Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Credit by Demonstrated Mastery?
This is an option which allows students to demonstrate mastery of a course's content without seat time in the course. Students participate in a two phase process to earn a pass/fail grade for the course. Students demonstrate mastery by completing Phase 1, an assessment such as the EOC or a locally developed final exam and Phase 2, a locally developed artifact that requires the student to apply knowledge and skills relevant to the course content standards.
2. Is a credit earned through the CDM policy intended to be "different" than a credit earned in the traditional manner (completing the course)?
No. Moore County Schools will assess students and evaluate artifacts based upon the same standards that are applied to students earning course credit in the traditional sense. The achievement levels required to earn a CDM credit (i.e., assessment scores greater than or equal to 90% plus a required artifact) already reflect a more rigorous expectation of students who want to earn credit through CDM than those of students who complete the course seat-time.
3. Who is eligible to request an opportunity to earn credit by demonstrating mastery?
All students in North Carolina Public Schools for high school courses in grades 9 - 12 and high school courses offered in grades 6 - 8 in middle school who are able to show a deep understanding of the content without seat-time and classroom learning experience are eligible.
4. Is there a limit to the number of courses for which a student may earn credit using the CDM policy?
No. Students may earn credit using CDM for as many courses as they wish. However, students may only make one attempt per course. Students who are unsuccessful after one attempt must register for and complete the course to receive credit.
5. Can the school or district deny a student the opportunity to attempt to earn CDM credit?
No. The NC State Board of Education (NCSBE) Policy prohibits this. However, there are courses which are excluded from CDM by the state. Honors and AP courses are excluded, as are CTE work-based learning courses (co-op, internship, and apprenticeship), CTE courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement of the course, CTE Advanced Studies courses, English Language Learner (ELL) courses, and Healthful Living required courses.
6. May students earn CDM credit for honors courses?
No. CDM credits are awarded as a pass/fail grade and therefore do not impact a student's grade point average and honors credit cannot be earned.
7. Does CDM replace differentiation in meeting the learning needs of students?
No. CDM is not a replacement for differentiated services to meet the learning needs of all students.
8. May a student receive credit through CDM for a course not offered at his/her school?
Yes, but only for those courses offered at other high schools within Moore County Schools. CDM is not available for courses which are not available within the district.
9. How does CDM credit impact course prerequisites and sequencing?
When courses are taught in a predetermined sequence, a student may only apply for CDM for the next course in the sequence. For example, a student who has not taken English I would not be permitted to obtain CDM credit for English II.
10. Are credits earned through this policy accepted by outside organizations such as the NCHSAA, NCCCS, UNC-GA, and NCAA?
No. Students considering collegiate athletics should be advised that NCAA Division I and Division II colleges and universities do not recognize test-out credits in terms of meeting college entrance credit requirements, and therefore CDM is strongly discouraged for potential collegiate athletes. Credits earned through CDM shall be used to count toward minimum credits for the purpose of high school athletic eligibility.
11. May students earn credit by demonstrated mastery for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses?
Yes, with the exception of specific courses excluded by the NCSBE policy (work-based learning courses such as co-ops, internships and apprenticeships; courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement such as Veterinary Assisting and Nursing Fundamentals; Advanced Studies courses). For CTE courses, an industry credential may be accepted as the required artifact component. Students will still be expected to complete the post-assessment, if one is available, or a teacher made exam if the state does not provide a post-assessment. If the student earns credit, the post-assessment score would be reported in the technical attainment performance measure. Students who request CDM without completing the CTE course will not be eligible to receive articulation college credit (dual enrollment).
12. May a student earn CPR credit through CDM?
No. CPR is part of the Healthful Living requirement and the NCSBE policy specifically excludes CPR from CDM.
13. When a student earns credit by demonstrated mastery for a course, what should schools use to replace the course in the student's schedule?
Generally, students should replace the course with the next course in the sequence, i.e., a student using CDM to earn a Math I credit should schedule Math II in its place. Eleventh and twelfth graders might also use CDM credit to create space in their schedule that can be filled with a community college course available through Career & College Promise or other advanced course, such as AP.
14. How does the CDM policy and its implementation impact quality points and a student's grade point average (GPA)?
CDM credits are awarded as a "pass" and appear as such on the student's transcript. No course grade is received and the course is not included in the GPA calculation. Failed attempts will not be reflected on a student's transcript.
15. Can students enrolled in a course decide to earn CDM partway through the course?
No. The CDM policy is for students who wish to accelerate without enrolling in a course.
16. Can a student enroll in a course after successfully completing CDM for that course?
No. Once a student has successfully completed a CDM, the course is recorded on their transcript and they cannot enroll in the course.
17. Can students complete all their HS graduation requirements through CDM?
No. the CDM policy does not permit students to CDM all of their HS graduation requirements.