NeSSA
North Carolina School Superintendenrs'Association
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Jack Hoke, Executive Director
PO Box 6188
Hickory, NC 28603
(828) 320·6767

jackhoke 12@gmail.com

June 27,2019
Mr. Mark Johnson, State Superintendent
Office of the State Superintendent
6301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301
Dear Mr. Johnson,
On behalf of the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association, we would like to thank you for
your Read to Achieve update at the State Superintendent's quarterly meeting in Asheville on June 24.
We also appreciated your question and answer session with superintendents following your presentation.
The Executive Board of the N011h Carolina School Superintendents'
you request the General Assembly to delay the implementation

Association would like to ask that

of the new reading diagnostic tool for

onc year due to the short turnaround time in the teacher training schedule. A change in an assessment
tool that has so much impact in the classroom would be a challenge, due to the late decision and
announcement on June 7, 2019. In addition, the imp lementation schedule for teachers was not posted
until June IS, 2019, at 6: 15 PM after teachers began their summer break. Year-round schools begin on
July 9, and requiring that those teachers be trained on the new assessment would not be very practical
given the tirneframe.
We understand that Session Law 2017-257, as amended by Session Law 2018-5, will need General
Assembly approval to grant the delay in implementation
that you make this request on our behalf

of the new assessment system. We are asking

I have attached a list of the NCSSA Executive Board members for your information should you wish to
speak with any of our board members concerning this. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,

,

In

r. Freddie Will:~~

~1#4
Jack Hoke, Executive Director, NeSSA
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