Glossary
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A
ABCs
Accountability, the Basics, and Local Control - The ABC Accountability Plan in North Carolina elementary and middle schools focuses primarily on the average growth shown by groups of students on end-of-grade reading and mathematics tests. Average test results for a group of students at the end of a year are compared to scores for the same students at the end of the prior year. The ABC Accountably program for high school was new in the 2000-2001 school year. Growth is to be determined by predicting how well each group should perform based on previous test results, and then determining gain.
ABE
Adult Basic Education - The mission of the Adult Basic Education (ABE) Program is to provide instruction in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics to adult learners in order to prepare them for transitioning into the labor market or higher academic or vocational training.
AC
Academic Change - The metric used in the state's ABCs growth model to determine whether a student has made a year's worth of growth in a year's worth of time.
AC
Adapted Curriculum - Special education students with significant cognitive disabilities that are instructed on the NC Extended Content Standards, as opposed to the SCOS. This definition encompasses previous acronyms such as Low Incidence (LI).D39
ACT
American College Test - The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consist of test in English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act - Signed into law on July 26 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a wide-ranging legislation intended to make American Society more accessible to people with disabilities.
ADA
Average Daily Attendance - The total number of days of student attendance divided by the total number of days in the regular school year.
ADD
Attention Deficit Disorder - A condition that interferes with a person's ability to concentrate and control impulses and behavior. Students diagnosed with ADD tend to have problems getting started on tasks and focusing on conversations or activities.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - A condition that interferes with a person's ability to concentrate and control impulses and behavior. Students diagnosed with ADD tend to have problems getting started on tasks and focusing on conversations or activities. Child with ADD or ADHD may be eligible for special education under other health impairment, specific learning disability, and/or emotional disturbance categories if ADD/ADHD condition adversely affects educational performance.
ADL
Activities of Daily Living - Activities of daily living (ADLs),are the things we normally do in daily living including any daily activity we perform for self-care (such as feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming), work, homemaking, and leisure.
ADM
Average Daily Membership - The sum of the number of days in membership for all students in individual school units, divided by the number of school days in the term.
ADVP
Adult Developmental Vocational Program
AED
Automatic External Defibrillators - An Automated External Defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm.
AFM
Area Facilities Manager - An employee in the Maintenance and Operations Department who supervises a cluster of multi-task employees
AG
Academically Gifted - The Academically Gifted program provides a challenging educational program for students who perform, or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience or environment.
AIG
Academically/Intellectually Gifted - Academically gifted students are defined as those who demonstrate or have the potential to demonstrate outstanding intellectual aptitude and specific academic ability. In order to develop their abilities, these students may require differentiated educational services beyond those ordinarily provided by the regular school program
AIM
Automotive Information Module
ALP
Accelerated Learning Program - This program includes the development of an individualized learning plan for each student and extended learning time. This is a supplementary academic intervention in all elementary and middle schools, offered to students scoring below level III on the North Carolina EOG's. Each school determines how those services will be delivered.
AMAO
Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives - State Education Agencies (SEAs) must develop annual measurable achievement objectives (AMAOs) for progress and attainment of English language proficiency. Those AMAOs were approved by the State Board of Education in August, 2003.
AP
Advanced Placement - College-level courses offered by high schools to students who are above average in academic standing.
APE
Adapted Physical Education - Adapted physical education (APE) is physical education which may be adapted or modified to address the individualized needs of children and youth who have gross motor developmental delays.
AS
Asperger's Syndrome - Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is another PDD which, like autism, affects communication skills, social interactions and behavior. Asperger's Syndrome is considered to be at the high end of the autism continuum.
ASCA
American School Counselor Association - Organization that supports school counselors' efforts to help students focus on academic, personal/social and career development.
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder - A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction.
ASD
After School Detention - If the principal deems it appropriate to require a student to stay after school for detention for a stated period of time, for a stated purpose, the principal may authorize such detention provided the parent or guardian has received at least one day's notice and has agreed to assume responsibility for transportation home.
ASHA
American Speech and Hearing Association - The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional, scientific, and credentialing association for members and affiliates who are audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists.
ASVAB
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery - ASVAB is an aptitude and interest inventory given to all 11th and 12th graders. The US Military provides and scores this assessment for free.
