Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson

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Superintendents' Weekly Message

Jan. 19, 2016

June Atkinson

As many of you are aware, we initiated student surveys for the fall semester. The student survey provides one more tool for improving instruction. 

 

In terms of the student surveys, please share the information tools available online to provide additional information about the student survey. Your Human Resources directors should have received an email Jan. 7 from Tom Tomberlin, director of Educator Human Capital Policy and Research, noting that NCDPI automated the student-teacher assignments from PowerSchool course enrollment data.

 

Even for districts that opted not to participate in the student survey process this year, the student survey icon will be active in PowerSchool for all students during each district’s scheduled administration window. There is a possibility that students will complete the surveys even if the district has elected not to participate formally. If we receive data from school districts that have elected not to participate, we will notify the district that data are available and allow the district to make a decision about whether those data will be shared with teachers and principals. NCDPI will not report or analyze student survey data without the expressed consent of the district.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Educator Effectiveness, Jennifer DeNeal or Tom Tomberlin.    

June Atkinson's Signature

Health (apples, tape measure, stethoscope)

Omnibus Spending Act and School Nutrition Programs

 

The Omnibus Spending Act, a sweeping $1.1 trillion spending deal passed by Congress in December, continued the provision that gives schools more flexibility on whole grain rich foods and blocks future sodium restrictions until there is more scientific research to back those limits.

 

NCDPI School Nutrition Services Section Chief Lynn Harvey said this is a HUGE provision for school nutrition programs in North Carolina that need these (and other) flexibilities in order to provide nutritious, appealing, affordable meals to students AND operate financially sustainable programs.

 

Child Nutrition Reauthorization will resume in early February. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available. 


Multi-Tiered System of Support

Multi-Tiered System of Support:
Completion of Readiness Instrument

 

This week, NCDPI’s MTSS Team sent the link to the MTSS Readiness Instrument with a district submission date of March 4. A key component in establishing readiness is a well functioning district leadership team. In a Multi-Tiered System of Support, this team exists and regularly meets to problem-solve student outcome data, both academics and behavior, as well as implementation of key initiatives.

 

This team includes perspectives from multiple district leaders, such as curriculum specialists, instructional coaches, program coordinators, directors, assistant superintendents and the superintendent.

 

For more information on the Statewide System of Support Teaming Structures, visit Teaming Structures on the MTSS wikispace. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Jablonski.


Implementation Science: A New Way of Work

 

Using the principles of implementation science helps staff effectively select, begin, evaluate and sustain new initiatives. NCDPI has partnered with the State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices Center (SISEP) to increase capacity for implementation and scale-up of department initiatives to maximize students' academic and social outcomes. View this brief video to learn more.

 

The Office of Early Learning (OEL) is partnering with school districts across the state using implementation science principles to scale-up the NC K-3 Formative Assessment process. Nine school districts are early innovators, leading the way in this effort, as they apply this new way of work (using implementation science principles) to scale up the NC K-3 Formative Assessment process: Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Chatham, Clinton City, Dare, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, Harnett, Iredell-Statesville, Swain and Winston-Salem/Forsyth.   


Middle School Math Summit a Success

 

NCDPI hosted a Middle School Math Summit in Greensboro on Jan. 13. Four hundred people attended this important event including district leaders, math coaches, specialists, administrators and lead teachers from 102 of the115 LEAs.

 

District leaders examined cohort data by math domain and conceptual category while math content leaders attended three modules specific to middle school standards. The focus for the day was on building teacher and student capacity in middle grades' mathematics.


The math content sessions will be repeated twice at the Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA) in March (see next item). One will be open to only charter schools and will be at no charge. The other one will be for registered participants of CCSA.


Home Base Symposium

Early Registration Deadline Extended for Home Base Symposium


The 2016 Home Base Symposium is less than a month away! The deadline for early registration has been extended to Friday, Jan. 29. The Sheraton Greensboro Hotel also has agreed to extend its rate deadline for the block of rooms reserved for the Symposium until the 29th as well.

 

We are expanding the focus of this year’s Symposium to include course offerings across the Home Base Suite. Expect new content, the latest and upcoming updates, presenters from PowerSchool, Home Base (including field staff), and so much more.

 

All-day strands for PowerSchool, Schoolnet, Truenorthlogic and Canvas will be offered from field experts. The latest updates and sneak-peaks will be showcased throughout the sessions. New functionality on the 9.2 upgrade, which includes sessions on the New Gradebook and Data Visualizations, will be presented by PowerSchool. These sessions are not just for PowerSchool users, but for any user that supports classroom teachers. Other sessions will include Google Apps for Education integration, a BloomBoard & OCT overview, and what is to come with NCEdCloud and IAM.

 

You don't want to miss this opportunity. Plan on attending, bring a well-rounded team, cull the information offered, and return to your district bursting with fresh, new ways to utilize Home Base.

 

More Symposium information including online registration and hotel accommodations is available online.


2016 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement

 

The 2016 Collaborative Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA) will be held March 21-23 at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons/Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. The conference features a gallery of professional development and information sessions for educators, policy makers, innovators and community members with an interest in innovative practices to improve educational outcomes for today’s students and tomorrow’s.

 

The conference features 250 sessions with tracks for K-12 learning standards, K-12 online and blended learning structures, policy, research, accountability, student engagement and more.  

 

Event details, including registration and hotel accommodations, are available on the CCSA website.


Champions for Excellence in Public Education

 

Do you know a champion for excellence in teaching and learning? During the 2016 CCSA, the Department of Public Instruction will recognize individuals who in many ways are champions for excellence in teaching and learning.

 

The purpose of the Champion Award is to share our collective belief in the power of public education and to celebrate everything that is right about our local schools and the people who make it so, everyday. Nominations must be submitted by Jan. 31 so nominate someone today!  


READY Principals

Principal READY: Principal and Charter Leaders Discuss Collaborative Learning

 

Listen as principals and charter leaders discuss the importance of building strong learning teams, learn to have hard conversations with staff, use data to improve school improvement, and structure coaching conversations for instructional change. Also hear what leaders are saying about statewide collaborative professional learning. This video is available online


NC Reading Conference Scheduled for March


The 2016 NC Reading Conference will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center on March 13 - 15. Geared to teachers and administrators, this year's conference offers sessions by NCDPI staff, nationally recognized professional speakers and authors, college professors, classroom teachers and specialists.     


Session topics include:

* preparing school literacy leaders in the 21st century

* best practices for implementing the current ELA NC Standard Course of  Study Standards

* integration of the ELA standards ( Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language) as well as across content areas

* the best digital tools in the classroom

* supporting students in text complexity and close reading

* involving parents/community to increase student reading achievement

* proactive techniques to reduce discipline issues schoolwide

* strategies for teaching academic vocabulary


Educators may earn up to 1.5 reading CEUs. Discounted registration is available before Feb. 15. Visit the NC Reading Association website for registration and detailed program information. 


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