courses allow students to explore careers, develop soft skills, and earn industry-recognized credentials. Information about CTE Courses, Standards, and Career Pathways may be found by visiting the NC CTE Course Management System.
To learn more about Orange County Schools CTE Program, visit the Orange County Schools CTE website.
To learn more about the Curriculum and Instruction for Orange County Schools, visit Curriculum and Instruction
How will a parent learn about their child’s progress in school or a class?
Orange County Schools believes collecting and sharing information about students’ progress and performance with parents and guardians throughout the year is imperative.
Information regarding Testing and Accountability in Orange County Schools can be located at the following: Office of Testing and Accountability
Local Assessments: Orange County Schools shares the progress of students through a variety of ways, including quarterly report cards, progress reports, parent conferences, and assignment/test feedback. Feedback on conduct is also shared. Parents can access attendance, grades, and testing information through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (Campus Parent). Information about accessing the parent portal can be located at the following link: Parent Portal Access
State Assessments:
This is a list of North Carolina state-mandated assessments:
- End-Of-Grade (EOG) Assessments are administered to students in grades 3-8 in English Language Arts and Mathematics and in grades 5 and 8 in Science.
- End-Of-Course (EOC) Assessments are administered to students registered in Biology, English II, Math 1, and Math 3.
- ACT: WorkKeys are part of North Carolina's College and Career Ready program.
- Alternate Assessments are available to students with disabilities as documented in their Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
- WIDA Screener/ ACCESS for English Language Learners is administered to English Language Learners through the ESL department at each school upon initial enrollment and then annually to determine English language proficiency.
- The North Carolina Field Testing Program collects the data necessary to generate high-quality and technically sound state tests and inform assessment practices.
- National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), or “the Nation’s Report Card,” is administered to selected schools to reflect what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas.
- Any student enrolled in a CTE course (including a NCVPS CTE course) is expected to complete the required state Proof of Learning (POL) identified for that course. A POL is a type of assessment provided in a CTE course and is a defined measure of students’ mastery of standards and objectives learned in a CTE course. CTE POLs may be in the form of one of the following:
- CTE State Assessment - 100-item secured test (in NCTEST).
- Third Party Assessment - A vendor assessment who has designed the curriculum.
- Performance Based Measure (PBM) - Provides students with multiple opportunities throughout the semester to demonstrate mastery of the course. The PBM may include a defined project, portfolio, or other performance-based tasks.
- Credential - Allows students to earn an industry recognized certification/credential after they have been properly trained. *Note: Some CTE courses offer a supplemental credential and the required POL to allow students to earn an industry credential.**
- Local Measure - Teacher-made assessment or Performance-based Measure.
An Individual Reading Plan (IRP) shall be developed for any kindergarten through third-grade student demonstrating difficulty with reading. An IRP will have specific strategies/ideas that can be done at home.
North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) selected mCLASS DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) ® 8th Edition as the state’s K-3 Literacy Assessment. mCLASS is an integrated literacy system based on the Science of Reading. mCLASS has been revised and upgraded from the assessment NC districts have used in the past, based on the latest research and the Science of Reading. It is a valid and reliable assessment, supporting universal literacy screening, screening for the risk of dyslexia, and progress monitoring.
What are the qualifications of my child’s teachers?
Parents may look up your child’s teacher licensure status in the NCDPI Online Licensure System.
According to the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, Title I, Part A, Section 1112(e), you have the right to request, and the school system will provide in a timely manner, information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers(s). Also, you may request information regarding whether or not your child is receiving instruction from a teacher assistant and, if so, the nature of his/her qualifications. To do so, please contact your child’s Principal.
What are the requirements for school enrollment? What are the immunizations needed or recommended for children?
The requirements on enrollment in and eligibility to attend an Orange County school can be located at:
- Policy 4100 : Age Requirements for Initial Entry
- Policy 4120: Admission to Orange County Schools
Parents and guardians can enroll students at the following link:
The following are statutory school entry requirements, this includes required immunizations:
- Admission requirements: GS_115C-364.pdf (ncleg.gov)
- Immunization records: GS_130A-155.pdf (ncleg.gov)
- Immunization requirements: GS_130A-152.pdf (ncleg.gov) (*this law was amended but is not reflected on the current GA page; see SL2023-134.pdf (ncleg.gov), Section 5.8(e) on pg. 64)
Information on required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).