AT
Assistive Technology - Any technology device or product --hardware or software-- that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
AU
Autism - Pervasive developmental disability that involves the inability to interpret the emotions of others and that significantly affects verbal and nonverbal communication.
AVID
Advancement Via Individual Determination - A researched based academic preparatory program for students in the academic middle student.
AYP
Adequate Yearly Progress - A measure of yearly progress toward achieving state academic standards, as described in the No Child Left Behind legislation.
B
BAS
Building Automation System - Mostly HVAC controls, but can include lights and alarms
BD
Blue Diamond - A management system for housing formative assessments, scoring, and generating reports.
BED
Behaviorally Emotionally Disabled - The Wake County Public School System provides special education and related services according to the federal mandates of the Individual with Disabilities Act and the regulations of the North Carolina Public School Law, Article 9.
BEH
Behaviorally/Emotionally Handicapped - The Wake County Public School System provides special education and related services according to the federal mandates of the Individual with Disabilities Act and the regulations of the North Carolina Public School Law, Article 9.
BELC
Business Education Leadership Council - The BELC is composed of over 500 Triangle area businesses that are in long-term relationships with a specific middle or high school. Their goal is to help both teachers and students connect learning to the real world. The groups are called Business Alliances.
BEP
Basic Education Program - A state plan aimed at improving the quality of education by requiring school units to offer a basic education curriculum, reduce class size, and provide expanded resource assistance.
BIP
Behavior Intervention Plan - A Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) takes the observations made in a Functional Behavioral Assessment and turns them into a concrete plan of action for managing a student's behavior.
BISP
Business Systems Improvement Project
BMP
Best Management Practices
BOE
Board of Education - The school system is governed by a nine-member board of education whose members are elected from nine separate districts in the county and serve staggered four-year terms. The board sets policy, and the superintendent and administrative staff manage the system's day-to-day operation.
BSN
Bridges to Success Network - The purpose of the Bridges to Success Network Program (BSN) is to assist Wake County Public Schools in recruiting, training, and retaining highly qualified mid-career professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher and recent college graduates as teachers in critical need areas within Wake County Public Schools.
BTU
British Thermal Unit - The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a unit of energy used in the United States, particularly in the power, steam generation, and heating and air conditioning industries.
C
C of O
Certificate of Occupancy - A document stating that a building is approved for occupancy
C&I
Curriculum and Instruction - The Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) Department is part of the Instructional Services Division for the Wake County Public School System. C & I staff members work collaboratively with school leadership groups and teachers to provide support for best instructional practices. The C&I department is organized in elementary, middle, and high school level teams. In addition to services through content areas, C&I provides Title I, Project Enlightenment, Instructional Technology, Media, ESL, and Academically Gifted programs for the school. The department provides state and local policy interpretation, policy support documents, curriculum and curriculum resource documents, and instructional materials and resources. Program administrators in the C&I Department plan,schedule,and facilitate staff development for teachers,teacher assistants,and school administrators. In addition, the C&I staff provide consultative services to schools and teachers as requested.
CA
Chronological Age - The number of years a person has lived, used especially in psychometrics as a standard against which certain variables, such as behavior and intelligence, are measured.
CA
Curriculum Assistance - CA is a program option designed to provide direct support for special education students who receive the majority of their education in the general education classroom.
CAC
Citizen's Advisory Committee - The Wake County Board of Commissioners and the Wake County School Board of Education jointly announced the formation of a citizens advisory committee. Its charge was to study school needs, recommend an acceptable capital spending plan and make recommendations as it felt appropriate.
CAFR
Comprehensive Annual Finance Report - Ordinances and statutes require that the Board issue annually a report on its financial position and activity and that an independent firm of certified public accountants will audit this report.
CAP
Central Auditory Processing - A condition in which there is an inability to differentiate, recognize or understand sounds while both the hearing and intelligence are normal.
CAP
Community Alternatives Programs - The CAP programs are Medicaid home- and community-based services waivers granted by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).
CAWB
Capital Area Workforce Development Board - The local policy board responsible for planning, oversight and coordination of workforce initiatives in Johnston and Wake Counties.
CBA
Community Based Assessment
CBVT
Community Based Vocational Training
CCR
Cross Categorical Resource - CCR services provide direct special education instruction in the areas of identified need. Resource services are designed to assist the student in the general education setting. Also referred to as CCC/CR.
CCTV
Closed Circuit Television
CDC
Career Development Coordinator - School-to-career contact at each middle and high school.
CDL
Commercial Drivers License - School bus drivers are required to obtain a commercial driver’s license with a school bus endorsement from the State in which they live. To receive this endorsement, they must pass a written test and demonstrate necessary skills in a bus of the same type that they would be driving on their route. Both of these tests are specific to school buses and are in addition to the testing required to receive a commercial license and the passenger endorsement.
CECAS
Comprehensive Exceptional Children Accountability System - A secure Web-based student information system for exceptional children that supports online case management, compliance monitoring, data analysis, and federal and state reporting requirements.
CELF
Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - A language evaluation for students age 5-21 which evaluates structure, content, use and sound awareness.
CFAC
Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee - Formed in June 2006, the Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee is charged with evaluating the WCPSS capital improvement program and evaluating school design criteria, construction management and delivery methods.
CFDA
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - CFDA tracks all domestically funded federal programs available to state and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally recognized Indian Tribes (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public; quasi-public and private. It provides a short summary of each grant program, as well as the contact information for federal agencies that award the grants.
CFNC
College Foundation of North Carolina - Nonprofit organization that helps students to prepare successfully for college and to find the best financial aid options.
CFS
Custodial Field Supervisor
CHADD
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders - CHADD is the nation's leading non-profit organization serving individuals with AD/HD and their families.
CI
Confidence Interval - A margin of error around an estimate.
CIC
Curriculum Integration Coordinator - (obsolete term) see CDC
CIL
Center for Independent Living - The world’s first organization run by and for people with disabilities, the Center for Independent Living (CIL), founded in 1972, supports disabled people in their efforts toward independence.
CIP
Capital Improvement Plan - A building program that recognizes the fiscal and instructional accountability of the school system to our community.
CIPP
Continuous Improvement Performance Plan - Federal and state monitoring system for special education services.
CM@RISK
Construction Manager at Risk - A person, corporation, or entity that provides construction management at risk services.
CMMS
Computerized Maintenance Management System - A CMMS software package maintains a computer database of information about an organization’s maintenance operations. This information is intended to help maintenance workers do their jobs more effectively and to help management make informed decisions.
CMP
Curriculum Management Plan - The district plan for improving curriculum and instruction
CNS
Child Nutrition Services - Under the Auxiliary Services Division, this department provides nutritious meals to students in the cafeteria.
CogAT
The Cognitive Abilities Test - Given to 3rd graders, this assessment is a nationally normed aptitude test that assesses the pattern and level of students' cognitive development.
COW
Committee of the Whole - Refers to the pre-Board of Education meeting
CPET
Career Pathway Employer Team - Over 100 volunteers representing all areas of business, agencies, and government make up the CPET (Career Pathway Employer Team) committee of the School-to-Career Council. Its mission is to create and strengthen effective, collaborative relationships among educators, employers, and students to prepare future employees to become productive, socially responsible citizens.
CPI
Consumer Index Price - The Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) program produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services.
CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency medical procedure for a victim of cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest.[1] CPR is performed in hospitals, or in the community by laypersons or by emergency response professionals.[2]
CPS
Child Protective Services - Branch of Wake County Human Services that is involved with the welfare of children, particularly around the areas of abuse or neglect
CRC
Community Relations Committee - A committee comprised of community members, board members, and staff which focuses on improving the way WCPSS engages and communicates with the public.
CSP
Challenged Schools Program - Elementary and middle schools having 30% or more of their student population qualifying for free/reduced means receive additional resources to assist them in serving their students.
CSR
Class Size Reduction
CSR
Comprehensive School Reform
CTE
Career-Technical Education - CTE programs are designed to contribute to the broad educational achievement of students, including basic skills such as reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as to their ability to work independently and as part of a team, think creatively and solve problems, and utilize technology.
D
D/B
Deaf/Blind - Deaf-blind students have concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational problems that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs designed solely for deaf or blind children.
DD
Design Development Phase - A more detailed set of building plans
DD
Developmentally Delayed; Developmental Disabilities - Means a child aged three through seven, whose development and/or behavior is delayed or atypical, as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of the following areas: physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development, and who, by reason of the delay, needs special education and related services.
DDS
Disability Determination Services
DEC
Division of Exceptional Children - The section of NCDPI that supports Exceptional Children. Also referred to as Special Education.