NCDHHS Immunizations Resource
- Recommended Immunization Schedules
- Pre-Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements -4 years or older (in child care only)
- Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements
- Seventh Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements
- Twelfth Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements
How can a parent help their child learn and make progress?
Meaningful conversations with your child and their teachers about school, assignments, and student progress plays a pivotal role in ensuring their success. Here are some suggested steps:
- Ask your child about their school day.
- Ask your child what they are learning about in school and inquire about upcoming assignments or projects.
- Maintain open communication with teachers in order to understand your child’s progress and what support may be needed.
- Ask teachers how you can support your child’s learning at home.
- Attend school events and stay connected with educators and administrators to continuously learn how to support your child.
- If possible, set up a designated area in the home for homework, studying, etc that has limited or no distractions.
- As a parent, model reading, and read with your child in any language.
- Engage with your child about their progress and their effort.
- Be an active participant in your child’s education.
- Keep a variety of books in the home.
Parent Guides for Academic Standards:
The following grade level guides contain information to support parents and caregivers with understanding the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The purpose of these guides is to inform parents about the standards, as well as provide useful strategies to incorporate at home.
- ELA (English Language Arts) Parent Guides
- ELD (English Language Development) Parent Guides
- Math Parent Guides: K-5, 6-8
- Social Studies Parent Guides
- Science Parent Guides
Reading and Literacy Support:
This following site provides resources for families to practice and reinforce important literacy skills with their children who are being assessed with mCLASS reading assessments: Amplify Parent Resources.
Home activities, printables, and games to support reading and literacy are also available at North Carolina’s Digital Children’s Reading Initiative (DCRI). These activities include the following topics, Pre-K-Grade 5:
- Phonemic awareness
- Phonics
- Vocabulary
- Fluency
- Comprehension
- Oral language
DCRI Printables for Families
How can a parent help their child develop citizenship, social skills and respect for others?
Orange County Schools embeds Portrait of a Graduate skills in the classroom and school setting. These durable skills were developed by NCDPI and will support a child’s understanding of citizenship, social skills and respect for others.
NCDPI has released multiple resources to support the implementation of the Portrait in North Carolina’s schools, such as the Portrait of a Graduate Playbook, Communications Toolkit, and additional tools like Rubrics, “I Can Statements,” Suggestions for Use and, most recently, Performance Tasks.
How can a parent strengthen communication with the school/teacher?
The individual schools within the Orange County Schools district use a variety of communication platforms. These may include the following platforms:
- Infinite Campus Parent Portal
- Peachjar
- Class Dojo
- District and School Websites
Information regarding the appropriate use of technology platforms can be located at the following:
Parents can access information about attendance, grades, and testing by visiting the Infinite Campus parent portal or using the Campus Parent app and entering their login credentials. Parents may access information about how to create or change their Campus parent account login credentials here. Questions related to parents’ Infinite Campus access not addressed at this link may be directed to the school digital learning coach, the school data manager, or by emailing ocs.sis@orange.k12.nc.us
Orange County Schools has developed a policy that encourages effective communication between schools and parents. This policy can be located at: Orange County Board Of Education Policy 1310/4002 Parental Involvement
The following are NCDPI-developed parent guides that provide suggestions for building strong relationships with your child’s teacher and supporting communication between home and school.
- Building Strong Relationships with Your Child’s Teacher (NC Rethink Education Program)
- How You Can Use Questions to Support Your Child’s Learning (NC Rethink Education Program)
Additional general parent guides and parent resource webinar recordings can be found at the following website.
What services are available for parents and their children?
Family Literacy Services:
Literacy at Home: Digital Children’s Reading Initiative developed by NCDPI provides literacy activities at each grade level, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
Mentoring:
Mentoring services are available at select schools. Parents can contact their child’s school to inquire about these services.