DN
Design Narrative - Architect presents a first look at design options
DPH
Division of Public Health
DPI
Department of Public Instruction
DR
Disaster Recovery
DRS
Disaster Recovery Services
DSS
Department of Social Services
E
E&R
Evaluation and Research - E&R provides WCPSS staff and board members data designed to promote effective instruction and outcomes for students. The department coordinates the administration and analyses of group testing programs, evaluates and researches the effectiveness of programs and initiatives, prepares accountability reports, trains schools and central staff on use of data, and develops and monitors grants that support the WCPSS mission.
EC
Exceptional Children - See DEC
ECAC
Exceptional Children's Assistance Center - ECAC offers a variety of projects and services designed to meet the needs of NC parents, families, students, educators, and other professionals.
ED Specs
Education Specifications
EENC
Environmental Educators of North Carolina
EHA
Education of the Handicapped Act - In 1975, Congress passed Public Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children Act), now codified as IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). In order to receive federal funds, states must develop and implement policies that assure a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to all children with disabilities.
EHAS
Environmental Health and Safety
ELL
English Language Learners - A student whose home language is not English and who has not yet acquired proficiency in English.
ELLIS
English Language Learning and Instructional System - ELLIS addresses the needs of non-native students to foster successful English language learning.
ELP
Economics, Law, and Politics
eMARC
Electronic Management of Assessments, Resources, and Curriculum - It is an instructional management software application developed by the Curriculum and Instruction Department and Technology Services Division of WCPSS.
EMC
Electro-Magnetic Compatibility
EMD
Educable Mentally Disabled - See ID
EMH
Educable Mentally Handicapped - See ID
EOC
End-of-Course - The End-of-Course tests are designed to measure students' knowledge and skills in 10 high school courses in terms of the NC Standard Course of Study, and to determine the extent to which the students are prepared for coursework at the next higher level of study in that subject.
EOG
End-of-Grade - The End-of-Grade tests are designed to measure student achievement of the knowledge and skills of the North Carolina Course of Study for students in grades three through eight.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
ERP
Enterprise Resource Planning
ERS
Educational Research Services - A searchable site of which WCPSS is a member where you can search, download, and print research documents and summaries. Also provides many printed reports and literature reviews at a low cost related to educational topics.
ESEA
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 - Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This is the principal federal law affecting K-12 education. When the ESEA of 1965 was reauthorized and amended in 2002, it was renamed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Many of the major requirements in the No Child Left Behind federal law are outlined in Title I.
ESL
English as a Second Language - Classes or support programs for students whose native language is not English.
ESY
Extended School Year - ESY services are special education and related services that are provided to a special education student beyond the normal school year (180 days). An extended year program is provided in accordance with the Individual Educational Program (IEP) and is provided at no cost to the parent or student. ESY services must be provided only if a student’s IEP team determines, on an individual basis, that the services are necessary for the provision of a free, appropriate public education to the student. It must also be noted that every child with a disability is not entitled to nor must receive extended school year services.
F
F&R
Free and Reduced (priced lunches)
FACMOD
Facilities Modification Form
FAPE
Free and Appropriate Public Education - Special education and related services provided to students with special needs at no cost to their parents.
FBA
Functional Behavioral Assessment - This is the process of determining the cause (or function) of behavior before developing an intervention. The intervention must be based on the hypothesized cause (function) of behavior.
FCC
Federal Communications Commission
FERPA
Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act - FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA protects the confidentiality of students involved in disciplinary cases.
FLSA
Fair Labor Standards Act
FMS
Fuel Management System
FMT
Facilities Maintenance Technician
FOCAL
Focus on Careers, Academics and Life Skills
FP&C
Facilities Planning and Construction Department
FRL
Free and Reduced Lunch
FTE
Full-time Employee
FTE
Full-time Equivalent - Sum of part-time positions employed when added together equate to a full-time position used within classification. Example: Two one-half time positions equate to one full-time equivalent position.
FYI
For Your Information
G
G.O. Bond
General Obligation Bond - This type of bond is backed only by the full faith, credit and taxing power of the government.
GAAP
Generally Accepted Accounting Principals - Uniform minimum standards for financial accounting and recording, encompassing the conventions, rules, and procedures that define accepted accounting principles.
GAN
Greatest Area of Need - A method for identifying a strategic area of focus from a variety of trend data available.
GASB
Governmental Accounting Standards Board
GED
General Education Development - High school equivalency test
GOT
Goals Objectives Template
GPA
Grade Point Average - Refers to student's cumulative average of final grades in all subject areas
GT
Gifted and Talented
H
HB
Homebound - Time-limited services for students who are experiencing a brief illness or injury.
HFA
High Functioning Autism - HFA is an informal term applied to individuals with autism, an IQ of 80 or above, and the ability to speak, read, and write.
HI
Hearing Impairment - Means an impairment in hearing whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely effects a child's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness.
HILLA
High Intensity Language Learning Academy
HR
Human Resources
HVAC
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
I
IA
Intervention Alignment - A comprehensive approach to teaching and learning that offers a structure for developing a plan of academic and behavioral support for all students.
IAQ
Indoor Air Quality
IASA
Improving America Schools Act of 1994 - Passed in 1994 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
IB
International Baccalaureate Programme
IBSNC
International Baccalaureate Schools of North Carolina
ICF
Intermediate Care Facility
ICFMR
Intermediate Care Facility for Mental Retardation
ICR
In Class Resource - Collaborative teaching is designed to assist special education students and others within the regular classroom setting to be successful academically, emotionally, and socially through the cooperative team efforts of special and general education teachers.
ID
Intellectual Disability - Characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills that adversely affect a child's rate of learning, classroom performance and achievement. This disability originates before the age of 18. This definition encompasses previous acronyms such as Educable Mentally Disabled (EMD), Educable Mentally Handicapped (EMH), Trainable Mentally Disabled (TMD), Trainable Mentally Handicapped (TMH), Severe/Profound Mentally Handicapped (SPMH) and Severe/Profound Mentally Disabled (SPMD).
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - This federal law, reauthorized in 2004, is designed to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free and appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.
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.
IFSP
Individualized Family Service Plan
IHCP
Individualized Health Care Plan
IHE
Institute of Higher Education
IHP
Individualized Habilitation Program or Plan
IHTP
Individualized Habilitation and Treatment Plan
ILP
Independent Living Plan
IPE
Individualized Plan for Employment
IPM
Integrated Pest Management - WCPSS was one of the first school districts in the state to implement the IPM program. The common sense approach to pest control utilizes walkthrough inspections, monitoring devices, sanitation, and exclusion.
IPT
IDEA Proficiency Test - Test used to determine the appropriate assessment for limited English proficient students.
IQ
Intelligent Quotient - A measure of general intellectual abilities, as determined by intelligence tests.
IRT
Instructional Resource Teacher
ISD
Instructional Services Division - ISD has three interdependent parts: Curriculum and Instruction, Evaluation and Research, and Student Support Services. Together they work to assist schools to focus on answering three critical questions: what are students expected to learn, have students learned what is expected, and what do we do when students have or haven’t learned what is expected.
ISP
Individualized Service Plan
ISS
In School Suspension - A school policy to provide a program for disruptive students within the school instead of sending them home, where they may be unsupervised and get into more trouble.
IST
Instructional Support Technician
ITP
Individualized Transition Plan - A two-to-four year written plan that describes the goals for a student in special education and the steps needed to meet these goals, be they related to academic or to job skills.
J
JROTC
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
K
KIA
Kindergarten Initial Assessment - Assessments given to kindergarten students during the first weeks of schools to determine strengths and needs in literacy, mathematics, physical, and personal/social skills.
KPIs
Key Performance Indicators - These are performance measurements usually displayed graphically.
L
LD
Learning Disabled - See SLD
LDA
Learning Disabilities Association
LEA
Local Education Agency - Synonymous with a local school system or a local school district, 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 Proficiency - A student from a non-English-speaking background who has a not yet learned English.
LI
Low Incidence - See AC
LME
Local Management Entity
LP
Liquified Propane
LR
Long Range
LRE
Least Restrictive Environment - LRE refers to a setting where students with disabilities can be educated in the general education setting with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible.
M
M&O
Maintenance and Operations Department
MATV
Master Antenna TV
MD
Mentally Disabled - See ID
MOE
Months of Employment
MR
Mental Retardation - See ID
MSDS
Material Safety Data Sheets
MTAC
Media Technology Advisory Committee
MTE
Multi-task Employee - an employee in the Maintenance and Operations Department who performs tasks in multiple trades such as plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
MU
Multiple disabilities - Means two or more disabilities occurring together, the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. This definition encompasses previous acronyms such as Multi-handicapped (MH).