Other Academic Reinforcement Programs:
Additional academic enhancement opportunities are available at all schools in Orange County Schools. Parents can contact their child’s school to inquire about these services.
Career Development:
Career Development Coordinators are located at Cedar Ridge and Orange High School to allow students to explore career options, including internships and apprenticeships.
College Planning:
College advisors are located at Cedar Ridge High School and Orange High School to assist students in planning their college paths.
Academic Advisement:
Orange County Schools provides assistance and support to students in three main areas: Academic, Career, and Personal/Social.
Student Counseling Services:
Orange County Schools provides school-based mental health services for students through the Orange County School mental health program.
What are opportunities for parents to participate with school?
What are the rigorous academic programs available to my child? How can I learn more about them?
Orange County Schools offers a variety of options for students to pursue their interests, skills at their academic level.
Career and Technical Education (CTE):
Orange County Schools also offers courses in the area of Career and Technical Education (CTE). These courses allow students to explore careers, develop soft skills, experience leadership career development, participate in career-aligned content, and earn industry recognized credentials in the areas of Agriculture, Career Development, Computer Science & Information Technology; Business, Finance, & Marketing, Family Consumer Science; Health Science; and Trade, Technology, Engineering, & Industrial Education. For more information on CTE in NC, including Career Clusters, Pathways, Course Information, Course Standards, and applicable Credentials, please visit the NC: Course Management System.
To learn more about Orange County Schools CTE Program visit: Orange County Schools CTE.
For more information on CTE in NC, and to learn about Career Clusters, Pathways, and Course Information, Standards, and applicable Credentials please visit: Course Management System.
In our district, there are the following programs available that are more rigorous and challenging than the standard content for students:
Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG):
In NC, school districts must identify and serve academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) K-12 students. These are students who are performing or have the potential of performing at high levels of accomplishment in intellectual and/or specific academic areas, such as reading and/or math, when compared with other students of their age or in their grade level, experience, or environment.
The local AIG Plan outlines specific student pathways for identification, differentiated, rigorous instruction opportunities, and accelerated programs. It can be located in the following link: OCS Local AIG Plan
In Orange County Schools, students are often provided the following services:
- Differentiated curriculum;
- Instruction with flexible student groups;
- Accelerated opportunities;
- Enrichment experiences, which may be during the school day or beyond, and may be within the regular calendar year or may include summer opportunities; and
- Other opportunities for extension of the content standard. AIG personnel may provide AIG students services or within the regular classroom by teachers trained to meet the needs of gifted students.
Orange County Schools has developed a website with information to help parents better understand the AIG program. Visit AIG and the Advanced Learning Department for parent information.
Contact Information for AIG district support staff can be found at the following: AIG Program Contacts
Honors-Level Courses:
In Orange County Schools, students have access to a variety of honors level courses in high school. These courses are available in the High School Program Planning Guide. Honors level courses typically have a faster pace than standard level courses. They offer additional rigor, complexity and creativity than standard level courses.
Career and College Promise (CCP):
Orange County Schools partners with Durham Technical Community College (DTCC) and Alamance Community College (ACC) to offer dual enrollment opportunities through the CCP program. If your high school student qualifies, they may earn high school credit by completing community college coursework.
CCP courses may be taken in the College Transfer or Career and Technical Education pathway. These courses count for both high school and college credit. Tuition is free for families. To learn more about this program, contact your student's school counselor. Additional information is available at the NC Community Colleges website.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses:
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program developed by the College Board to offer college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. In NC, Advanced Placement courses are offered in public high schools. Orange County Schools offers AP courses in the following schools: Orange High School and Cedar Ridge High School.
Several AP courses satisfy NC students' graduation requirements as stated in State Board policy.
AP exams are free for NC public high school students enrolled in these courses. Colleges and universities may likely offer college credit for these courses if your child scores a three or above on the exam.
More information is available on the NCDPI AP website.