MYP
Middle Years Programme
MYR
Multi-Track Year Round - Students in the school are organized into four groups or tracks. Each track follows a different schedule. The schedules are staggered so that at any given time, three of the tracks are in school and one track is out on break. This system is a 45/15 Schedule, meaning the pupils are in school for 45 days, then off for 15, through the year.
N
N&O
News and Observer
NAEP
National Assessment of Educational Progress
NAF
National Academy Foundation - A national organization that assists and coordinates career academies.
NASSP
National Association of Secondary School Principals
NBPTS
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
NC SCOS
Standard Course of Study - The state curriculum
NC SOICC
North Carolina State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee
NCAE
North Carolina Association of Educators
NCAEA
North Carolina Art Education Association
NCCLAS
North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards - The North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards is an alternate assessment designed to measure grade-level competencies of students identified as limited English proficient and some students with disabilities.
NCCMT
North Carolina Management Trust
NCDCD
North Carolina Division of Child Development
NCDPI
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction - NCDPI 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.
NCEOG
North Carolina End Of Grade Tests
NCHSAA
North Carolina High School Athletic Association
NCHSCT
North Carolina High School Comprehensive Tests
NCLB
No Child Left Behind - No Child Left Behind. NCLB is the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and represents a sweeping change in the federal government's role in local public education. NCLB's primary goal is for all public school children to be proficient or above in reading and mathematics by 2013-14. Title I schools that do not meet certain student achievement standards face sanctions under this law.
NCSCA
North Carolina School Counselor Association
NCSU
North Carolina State University
NCWise
North Carolina Windows of Information for Students Education
NEED
National Energy Education Development Project
NEO
New Employee Orientation
NIMS
National Incident Management System
NMSQT
National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
NSBW
National School Breakfast Week
NSLW
National School Lunch Week
O
O&M
Orientation and Mobility
OAH
Office of Administrative Hearings - An independent quasi-judicial agency that was established to provide a source of independent Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) to preside in administrative law contested cases and to ensure that the functions of rulemaking, investigation, advocacy and adjudication are not combined in the administrative process.
OAI
Other Academic Indicator
OBD
On Board Diagnosis
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - An anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
OCIPD
Office of Continuous Improvement & Professional Development - Wake County Public School Systems professional development team also known as the Staff Development Team
OCR
Office of Civil Rights
OCS
Occupational Course of Study - The Occupational Course of Study is one of four ways to achieve a NC diploma. It focuses on functional skills and workplace management.
ODD
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHI
Other Health Impairment - Students classified as other health impaired have chronic or acute health problems that cause limited strength, vitality or alertness (including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli) to such an extent that educational performance is negatively effected.
OI
Orthopedic Impairment - School-aged orthopedically impaired children possess a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects their educational performance.
OSBM
Official of State Budget Management
OSEP
Office of Special Education Programs - Department within the US Department of Education
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OSS
Out of School Suspension
OT
Occupational Therapy - Related service; includes therapy to remediate fine motor skills
P
P&C
Purchasing and Contract - A state agency that controls purchasing supplies and equipment for state agencies.
PA
Property Accounting
PARS
Personnel Activity Reporting System
PASS
Plan for Achieving Self Support
PBS
Positive Behavior Support - PBS works with teachers, administrators and other staff to improve the overall classroom and school climate to achieve higher academic performance for students.
PDA
Preschool Delayed Atypical
PDD
Pervasive Developmental Delay - The diagnostic category pervasive developmental disorders refers to a group of five disorders characterized by delays in the development of multiple basic functions including socialization and communication. The most commonly known PDD is Autism, with the remaining identified as Rett syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
PDPA
Pre-design Project Analysis - The kick-off meeting for the project team
PEP
Personal or Personalized Education Plan - An individualized educational plan designed to improve a student's performance to grade-level proficiency.
PEP
Principal's Executive Program - This preparation program for principals provides relevant and rigorous professional development opportunities based on the best current theories and practices.
PES
Partnership for Educational Success
PIA
Program Integrity Assurance
PK
Prekindergarten - Refers primarily to educational programs for four-year old children in the year immediately prior to the kindergarten year, although a broader definition of the term includes all programs for preschool children ages 3 to 5 (not kindergarten-age eligible).
PLCs
Professional Learning Communities - A professional learning community is made up of team members who regularly collaborate toward continued improvement in meeting student needs through a shared vision. Team members in a professional learning community meet regularly to share and exchange ideas and successful strategies for improving student learning.
PLOP
Present Level of Performance - This team-based community approach uses a variety of activities including sharing a vision, working and learning collaboratively, visiting and observing other classrooms, and participating in shared decision making. The benefits of professional learning community to educators and students include reduced isolation of teachers, better informed and committed teachers, and academic gains for students.
PM
Preventative Maintenance - A schedule of planned maintenance actions aimed at the prevention of breakdowns and failures
PM
Project Manager - Oversees construction
POS
Point of Sale - computerized cashier sites
PPP
Public Private Partnership
PRC
Program Report Code
PSAT
Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test - Pre-Scholastic Assessment Test. 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.
PSB
Public Sector Budgeting
PT
Physical Therapy - Related service; includes therapy to remediate gross motor skills.
PTA
Parent Teacher Association - A voluntary organization that brings together parents, teachers, and other interested persons in a particular school or school district, usually to raise funds, build parental involvement at school and conduct other activities to promote the welfare of the school.
PTSA
Parent Teacher Student Association
R
RDA
Recommended Dietary Allowances - (of nutrients)
RESA
Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance
RFM
Regional Facilities Manager - An employee in the Maintenance and Operations Department who supervises Area Facility Managers.
S
S/CHHMP
School/Community Helping Hands Mentoring Program
SAM
School Assistance Module - A centralized database of student information that assists schools in management tasks. Populated by NCWISE data and has multiple components within the module
SAP
Student Assistant Program
SAS
Student Accountability Standards - Statewide standards students are required to meet as one consideration for promotion from grades 3,5, and 8 and high school graduation.
SAS
Substance Abuse Services
SAT
Scholastic Aptitude Test - The SAT is a national exam designed to measure a student's chance of success at the college level.
SB2
Senate Bill 2 - The Flexibility and Accountability Statute approved by the 1989 General Assembly (SB2) which allows more flexibility and involvement in decision making by teachers, principals, and parents in their efforts to improve student achievement.
SBDM
School-based decision making or Site-based decision making - A school management approach that involves the staff in all important decisions, including those related to curriculum, schedules, staffing, budget, facilities, and resources.
SBE
State Board of Education - The State Board of Education is charged with supervising and administering the free public school system and the educational funds provided for its support. The Board consists of the Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, and eleven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly in Joint Session.
SBRI
Scientifically Based Research Intervention - Interventions accepted by peer-reviewed journal or approved by independent experts through rigorous, objective, and scientific review.
SCOS
Standard Course of Study - state approved curriculum; see NCSCOS
SD
Schematic Design Phase - Initial site plans, with new construction located in relation to existing buildings and site features.
SDP
Student Due Process
SDS
Self-Directed Search - A test that helps individuals find the occupations that best suit their interests and skills.
SE
Supported Income
SEA
State Education Agency
SES
Social-economic status - Social-economic status is a guideline for diversity used for student assignment
SES
Special Education Services - The central office section of WCPSS that supports schools in the provision of special education to students with disabilities.
SET
School-Wide Evaluation Tool - A research-validated tool designed to assess and evaluate the critical features of school wide PBS across an academic year.
SF
Square Footage
SH
Safe Harbor - Safe harbor, which is a provision of adequate yearly progress, is the first provisional status calculation applied if a student group meets the 95 percent participation rate but does not meet the proficiency target.
SI
Speech Impaired - See SLI
SIMS
Student Information Management System - State-level warehouse of student information (for example, attendance, course information, and other data that must be reported on a state and federal level)
SIOP
Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol - SIOP is a framework to help English language learners attain academic literacy
SIP
School Improvement Plan - Each school is required to have a school improvement plan. This plan is the guiding principle of the school and is in direct alignment with the Wake County Public School System mission, goals and strategies. It may include student achievement, technology, school climate, school safety and school-to-career.
SIQ
Student Information Questionnaire
SIS
Student Information System
SLD
Specific Learning Disability - Means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the impaired ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. This definition encompasses previous acronyms such as Learning Disabled (LD).
SLI
Speech/Language Impairment - A student with a speech/language impairment has a disorder in articulation, language, voice, and/or fluency. This definition encompasses previous acronyms such as Speech Impaired (SI).
SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist - Related service provider; includes identification and diagnosis of speech or language impairments, speech or language therapy, counseling and guidance.
SLT
Superintendent's Leadership Team
SMH
Severely/Profoundly Mentally Handicapped
SOICC
see NC SOICC
SPAN
Student Parent Access Network - Refers to the on-line registration module and school records database that parents can access
SPED
Special Education - Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.
SPMD
Severely Profoundly Mentally Disabled - See ID
SRO
School Resource Officer
SSA
Social Security Act; Social Security Administration
SSDI
Social Security Disability Insurance
SSI
Supplemental Security Income
SSL/VPM
Secure Sockets Layer/Virtual Private Network
SST
Student Support Team - Refers to the team of teachers, counselors and administrators that help students with severe deficits in their learning
SST
Support Services Teachers
SST
Superintendent's Strategy Team
StARS
Student Academic Record System - A web-based application to streaming information gathered by educators concerning students. The system is also used by teachers making request for Student Support Team assistance.
STC
School-to-Career - An initiative to provide career exploration and planning opportunities for all students.
STCC
School-to-Career Council - An all volunteer council that provides ideas and expertise to the Wake County Public School System and organizes School to Career in Wake County.
STIF
State Treasurer's Investment Fund
STWE
Short-Term Work Experience
SWD
Students with Disabilities - Students identified in mainframe as a student with a disability and have a current IEP.
SWIS
School-Wide Information System - A web-based information system designed to help school personnel to use office referral data to design school-wide and individual student interventions.
T
TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury - Means an acquired open or closed head injury caused by an external physical force that impairs a student’s cognitive, communicative, perceptual, behavioral, social-emotional, and/or physical abilities to the extent that the student requires special education. Congenital, degenerative or brain injuries induced by birth trauma are not included in this definition.
TD
Transportation Department
TDD / TTY
Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf - A user terminal with keyboard input and printer or display output used by the hearing and speech impaired. The device contains a modem and is used over a standard analog phone line.
TEACCH
Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children - TEACCH, a state program administered through UNC-Chapel Hill, is an evidence-based service, training, and research program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders.
TELS
Teacher Enhancement and Leadership System
TIMS
Transportation Information Management System - The computer system used by NC school districts for routing and scheduling school buses to ensure safe and efficient bus routes.
TMAC
Threat Management Through Assessment and Counseling - TMAC is a model for assessing and managing threats made by students within WCPSS. TMAC provides consistent guidelines for addressing all threats (verbal, physical, and written), even those made in jest, within the school system
TMD
Trainable Mentally Disabled - Refers to a student who is significantly below general cognitive functioning and who has a reduced rate of learning which adversely affects that student's educational performance.
TOWRF
Test of Silent Word Reading Fluency
TPC
Teacher Parent Consultant
TRA
Technology Resource Associates, Inc.
TRT
Technology Resource Teacher
TSD
Technology Services Division
TTF
Transition Training Facilitator
U
UERS
Uniform Education Reporting System - UERS allows schools to provide information required by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction to satisfy state reporting purposes
UPS
Uninterruptible Power Supply
USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
V
VI
Visual Impairment - The terms partially sighted, low vision, legally blind, and totally blind are used in the educational context to describe students with visual impairments, including blindness.
VOCAT
Vocational Aptitude Test - Refers to state-mandated test in the Career Technical Education courses
VoCATS
State-wide system for planning, implementing, and evaluating instruction in Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses.
VR
Vocational Rehabilitation
VRS
Video Relay Service
W
WA
Work Adjustment
WADE
Wilson Assessment of Decoding and Encoding
WAN
Wide Area Network
WBL
Work-based Learning - An experience where the learning takes place in a work situation, away from the school.
WCHS
Wake County Human Services
WCPSS
Wake County Public School System
WCSO
Wake County Sherriff's Office
WEP
Wake Education Partnership
WIA
Workforce Investment Act
WISC
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), developed by David Wechsler, is an intelligence test for children between the ages of 6 and 16 inclusive that can be completed without reading or writing.
WIST
Word Identification and Spelling Test
WTCC
Wake Tech Community College
WWW
World Wide Web
Y
YR
Year Round - A modified school calendar that gives students short breaks throughout the year instead of a traditional three-month summer break.