International Baccalaureate Programs/Cambridge International Education programs:
Orange County Schools offers International Baccalaureate courses at Cedar Ridge High School.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway is an internationally standardized program of study offered in about 160 countries and has garnered worldwide recognition for its rigor and high academic standards. IB students become increasingly knowledgeable, interested in international understandings, and actively work to effect positive change. Many colleges and universities give special admissions consideration to students who take IB classes and earn an IB Diploma.
Several IB and CIE courses satisfy graduation requirements for NC students as outlined in State Board policy. IB and CIE exams are free for NC public high school students enrolled in these courses.
Colleges and universities may likely offer college credit for these courses if your child scores a high level. All of the colleges in the UNC System offer college credit if there is a 4 or higher on IB exams or an “E” on a CIE exam.
More information is available on the NCDPI Advanced Coursework website.
NCVPS:
North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is NC’s state supplemental program and leader in online education, providing inclusive learning opportunities for students across the state. Founded in 2007, with a strong commitment to ensuring quality education for all students, regardless of location, NCVPS has over 16 years of experience serving diverse learners. Students may enroll in NCVPS courses for a variety of reasons. Work with your student’s school counselor if you are interested in taking NCVPS courses.
Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM):
Orange County Schools offers opportunities for students to earn credit for a high school course without enrolling in the course. All high school courses, with a few exceptions as noted by the state, are available for students to try to CDM. There are two phases of assessments that a student must go through to earn credit for the course.
Governor’s School: Each summer, NC Governor’s School offers a unique opportunity for high-achieving rising juniors and seniors to learn with their peers from across the state in an 4-week residential program at two college campus sites.
For more information on eligibility and the application process, contact your school counselor or visit the Governor's School website, www.ncgovschool.org.
What school choices are available for my child?
Students in public school districts are assigned to certain schools based on a local assignment plan approved by Local Board of Education.
Orange County Schools offers an additional school choice option for students/families via a lottery:
- Hillsborough Elementary School, which is structured on a Year-Round Schedule.
- Cedar Ridge High School, which offers the International Baccalaureate Programme
There are other options for families to choose for their education:
Charter Schools
Charter schools are public schools of choice that are authorized by the State Board of Education and operated by independent non-profit boards of directors. State and local tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools, which have open enrollment and cannot discriminate in admissions, associate with any religion or religious group, or charge-tuition. Charter schools operate with freedom from many of the regulations that govern district schools, but charter schools are held accountable through the State assessment and accountability system. If you are interested in NC charter schools, visit NC charter school for information, resources, and contacts.
Nonpublic Education and Scholarship Grants
Nonpublic education is overseen by the NC Department of Administration.
For a list of private schools, visit this NC Private Schools.
For information on how to start a homeschool visit: Homeschool Information
Scholarship grant programs/voucher information is available via the NC State Education Assistance Authority.
What rights do students with disabilities have based on the law?
For students suspected of or identified with a disability by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the following links provide important information regarding the procedural safeguards available to ensure a free, appropriate, public education.
- Project Child Find
- Parent Rights Handbook
- Parent Rights Handbook (Spanish)
- IDEA Dispute Resolution
- Special Education Surrogate Parents
Parents of children aged two years old or younger who may be in need of special education services should contact the Children’s Development Services Agency at 919-662-4600.
Parents of children aged three or older who are not yet eligible to enter kindergarten should call the OCS Child Find Office at 919-431-7700 or child-find-office@OCS.net.
Parents of children in kindergarten through 12th grade should contact their child’s school.
Parents may also contact the district Family and Community Connections at 919-431-7334 (Spanish line: 919-431-7143) or email.
The following link provides access to information to the Orange County Schools Exceptional Children’s Department: OCS Exceptional Children’s Department
What is the contact information for the schools and district office?
What are some resources to support my child’s health and wellbeing? What immunizations are required and when should they be scheduled?
Orange County Schools offers the following information and resources to support your child’s health and wellbeing:
Information on required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS):
- Immunizations
- Recommended Immunization Schedules
- Pre-Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements -4 years or older (in child care only)
- Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements
- Seventh Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements
- Twelfth Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements
- Health Assessment
- Health Assessment and Immunization Compliance Reporting